California Bureau considering new CPSC approach
David Perry -- Furniture Today, September 8, 2003
North Highlands, Calif. — The California Bureau of Home Furnishings, which is developing stringent new open-flame mattress standards for that state, is considering a new approach with federal regulators as it seeks to move ahead with its standards.
The chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the new approach would involve a lengthy process, but gave no timeline.
California Bureau officials have been considering how to seek an exemption from pre-emption with the CPSC. Observers who follow the flammability issue have said California must get such an exemption before it can move ahead with its new fire-resistant standards. The observers have said it likely would take months, at least, for CPSC to grant such an exemption.
But California regulators are now mulling a different strategy — a petition asking the CPSC to adopt the revised California standard as the national standard.
Hal Stratton, CPSC chairman, told Furniture/Today last week there is "no way to know how long a new petition would take. The procedure is obviously lengthy."
Stratton said the CPSC "would welcome California's participation in our current proceeding. It might make sense for them to file comments or become involved in our pending proceeding, rather than starting a new one from scratch, although it's strictly their call."
CPSC is now preparing to tackle the issue of open-flame mattress safety. A national standard would pre-empt any state standards.
There is no timetable for adoption of a national open-flame mattress standard. California regulators are planning to begin enforcement of their standard on Jan. 1, 2005.
