[Federal Register: November 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 228)]
[Notices]
[Page 73048-73049]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29no10-50]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Notice of Meeting of Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel on Phthalates
and Phthalate Substitutes
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Commission announces the third meeting of the Chronic
Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates and phthalate substitutes.
The Commission appointed this CHAP to study the effects on children's
health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in
children's toys and child care articles, pursuant to section 108 of the
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) (Pub. L. 110-
314).
DATES: The meeting will be held Thursday, December 2, and Friday,
December 3, 2010. The meeting will begin at approximately 8 a.m. both
days. It will end at approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday and approximately
3 p.m. on Friday.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the fourth floor hearing room in
the Commission's offices at 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.
Registration and Webcast: Members of the public who wish to attend
the meeting may register on the day of the meeting. This meeting will
also be available live via Webcast December 2 and 3, 2010, at http://
www.cpsc.gov/Webcast. Registration is not necessary to view the
Webcast. There will not be any opportunity for public participation at
this meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Babich, Directorate for Health
Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD 20814;
telephone (301) 504-7253; e-mail mbabich@cpsc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 108 of the CPSIA permanently
prohibits the sale of any ``children's toy or child care article''
containing more than 0.1 percent of each of three specified phthalates:
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and benzyl
butyl phthalate (BBP). Section 108 of the CPSIA also prohibits, on an
interim basis, the sale of any ``children's toy that can be placed in a
child's mouth'' or ``child care article'' containing more than 0.1
percent of each of three additional phthalates: diisononyl phthalate
(DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP).
Moreover, section 108 of the CPSIA requires the Commission to
convene a CHAP ``to study the effects on children's health of all
phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in children's toys and
child care articles.'' The CPSIA requires the CHAP to complete an
examination of the full range of phthalates that are used in products
for children and:
Examine all of the potential health effects (including
endocrine disrupting effects) of the full range of phthalates;
Consider the potential health effects of each of these
phthalates, both in isolation and in combination with other phthalates;
Examine the likely levels of children's, pregnant women's,
and others' exposure to phthalates, based on a reasonable estimation of
normal and foreseeable use and abuse of such products;
Consider the cumulative effect of total exposure to
phthalates, both from children's products and from other sources, such
as personal care products;
Review all relevant data, including the most recent, best-
available, peer-reviewed, scientific studies of these phthalates and
phthalate alternatives that employ objective data collection practices
or employ other objective methods;
Consider the health effects of phthalates not only from
ingestion but also as a result of dermal, hand-to-mouth, or other
exposure;
Consider the level at which there is a reasonable
certainty of no harm to children, pregnant women, or other susceptible
individuals and their offspring, considering the best available
science, and using sufficient safety factors to account for
uncertainties regarding exposure and susceptibility of children,
pregnant women, and other potentially susceptible individuals; and
Consider possible similar health effects of phthalate
alternatives used in children's toys and child care articles.
The CHAP's examination must be conducted de novo, and the CPSIA
contemplates completion of the CHAP's examination within 18 months of
the CHAP's appointment. The CHAP must
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review prior work on phthalates by the Commission, but it is not to be
considered determinative.
The CHAP must make recommendations to the Commission regarding any
phthalates (or combinations of phthalates) in addition to those
identified in section 108 of the CPSIA or phthalate alternatives that
the panel determines should be prohibited from use in children's toys
or child care articles or otherwise restricted. The CHAP members were
selected by the Commission from scientists nominated by the National
Academy of Sciences. See 15 U.S.C. 2077, 2030(b).
The CHAP met previously on April 14-15, 2010, and July 26-28, 2010.
The CHAP heard public comments at the July meeting. The December 2-3
meeting will include discussion of possible risk assessment approaches.
The analysis of biomonitoring data will also be discussed. There will
not be any opportunity for public comment at the December 2-3 meeting.
Dated: November 19, 2010.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2010-29868 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P