[Federal Register: March 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 42)]
[Notices]
[Page 10210-10211]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr03-36]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request--Safety
Standard for Cigarette Lighters
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments
on a proposed request for an extension of approval of a collection of
information from manufacturers and importers of disposable and novelty
cigarette lighters. This collection of information consists of testing
and recordkeeping requirements in certification regulations
implementing the Safety Standard for Cigarette Lighters (16 CFR part
1210). The Commission will consider all comments received in response
to this notice before requesting an extension of approval of this
collection of information from the Office of Management and Budget.
DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive written comments not
later than May 5, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Cigarette Lighters''
and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or delivered to that office, room
502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Written comments
may also be sent to the Office of the Secretary by facsimile at (301)
504-0127 or by e-mail at cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed
extension of approval of the collection of information, or to obtain a
copy of 16 CFR Part 1210, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Office of
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington
DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-7671.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993, the Commission issued the Safety
Standard for Cigarette Lighters (16 CFR Part 1210) under provisions of
the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) to
eliminate or reduce risks of death and burn injury from fires
accidentally started by children playing with cigarette lighters. The
standard contains performance requirements for disposable and novelty
lighters that are intended to make cigarette lighters subject to the
standard resist operation by children younger than five years of age.
A. Certification Requirements
Section 14(a) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)) requires
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of a consumer product
subject to a consumer product safety standard to issue a certificate
stating that the product complies with all applicable consumer product
safety standards. Section 14(a) of the CPSA also requires that the
certificate of compliance must be based on a test of each product or
upon a reasonable testing program.
Section 14(b) of the CPSA authorizes the Commission to issue
regulations to prescribe a reasonable testing program to support
certificates of compliance with a consumer product safety standard.
Section 16(b) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2065(b)) authorizes the Commission
to issue rules to require that firms ``establish and maintain'' records
to permit the Commission to determine compliance with rules issued
under the authority of the CPSA.
The Commission has issued regulations prescribing requirements for
a reasonable testing program to support certificates of compliance with
the standard for cigarette lighters. These regulations require
manufacturers and importers to submit a description of each model of
lighter, results of prototype qualification tests for compliance with
the standard, and other information before the introduction of each
model of lighter in commerce. These regulations also require
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of disposable and
novelty lighters to establish and maintain records to demonstrate
successful completion of all required tests to support the certificates
of compliance that they issue. 16 CFR Part 1210, Subpart B.
The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of disposable and
novelty lighters to protect consumers from risks of accidental deaths
and burn injuries associated with those lighters. More specifically,
the Commission uses this information to determine whether lighters
comply with the standard by resisting operation by young children. The
Commission also uses this information to obtain corrective actions if
disposable or novelty lighters fail to comply with the standard in a
manner that creates a substantial risk of injury to the public.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection
of information in the certification regulations for cigarette lighters
under control number 3041-0116. OMB's most recent extension of approval
will expire on April 30, 2003. The Commission proposes to request an
extension of approval without change for these collection of
information requirements.
B. Estimated Burden
The cost of the rule's testing, reporting, recordkeeping, and other
certification-related provisions is comprised of time spent by testing
organizations on behalf of manufacturers and importers, and time spent
by firms to prepare, maintain and submit records to CPSC. There are an
estimated 60 firms involved. Each of the 60 affected firms are expected
to test an average of one to two new models of lighters each year, for
a total of 60-120 responses. Testing of two lighters is expected to
take 175 hours, therefore, 60 firms times 175 hours equals 10,500 total
hours requested. Many firms' submissions rely on previous testing (16
CFR 1210.14) of lighters. Thus, they may not need to do new child
testing for lighters to qualify for importation.
The cost of the rule's testing, reporting, recordkeeping and other
certification-related provisions is comprised of time spent by testing
organizations on behalf of manufacturers and importers, and time spent
by firms to prepare, maintain, and submit records to CPSC. Testing
costs are estimated to total roughly $15,000 per test series. If each
of the 60 affected firms tests an average of one or two new models of
lighters each year, total annual testing costs may be $900,000 to $1.8
million. The Commission staff has estimated record preparation at
approximately $42.32 per hour, on the average. For an average of
roughly 20 to 40 hours per firm in a typical year, the total records
preparation and submission costs for all 60 affected firms is
approximately $51,000 to $102,000 per year. Total industry testing and
administrative costs are therefore approximately $951,000 to $1.9
million per year. Total burden hours for testing and recordkeeping,
using the two model per firm figures, would be 10,540 (10,500 for
testing plus 40 for recordkeeping).
[[Page 10211]]
C. Request for Comments
The Commission solicits written comments from all interested
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:
--Whether the collection of information described above is necessary
for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including
whether the information would have practical utility;
--Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of
information is accurate;
--Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected could be enhanced; and
--Whether the burden imposed by the collection of information could be
minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
Dated: February 26, 2003.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-5037 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P