[Federal Register: March 8, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 1500 Statement of Policy or Interpretation; Proposed Enforcement Policy for Art Materials AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Proposed statement of enforcement policy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In 1988, Congress enacted the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act which mandated a labeling standard and certain other requirements for art materials. Based on its experience enforcing these requirements, the Commission is proposing a statement of enforcement policy to more clearly apprise the public of its intended enforcement focus. DATES: Comments on the proposal should be submitted not later than May 9, 1994. ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, room 502, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland, telephone (301) 504-0800. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Toro, Division of Regulatory Management, Office of Compliance and Enforcement, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Background In 1988 Congress amended the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA''), 15 U.S.C. 1261-1277, when it enacted the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (``LHAMA''), 15 U.S.C. 1277, concerning the labeling of art materials to warn of potential chronic hazards. LHAMA mandated a voluntary standard, ASTM D 4236, with certain modifications, as a mandatory Commission rule under section 3(b) of the FHSA. On October 9, 1992, the Commission issued a notice in the Federal Register that codified the standard as mandated by Congress. 57 FR 46626. (At that time, the Commission also issued guidelines for determining when a product presents a chronic hazard and a supplemental regulatory definition of the term ``toxic'' that explicitly included chronic toxicity.) The standard is codified at 16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8). LHAMA and the standard it mandated provide certain requirements for art materials. Under these requirements, the producer or repackager of an art material must submit the product's formulation to a toxicologist who will review the formulation to determine if the art material has potential to produce chronic adverse health effects through customary or reasonably foreseeable use. If the toxicologist does determine that the art material has this potential, the toxicologist will recommend appropriate hazard labeling, and the producer or repackager must use suitable labeling on the product. The producer or manufacturer of the art material must submit to the Commission the criteria the toxicologist uses to determine whether the producer/repackager's product presents a chronic hazard and a list of art materials that require chronic hazard labeling. If no chronic hazard labeling is needed, a conformance statement indicating that the product has been reviewed in accordance with the standard as required must appear on or with the product. The standard, which is set forth at 16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8), and section 2(p) of the FHSA, 15 U.S.C. 1261(p), provide further information on the content of appropriate labels and the conformance statement. B. The Scope of ``Art Materials'' These requirements apply to ``art materials'' as broadly defined in LHAMA. Excluding pesticides, drugs, devices, and cosmetics subject to other federal statutes, the term art material means ``any substance marketed or represented by the producer or repackager as suitable for use in any phase of the creation of any work of visual or graphic art of any medium.'' 15 U.S.C. 1277(b)(1). The definition applies to art materials intended for users of any age. Id. 1277(b)(2). When the Commission issued the final rule implementing the LHAMA provisions on October 9, 1992, it recognized that the statutory definition of art material could be interpreted to reach far beyond the common perception of the meaning of that term. Accordingly, the Commission identified three categories of products that could be art materials under this statutory definition. The Commission stated in that notice that it would not enforce the requirements against tools, implements, and furniture that were used in the process of creating a work of art but do not become part of the work of art (called ``category 3 products'' in the October 9, 1992 notice). Examples of stated items that might fall into this category were drafting tables and chairs, easels, picture frames, canvas stretchers, potter's wheels, hammers, chisels, and air pumps for air brushes. The Commission also delineated two general categories of products which could fall within the statutory definition and against which the Commission would enforce the LHAMA requirements. These were products which actually become a component of the work of art (e.g., paint, canvas, inks) (previously ``category 1 products'') and products closely and intimately associated with the creation of an art work (e.g., brush cleaners, solvents, photo developing chemicals) (previously ``category 2 products''). These distinctions have been unsatisfactory in the practical enforcement of the LHAMA requirements. These categories, and enforcement policies based on the categories, may lead to determinations that are inconsistent. Thus, the Commission is reconsidering its enforcement of the LHAMA requirements against certain products. This interpretation would supersede the enforcement policy stated in the October 9, 1992 notice and other related interpretations. To concentrate on art materials that are more likely to present a risk of chronic health effects, the Commission will focus its enforcement on items that have traditionally been considered art materials, such as paints, inks, solvents, pastes, ceramic glazes, and crayons and that may present a risk of chronic injury. This enforcement policy will not compromise public safety because there is virtually no risk of chronic health effects with the types of products and materials that the Commission will not enforce against. Also, even if such products presented such a risk, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. 1261(p), requires cautionary labeling for any article intended or packaged for household use if it contains a hazardous substance. This includes, but is not limited to, art materials that, under reasonably foreseeable conditions of purchase, storage, or use, may be used in or around the household. Unless expressly exempted, children's articles are banned under the FHSA if they are or contain a hazardous substance. The Commission believes that the public interest will be better served by this exercise of enforcement discretion because the staff can use its resources to pursue enforcement actions against those art materials that present the greatest risk. The Commission will not enforce against the following types of products. (1) The Commission will not take enforcement action against general use products which might incidentally be used to create art, unless a particular product is specifically packaged, promoted, or marketed in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that it is intended for use as an art material. Examples of such general use products are common wood pencils, pens, markers, and chalk. For enforcement purposes, the Commission presumes that these types of items are not art materials. The presumption can be overcome, however, by evidence that such an item is intended for specific use in creating art. Factors the Commission will consider to determine the status of such items include how the items are packaged (e.g., packages of multiple colored pencils, chalks, or markers unless promoted for non- art material uses are likely to be art materials), how they are marketed and promoted (e.g., pencils and pens intended specifically for sketching and drawing are likely to be art materials), and where they are sold (e.g., products sold in an art supply store are likely to be art materials). (2) The Commission will not take enforcement action against tools, implements, and furniture used in the creation of a work of art such as brushes, chisels, easels, picture frames, drafting tables and chairs, canvas stretchers, potter's wheels, hammers, and air pumps for air brushes. In this policy statement the Commission expands the scope of what were referred to as ``category 3'' art materials in the October 9, 1992 notice. Based on the Commission's enforcement experience, the Commission will consider some items that it previously categorized as closely and intimately associated with creation of a work of art (previously ``category 2'' products) to be tools, implements and furniture. The Commission believes that these items (brushes, kilns, and molds) are better characterized as tools and implements against which the Commission will not enforce the LHAMA requirements. The Commission believes this revised interpretation is more consistent with the purposes of LHAMA. (3) The Commission will not take enforcement action against the surface materials to which an art material is applied. Examples are coloring books and canvas. In many instances, an art material is applied to a surface such as paper, plastic, wood, or cloth. These surfaces continue to be components of the work of art and thus art materials, but are now characterized as products against which the Commission will not enforce the LHAMA requirements. (4) The Commission will also refrain from taking enforcement action against the following specifically enumerated materials: paper, cloth, plastic, film, yarn, threads, rubber, sand, wood, stone, tile, masonry, and metal. Several of these materials are often used as a surface for art work while others are used to create the work of art itself. Regardless of use, the Commission will not enforce the LHAMA requirements against them. The guidance given in (3) and (4) above does not apply if the processing or handling of a material exposes users to chemicals in or on the material in a manner which makes those chemicals susceptible to being ingested, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. For example, paper stickers marketed or promoted as art materials often have an adhesive backing that users lick. The act of licking the backing can result in the ingestion of chemicals, and LHAMA requirements should be complied with. For self-adhesive stickers, on the other hand, which present little risk of exposure, the staff will generally refrain from enforcement unless there is reason to believe that the nature of a particular sticker and its intended use presents a genuine risk of exposure to a potential chemical hazard either by ingestion or absorption. Another example involves plastic. If the artistic use for which the plastic is intended requires heating or melting it in a manner that results in the emission of chemical vapors, LHAMA requirements apply. C. Craft and Hobby Kits and Supplies 1. Kits In enforcing LHAMA, the Commission has encountered the question of the applicability of LHAMA requirements to certain craft or hobby kits. The basic issue centers on the meaning of the term ``work of art''. In previous letters to industry the staff has advised that the determination depends on whether the end product produced from the kit would be primarily functional or aesthetic. If the former were true, the staff has said that the end product would not be a work of art and none of the components would be art materials. If the latter were true, the end product would be a work of art and all of the components of the kit would be art materials. This distinction proved difficult for practical enforcement, and has resulted in some inconsistent enforcement results. For example, if paints that were included in a kit to make a working model airplane were also included in a paint-by- number set, under the staff's previous interpretation, the Commission would enforce the LHAMA requirements against the paints in the second kit, but not in the first, even though they are the same paints. The Commission has considered this anomaly, as well as the purpose of LHAMA to alert consumers to the potential dangers associated with products used in the creation of art. As explained below, the Commission believes that its LHAMA enforcement should include both (1) kits to make items for display and (2) kits which involve decorating an item, regardless of the end use of the item created. Models and similar kits to make hobby or art/craft items can have dual purposes, both functional and for display. In addition, when a consumer creatively decorates a functional object, it arguably becomes a work of art just as decorated canvas or paper would be. Therefore, the Commission believes that materials for decorating and assembling models and art/ craft items come within the reach of LHAMA. The Commission believes that the following interpretation is more workable than the previous one and is consistent with the intent of Congress. For kits that include materials to decorate products whether the products are functional, for display, or both, the Commission will enforce the LHAMA requirements against materials in the kit that are intended to decorate or assemble an item in the kit, i.e., traditional art materials, such as, paints, crayons, colored pencils, adhesives, and putties even if the finished product is a toy or other item whose primary use may be functional. Thus, for a kit that contains a plastic toy or a paint-by-number board, and paints to decorate the toy or board itself, or adhesives to assemble the toy, the Commission will expect the paints and adhesives in both cases to meet all the LHAMA requirements, but would not enforce the requirements against the plastic toy or the board, even though the toy or board may technically be classified as an art material. For kits that package an item that would be subject to enforcement under this policy together with an item that would not, any necessary chronic hazard statements or labeling, including any required conformance statement, must appear on the outer container or wrapping of the kit and must specify the item to which the statement or labeling refers. Any conformance statement must be visible at the point of sale. Any required chronic hazard warning label must be on the immediate package of the item that is subject to LHAMA as well as on accompanying literature where there are instructions for use. See 16 CFR 1500.125. When packaged within a point of sale package, i.e. a kit, which obscures the warning statement, the point-of-sale package must bear the label statement specified in 16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8)(i)(E)(9)(ii). 2. Separate Supplies The Commission will enforce LHAMA requirements against materials intended to decorate art and craft, model and hobby items, such as paints, even if they are sold separately and not part of a kit. Similarly, paints or markers intended for decorating clothes will be considered art materials for enforcement purposes since they are intended for decorating clothing, even though the resulting item, the garment, has a functional purpose. Note that as explained in section B above, the Commission would not enforce the requirements against the surface upon which the art material is applied, regardless of the primary use of the finished product. The status of glues, adhesives, and putties will depend on their intended use. Some illustrative examples follow. Glues which are marketed for general repair use only would not be art materials, and the Commission will not enforce the LHAMA requirements against them. Glue sticks for glue guns which are for art or craft use would be considered art materials. Spray adhesives and rubber cements will normally be considered art materials unless they are marketed for some specialty non-art use. School pastes and glues will also be considered art materials. D. Environmental Considerations The Commission has considered whether issuance of this proposed enforcement statement will produce any environmental effects and has determined that it will not. The Commission's regulations at 16 CFR 1021.5(c)(1) state that rules and safety standards ordinarily have little or no potential to affect the human environment, and therefore, do not require an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment. The Commission believes that, as with such standards, this proposed enforcement policy would have no adverse impact on the environment. E. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification The Regulatory Flexibility Act generally requires agencies to prepare proposed and final regulatory analyses describing the impact of a rule on small businesses and other small entities. Section 605 of the Act provides that an agency is not required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis if the head of an agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Commission believes that this proposed enforcement statement will have little effect on businesses in general or on small businesses in particular. Accordingly, the Commission preliminarily concludes that its enforcement statement concerning the labeling of hazardous art materials would not have any significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. F. Authority Section 10 of the FHSA gives the Commission authority to issue regulations for the efficient enforcement of the FHSA. 15 U.S.C. 1269(a). This provision authorizes the Commission to issue statements of enforcement policy in which the Commission explains how it intends to enforce a Commission requirement. G. Effective Date Since this notice proposes an interpretative rule/statement of enforcement policy, no particular effective date is required by the Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(2). The Commission recognizes, however, that as to items against which the Commission previously stated that it would not enforce LHAMA, manufacturers will need time to bring their products into compliance. Any final policy regarding such items would apply to products manufactured or imported an appropriate period, such as six months, or more after publication in the Federal Register. The Commission believes that this is adequate time to submit formulae to toxicologists and comply with relevant labeling requirements. As to those items where this policy relieves a restriction, the effective date would be immediate. List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1500 Arts and crafts, Consumer protection, Hazardous materials, Hazardous substances, Imports, Infants and children, Labeling, Law enforcement, Toys. For the reasons given above, the Commission proposes to amend 16 CFR 1500.14 as follows: PART 1500_[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for part 1500 continues to read as follows: Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1261-1277. 2. Section 1500.14(b)(8) is amended by adding a new paragraph (b)(8)(iv) to read as follows: Sec. 1500.14 Products requiring special labeling under section 3(b) of the Act. * * * * * (b) * * * (8) * * * (iv) Policies and Interpretations. (A) For purposes of enforcement policy, the Commission will not consider as sufficient grounds for bringing an enforcement action the failure of the following types of products to meet the requirements of Sec. 1500.14(b)(8)(i) through (iii). (1) Products whose intended general use is not to create art (e.g., common wood pencils, and single colored pens, markers, and chalk), unless the particular product is specifically packaged, promoted, or marketed in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that it is intended for use as an art material. Factors the Commission would consider in making this determination are how an item is packaged (e.g., packages of multiple colored pencils, chalks, or markers unless promoted for non-art materials uses are likely to be art materials), how it is marketed and promoted (e.g., pencils and pens intended specifically for sketching and drawing are likely to be art materials), and where it is sold (e.g., products sold in an art supply store are likely to be art materials). (2) Tools, implements, and furniture used in the creation of a work of art such as brushes, chisels, easels, picture frames, drafting tables and chairs, canvas stretchers, potter's wheels, hammers, air pumps for air brushes, kilns, and molds. (3) Surface materials to which an art material is applied, such as coloring books and canvas, unless, as a result of processing or handling, the consumer is likely to be exposed to a chemical in or on the surface material in a manner which makes that chemical susceptible to being ingested, absorbed, or inhaled. (4) The following materials, whether used as a surface or applied to one, unless, as a result of processing or handling, the consumer is likely to be exposed to a chemical in or on the material in a manner that makes that chemical susceptible to being ingested, absorbed, or inhaled: paper, cloth, plastics, films, yarn, threads, rubber, sand, wood, stone, tile, masonry, and metal. (B) For purposes of enforcement policy, the Commission will enforce against materials such as, but not limited to, paints, crayons, colored pencils, glues, adhesives, and putties, if such materials are sold as part of an art, craft, model, or hobby kit. The Commission will enforce the LHAMA requirements against paints or other materials sold separately which are intended to decorate art, craft, model, or hobby items. Adhesives, glues, and putties intended for general repair are not subject to LHAMA. However, the Commission will enforce the LHAMA requirements against adhesives, glues, and putties sold separately (not part of a kit) if they are intended for art, craft, model, or hobby uses. This subparagraph (B) applies to products manufactured or imported six months or more after these regulations are published in the Federal Register. (C) Nothing in this enforcement statement should be deemed to alter the requirement of the Federal Hazardous Substance Act that any hazardous substance intended or packaged in a form suitable for household use must be labeled in accordance with section 2(p) of the Act. Dated: March 1, 1994. Sadye E. Dunn, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 94-5289 Filed 3-7-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355-01-P