Consumer Reports (CR), the independent, non-profit member organization, welcomes the opportunity to submit the following comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) on a safety standard for neck float toys. We commend CPSC staff for developing performance requirements and improved warning labels for neck floats, and the Commission for issuing this request for comments.
Parents and caregivers should be able to trust that all products for use by infants or children meet strong standards. However, the current toy standard, ASTM F963-23, as incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations, does not include any performance requirements for neck floats. Accordingly, Consumer Reports supports the CPSC’s proposal to establish a safety standard that would help to reduce the risk of injury or death, and urges the agency to finalize it expeditiously. Due to the severe risks posed by neck floats, we would also support additional action by either the CPSC or Congress that would ban the product category entirely, at a minimum with respect to products designed, intended, or marketed for use by infants. The CPSC could also further consider whether it would be helpful to take action through rulemaking under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
To read the full comments, click here.