[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR1031.6]

[Page 122-123]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
             CHAPTER II--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
 
PART 1031--COMMISSION PARTICIPATION AND COMMISSION EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT 
IN VOLUNTARY STANDARDS ACTIVITIES--Table of Contents
 
                       Subpart A--General Policies
 
Sec.  1031.6  Extent and form of Commission involvement in the development 
of voluntary standards.

    (a) The Commission shall approve agency ``participation'', as 
defined below, in the development and support of voluntary safety 
standards for consumer products. The Executive Director shall approve 
Commission activities that are defined below as ``monitoring.'' The 
extent of Commission involvement will be dependent upon the Commission's 
interest in the particular standards development activity and the 
commission's priorities and resources.
    (b) The Commission's interest in a specific voluntary standards 
activity will be based in part on the frequency and severity of injuries 
associated with the product, the involvement of the product in 
accidents, the susceptibility of the hazard to correction through 
standards, and the overall resources and priorities of the Commission. 
Commission involvement in voluntary standards activities generally will 
also be guided by the Commission's operating plan and budget.
    (c) There are two levels of Commission involvement in voluntary 
standards activities, each of which reflects a different level of 
Commission involvement as set forth below:
    (1) Monitoring. Monitoring involves maintaining an awareness of the 
voluntary standards development process

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through oral or written inquiries, receiving and reviewing minutes of 
meetings and copies of draft standards, or attending meetings for the 
purpose of observing and commenting during the standards development 
process in accordance with subpart B of this part. For example, 
monitoring may involve responding to requests from voluntary standards 
organizations, standards development committees, trade associations and 
consumer organizations; by providing information concerning the risks of 
injury associated with particular products, NEISS data, summaries and 
analyses of in-depth investigation reports; discussing Commission goals 
and objectives with regard to voluntary standards and improved consumer 
product safety; responding to requests for information concerning 
Commission programs; and initiating contacts with voluntary standards 
organizations to discuss cooperative voluntary standards activities.
    (2) Participating. Participating involves regularly attending 
meetings of a standard development committee or group and taking an 
active part in the discussions of the committee and in developing the 
standard, in accordance with subpart B of this part. Under certain 
conditions, the Commission will contribute to the deliberations of the 
committee by expending resources to provide technical assistance (e.g., 
research, engineering support, and information and education programs) 
and administrative assistance (e.g., travel costs, hosting meetings, and 
secretarial functions) which would support the development and 
implementation of voluntary standards. Participating may also include 
Commission support of voluntary standards activities as described in 
Sec.  1031.7.
    (d) Normally, the total amount of Commission support given to a 
voluntary standards activity shall be no greater than that of all non-
Federal participants in that activity, except where it is in the public 
interest to do so.
    (e) In the event of duplication of effort by two or more groups 
(either inside or outside the Commission) in developing a voluntary 
standard for the same product or class of products, the Commission shall 
encourage the several groups to cooperate in the development of a single 
voluntary standard.