[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR1031.6]

[Page 121-122]
 
                     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 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 
be guided by the Commission's operating plan and performance budget.
    (c) Commission involvement in voluntary standards activities varies.
    (1) The Commission staff may maintain an awareness of the voluntary 
standards development process 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, Commission staff may respond 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, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data, 
death, injury, and incident 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) Employee involvement may include membership as defined in Sec.  
1031.10(a). Commission staff may regularly attend meetings of a standard 
development committee or group and take an active part in the 
discussions of the committee and in developing the standard, in 
accordance with subpart B of this part. The Commission may 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) in support of 
the development and implementation of those voluntary standards 
referenced in the Commission's operating plan, performance budget, mid-
year review, or other official Commission document. The Commission may 
also support voluntary standards activities as described in Sec.  
1031.7. Employee involvement may include observation as defined in Sec.  
1031.10(c).
    (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

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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.