The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued two final rules to codify the bans on inclined sleeps for infants and crib bumpers that Congress established in the Safe Sleep for Babies Act.
The Act prohibits importing these products into the U.S., along with their sale, manufacture, and distribution.
The rules implement the statute, which went into effect on November 12, 2022.
The final rule for infant sleepers defines “inclined sleeper for infants” as a product with an inclined sleep surface greater than ten degrees that is intended, marketed, or designed to provide sleeping accommodations for an infant up to 1 year old.
Crib bumper is defined in that final rule as any material that is intended to cover the sides of a crib to prevent injury to any crib occupant from impacts against the side of a crib or to prevent partial or complete access to any openings in the sides of a crib to prevent a crib occupant from getting any part of the body entrapped in any opening; includes a padded crib bumper, a supported and unsupported vinyl bumper guard, and vertical crib slat covers; and does not include a non-padded mesh crib liner.
Importers of such products should become familiar with the CPSC’s published guidelines educating them about the requirements, and making sure they are aware of their compliance obligations. Read more: Infant Sleep Products Business Guidance and Small Entity Compliance Guide.
For example, manufacturers and importers of infant sleep products must certify in a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) that their infant sleep products comply with the mandatory standard and any additional requirements, after the infant sleep products have been tested for compliance at an approved third-party laboratory.
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