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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57024-57025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23645]

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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Notice of Teleconference of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel on 
Phthalates and Phthalate Substitutes

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or 
``Commission'') is announcing a teleconference of the Chronic Hazard 
Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates and phthalate substitutes. The 
Commission appointed this CHAP to study the effects on children's 
health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in 
children's toys and child care articles, pursuant to section 108 of the 
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) (Pub. L. 110-
314). The CHAP will discuss its progress toward completing its analysis 
of potential risks from phthalates and phthalate substitutes.

DATES: The teleconference will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
E.D.T. (4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. British Summer Time or 15:30 to 17:00 
G.M.T.) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. Interested members of the 
public may listen to the CHAP's discussion. Members of the public will 
not have the opportunity to ask questions, comment, or otherwise 
participate in the teleconference. Interested parties should contact 
the CPSC project manager, Michael Babich, by e-mail (mbabich@cpsc.gov) 
for call-in instructions no later than Friday, September 16, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request access to the 
teleconference, contact the project manager by e-mail at 
mbabich@cpsc.gov, no later than Friday, September 16, 2011. For all 
other questions, contact: Michael Babich, Directorate for Health 
Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD 20814; 
telephone (301) 504-7253; e-mail mbabich@cpsc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 108 of the CPSIA permanently 
prohibits the sale of any ``children's toy or child care article'' 
containing more than 0.1 percent of each of three specified phthalates: 
Di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and 
benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). Section 108 of the CPSIA also prohibits, 
on an interim basis, the sale of any ``children's toy that can be 
placed in a child's mouth'' or ``child care article'' containing more 
than 0.1 percent of each of three additional phthalates: diisononyl 
phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and di-n-octyl phthalate 
(DnOP).
    Moreover, section 108 of the CPSIA requires the Commission to 
convene a CHAP ``to study the effects on children's health of all 
phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in children's toys and 
child care articles.'' The CPSIA requires the CHAP to complete an 
examination of the full range of phthalates that are used in products 
for children and:
     Examine all of the potential health effects (including 
endocrine disrupting effects) of the full range of phthalates;
     Consider the potential health effects of each of these 
phthalates, both in isolation and in combination with other phthalates;
     Examine the likely levels of children's, pregnant women's, 
and others' exposure to phthalates, based on a reasonable estimation of 
normal and foreseeable use and abuse of such products;
     Consider the cumulative effect of total exposure to 
phthalates, both from children's products and from other sources, such 
as personal care products;
     Review all relevant data, including the most recent, best 
available, peer-reviewed, scientific studies of these phthalates and 
phthalate alternatives that employ objective data collection practices 
or employ other objective methods;
     Consider the health effects of phthalates, not only from 
ingestion, but also as a result of dermal, hand-to-mouth, or other 
exposure;
     Consider the level at which there is a reasonable 
certainty of no harm to children, pregnant women, or other susceptible 
individuals and their offspring, reviewing the best available science, 
and using sufficient safety factors to account for uncertainties 
regarding exposure and susceptibility of children, pregnant women, and 
other potentially susceptible individuals; and
     Consider possible similar health effects of phthalate 
alternatives used in children's toys and child care articles.
    The CPSIA contemplates completion of the CHAP's examination within 
18 months of the panel's appointment. The CHAP must review prior work 
on phthalates by the Commission, but it is not to be considered 
determinative

[[Page 57025]]

because the CHAP's examination must be conducted de novo.
    The CHAP must make recommendations to the Commission about which 
phthalates, or combinations of phthalates (in addition to those 
identified in section 108 of the CPSIA), or phthalate alternatives 
should be prohibited from use in children's toys or child care articles 
or otherwise restricted. The Commission selected the CHAP members from 
scientists nominated by the National Academy of Sciences. See 15 U.S.C. 
2077, 2030(b).
    The CHAP met previously in April, July, and December 2010, and in 
March and July 2011, at the CPSC's offices in Bethesda, MD, and by 
teleconference in November 2010. The CHAP heard testimony from 
interested parties at the July 2010 meeting. The September 2011 
conference call will include discussion of the CHAP's progress in its 
analysis of potential risks from phthalates and phthalate substitutes. 
There will not be any opportunity for public comment during the 
conference call.

    Dated: September 12, 2011.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2011-23645 Filed 9-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
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