Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Fiscal Year 2020 Agency Report

1. Please provide a summary of your agency’s activities undertaken to carry out the provisions of 

OMB Circular A-119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus 

Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities” and the National Technology Transfer and 

Advance Act (NTTAA). The summary should contain a link to the agency’s standards-specific 

website(s) where information about your agency’s standards and conformity assessment related 

activities are available.

From October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, CPSC staff provided technical support or was otherwise 

engaged in the development of voluntary safety standards for 78 different products. Voluntary 

standards activities are handled by various standards developing organizations (SDOs) that are 

accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The majority of the standards where 

staff was involved are developed by either ASTM International (ASTM) or Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 

(UL). The standards provide safety provisions addressing potential hazards associated with consumer 

products found in homes, schools, and recreation areas. Twice a year, the CPSC staff issues a Voluntary 

Standards Tracking Activity Report, otherwise known as the Vstar Report. This report shows, among 

other things, product or product areas associated with voluntary standards work, the name of the U.S. 

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) employee leading each activity, the 

name(s) and designation(s) of the standards associated with the product, the purpose of staff’s 

involvement, any associated mandatory standard or regulation, the activity by staff during the reporting 

period, and staff’s next actions associated with the voluntary standard. The VSTAR report is issued biannually in the form of: (1) a Mid-Year Report, covering the period from October 1 through March 31, 

and (2) an Annual Report of the CPSC fiscal year, which covers the period from October 1 to September 

30. More about this report and other voluntary standards activity at the CPSC can be found at the 

following: https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Voluntary-Standards

2. Please list the government-unique standards (GUS) your agency began using in lieu of voluntary 

consensus standards during FY 2020. Please note that GUS which are still in effect from previous years 

should continue to be listed, thus the total number in your agency's report will include all GUS 

currently in use (previous years and new as of this FY): 2

(1) Government Unique Standard

16 CFR 1500.17(a)(13), Metal-Cored Candlewicks Containing Lead and Candles With Such Wicks 

[Incorporated: 2003]

Voluntary Standard

Voices of Safety International (VOSI) standard on lead in candle wicks

Rationale

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that the VOSI standard is technically unsound, 

and thus would not result in the elimination or adequate reduction of the risk, and that substantial 

compliance with it is unlikely. See 68 Fed. Reg. 19145-6, paragraph H2, Voluntary Standards for further 

information on this finding.
(2) Government Unique Standard

CPSC 16 CFR Parts 1213, 1500, and 1513 for Bunk Beds [Incorporated: 2000]

Voluntary Standard

ASTM F1427-96 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bunk Beds

Rationale

The CPSC rules go beyond the provisions of the ASTM voluntary standard to provide increased 

protection to children from the risk of death and serious injury from entrapment.