In addition to our federal legislative and regulatory advocacy, NEMA Government Relations remains engaged with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), as well as numerous state legislatures. Through our efforts, NEMA keeps our members informed of critical issues and provides guidance to state legislative and regulatory bodies considering carbon monoxide & smoke detection legislation, outdoor lighting initiatives, and other measures, thereby ensuring that such legislation achieves its necessary goals while limiting potential negative impacts to NEMA member companies.

Enhancing CPSC Authority and Discretion Act of 2011 (H.R. 1939)

The U.S. House of Representatives is considering legislation (H.R. 1939) to revise the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA; Public Law 110-314) and address issues/concerns that have arisen during the law's implementation. According to the House Subcommittee of Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade's press statement, the bill seeks "to reduce the regulatory burdens of the current law while maintaining consumer protection" and "calls for greater flexibility for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to regulate based on risk."

For a summary of H.R. 1939, please click here.

NEMA Position on Retail Industry’s Consumer Product Factory Audit Standard

NEMA is committed to electrical safety and the manufacture and installation of safe electrical products. However, NEMA opposes the product factory audit standard developed for the retail industry by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), in conjunction with the British Retail Consortium (BRC), that threatens the existing third-party testing program upon which U.S. electrical manufacturers rely. Despite the best of intentions, NEMA remains convinced that the RILA program is misguided and will result in significantly higher costs and duplicative testing for electrical manufacturers, while failing to provide any measurable benefit in reducing product recalls or improving safety. 

In August 2010, NEMA’s Board of Governors sent a letter to the heads of several of the nation’s largest retailers to stress the industry’s concerns about RILA’s initiative and to re-extend an offer to work with RILA to ensure reliable and safety electrical products.

NEMA also has expressed concerns about the RILA program to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Moore Tenenbaum and the other commissioners.

News

• CPSC Implements the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008—In August 2008, Congress enacted the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA; Public Law 110-314) to strengthen the CPSC, impose stringent new standards for product safety, and bolster the CPSC’s enforcement tools.  NEMA actively lobbied Congress on CPSC reform and helped shape some of the new law’s provisions.  For more information on the CPSIA, please see the summary “CPSIA Overview – Handout” (35k) prepared by NEMA staff.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact Sarah Owen in the NEMA Government Relations department.
• CPSC Launches Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database: On March 11, 2011, the CPSC launched a publicly searchable database populated with reports of harm associated with consumer products and any recall information, if applicable. The database, accessible via http://saferproducts.gov, was mandated by Congress under Section 102 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA; Public Law 110-314).

Testimony/Comments

• NEMA testimony and comments on numerous life safety measures pertaining to smoke and carbon monoxide detection are available under the Legislative & Regulatory tab on http://www.lifesafetysolutionsonline.org. (NOTE: this site will go live in May 2011)

• NEMA Submits Comments to CPSC on Public Database Proposed Rule (693k)—In July 2010, NEMA submitted comments to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on its proposed rule to establish a Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database, expressing concerns about potential misuse and the workability of the database.

• NEMA Urges OSHA to Reject Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity in Lieu of Third-Party Certification for Electrical Products (1.5MB)—In January 2009, NEMA submitted comments to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urging the agency to reject any proposal to replace the successful third-party certification of electrical products by Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) with a Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) system
• NEMA Weighs in with Congress on CPSC Reform (107k) – Comments submitted by NEMA President Evan R. Gaddis to members of Congress on issues of concern with respect to legislation to reform the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Issue Briefs

• Smoke Detection (158k)

• Third-Party Certification of Electrical Equipment (111k)

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Affordable Life Safety Devices (120k)

• Consumer Product Safety (153k)

• Providing Quality Outdoor Lighting is a Challenge to State and Local Policymakers, as well as to Skilled Lighting Designers (118k)

Position Statements

• NEMA Recommendations for State and Local Adoption of Carbon Monoxide Requirements (217k)

• White Paper: Quality Outdoor Lighting Issues and Applications (147k)