CPSC Voting Soon On Changes To Its Role In Voluntary Standards Activities

Last week, CPSC staff proposed an amendment to the agency's current voluntary standards rule that would allow Commission employees to participate as voting members and to accept leadership positions in voluntary standard development groups. The new rule would amend 16 CFR 1031 to remove the current prohibitions on this type of CPSC staff involvement in voluntary standards activities and instead allow the Office of the Executive Director to approve any such staff participation on a case-by-case basis. The proposed amendment follows a 2012 GAO Report that encouraged the CPSC to allow staff to take a more active role in developing voluntary standards, including voting on standards and taking leadership roles.