CPSC Adopts Industry Standard on Clothing Storage Units, Supersedes November Final Rule

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will no longer require compliance with a recently issued mandatory safety standard for clothing storage units at the end of May, and will instead adopt an industry standard that is set to take mandatory effect Sept. 1, the CPSC said in a direct final rule published May 4.

Though CPSC finalized a tip-over hazard-related standard for clothing storage units in November 2022 (see 2211230058), the Sturdy Act, signed into law the following month, allows CPSC to instead adopt an industry standard if it meets certain requirements. Having determined that the voluntary standard ASTM F2057-23 meets those requirements, CPSC will now adopt the voluntary standard, and the November safety standard issued by CPSC will no longer take effect May 24.

“Manufacturers of CSUs have been aware of new stability requirements since the current CSU rule was published in November 2022, and the instant rule is based on a voluntary standard published in February 2023,” the CPSC said in justifying the 120-day minimum under the Sturdy Act between adoption of the standard and its effective date.

The CPSC will accept comments on the direct final rule, and the voluntary standard will not take effect Sept. 1 if "significant adverse comment” is received by June 5.