CPSC Streamlines Rules, Prioritizes Child Safety and Lithium Ion Batteries

For those keeping an eye on the latest CPSC shake-ups and policy changes, over the past week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has made several major announcements:

• CPSC confirmed it will remain fully empowered to enforce laws and protect families, even as leadership transitions occur.
• The agency is eliminating what they refer to as “outdated or ideologically driven” regulations that don’t advance safety, reduce consumer choice, or burden innovation. This includes withdrawing several pending rulemakings where it does not intend to issue a final rule, such as: safety standards for blade contact injuries on table saws, standards for off-highway vehicles, standards for debris penetration hazards, outdated refrigerator mandates, and aerosol duster products, and is rescinding rules on citizens band radio antennas and old refrigerator mandates.
• CPSC also reaffirmed it will not regulate or ban gas stove emissions or ban this product category.

Additionally the following proposed rules are withdrawn:

• Information Disclosure (CPSA Section 6(b)) – a proposed rule about how CPSC shares product safety information with the public and companies.
• Disclosure of Interests in Proceedings – a proposal that would have required participants in CPSC cases to reveal financial ties or interests.

At the same time, CPSC made it clear that it will keep enforcing the following:

• Water Bead Toys –A final rule was issued to address choking and ingestion hazards from water beads, which can expand inside a child’s body. The rule adds stricter safety requirements for manufacturers and importers, especially targeting unsafe imports sold online.
• Infant Neck Floats –New standards and warnings were introduced after links to multiple infant drownings. The rule strengthens oversight of imports and aims to protect children ages 1–4, for whom drowning is the leading cause of death. Again, CPSC mentions that these products are manufactured in China, and enter the market through online platforms.
• Lithium-Ion Batteries in Micromobility Products – CPSC is advancing long-delayed safety standards for batteries in micromobility products, submitting the draft rule for centralized federal review to address fire and injury risks.

These updates highlight a clear theme: many of today’s highest-risk products are manufactured overseas, often in China, and sold through e-commerce platforms with minimal oversight. CPSC’s new direction seems focused on modernization and streamlining outdated bureaucracy.

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