CPSC Recommendations
to Amend CPSIA Could Stop the Ban on Youth Motorcycles
and ATVs; Urge Congress to Act Swiftly on Proposed
Changes
Irvine, CA (1/25/2010) - The Motorcycle
Industry Council (MIC) supports the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission’s recommendation
to Congress to give the agency more flexibility
to grant exclusions from the lead content limit
to address certain products. The CPSC requested
this flexibility in its January 15 report to Congress
containing recommendations to improve the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
“We are encouraged that the consensus report
of all five Commissioners specifically mentions
ATVs and dirtbikes, recognizing the dangers to riders
caused by the current ban on youth motorcycles and
ATVs,” said MIC general counsel, Paul Vitrano.
In addition to the consensus report, MIC is encouraged
that CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum also called on
Congress to create a new “functional purpose”
exclusion to the lead content limits. This amendment
would permit the Commission to grant exclusions
for youth ATVs and motorcycles since lead in many
accessible components is necessary for their functional
purpose, contact with those components is infrequent
and the elimination of lead is impracticable or
impossible based on available scientific or technical
information.
“It is clear that the CPSC strongly believes
that the ban on youth model ATVs and motorcycles
needs to end,” Vitrano also said. “MIC
calls on Congress to draft legislation as soon as
possible to either grant a categorical exemption
for these products, as provided by H.R. 1587, a
pending bill with 55 bi-partisan co-sponsors, or
to give the CPSC the flexibility to do so.”
In a Jan. 12 letter, the MIC thanked the CPSC for
its efforts to promote youth safety by implementing
a temporary stay to make some youth vehicles available
despite the ban. MIC also suggested three ways to
completely or substantially exclude or exempt youth
off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles
from those provisions:
1. a “functional purpose” amendment
2. a categorical exemption, such as would be provided
by H.R. 1587
3. a change in the definition of “accessibility”
for powersports products
Vitrano said it will again be critical for enthusiasts
and industry to mount a massive grassroots effort
targeting Congress to advocate for one of these
amendments to the CPSIA. In the coming days, MIC
will be launching advocacy campaigns through www.stopthebannow.com.
The MIC letter can be read at this link: http://tiny.cc/8iJ3x
www.nohvcc.org
Great Falls, MT 59404
800-348-6487
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