Timing Remains Challenge on Laundry Packet Data Work

An ASTM F15.71 panel on laundry packet poisoning data sought to address when related work might be done as well as to understand related timing issues. The group's goal is to assess the effectiveness of the F3159 laundry packet standard, created in 2015. Among the concerns is CPSC's role in work on data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS). The American Association of Poison Control Centers has expressed concern with providing the information to the agency – an act that would render the information subject to FoIA.

An idea for CPSC instead to oversee analysis by someone else remains questionable. It is not clear if that would be allowed, and agency staff on the task group will check with the general counsel and contracting offices for an answer. Another question is working the project into CPSC's resources and time.

Meanwhile, alternate organization to do the work might be the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, which has much experience working with NPDS data. Discussion about various steps in the process – obtaining, verifying and analyzing the data – suggest there could be a report by the end of the year.

However, understanding a time demarcation for when industry moved over to compliance remains unanswered, and that is needed to set a baseline to compare before-vs-after data. The transition occurred fluidly over many months, including some companies making changes prior to the standard. Added to that complexity is the issue of how retailers cycle their stock and how that might affect when compliant units became available. The American Cleaning Institute is aiding with an answer.

The panel also sought to hear briefly about CPSC's plans for analysis of its own NEISS data. That too will depend largely on answering the baseline question.