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<chapter num="08" heading="Prohibition of Consumer Products Containing Flame-Retardant Chemicals" title_num="10" subtitle_num="19">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>This chapter establishes regulations that prohibit the import, sale, or offering for sale of juvenile products, mattresses, upholstered furniture, or reupholstered furniture containing more than 0.1 percent of flame-retardant chemical by mass.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>This chapter does not apply to the sale or distribution of a juvenile product, a mattress, upholstered furniture, or reupholstered furniture that is resold, offered for resale, or distributed by a consumer for consumer use.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Adult mattress” means any mattress other than a toddler mattress, a crib mattress, or any other infant sleep product.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Flame-retardant chemical” means a chemical that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Is used to resist or inhibit the spread of fire or act as a synergist to chemicals that resist or inhibit the spread of fire, including any chemical for which the term “flame retardant” appears on a safety data sheet developed in accordance with 29 CFR §1910.1200(g); and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Is a nanoscale chemical or has one or more of the following properties:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Contains one or more halogen elements, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Contains one or more carbon elements and one or more phosphorus elements; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>Contains one or more carbon elements and one or more nitrogen elements.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Juvenile Product.</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>“Juvenile product” means a consumer product intended for use by a child younger than 12 years old.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>“Juvenile product” includes:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>A bassinet;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>A booster seat;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>A changing pad;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iv)">
            <text>A children’s nap mat;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(v)">
            <text>A floor playmat;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(vi)">
            <text>A high chair;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(vii)">
            <text>A high chair pad;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(viii)">
            <text>An infant bouncer;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ix)">
            <text>An infant carrier;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(x)">
            <text>An infant seat;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xi)">
            <text>An infant swing;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xii)">
            <text>An infant walker;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xiii)">
            <text>A nursing pad;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xiv)">
            <text>A nursing pillow;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xv)">
            <text>A playpen side pad;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xvi)">
            <text>A play yard;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xvii)">
            <text>A portable hook-on chair; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(xviii)">
            <text>A stroller.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>“Juvenile product” does not include a:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Product that is not primarily intended for use in the home, including a product that is, or is a component part of, a motor vehicle, a watercraft, an aircraft, or any other vehicle;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Product regulated under 49 CFR Part 571;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>Consumer electronic product; or</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iv)">
            <text>Child care product regulated under Health-General Article, §24-306, Annotated Code of Maryland, or COMAR 10.19.07.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Mattress” has the meaning stated in 16 CFR § 1632.1.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>“Reupholstered furniture” means furniture for which the original fabric, padding, decking, barrier material, foam, or other resilient filling has been replaced and that has not been sold since the time of replacement.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>“Upholstered furniture” means furniture that includes filling materials, barrier materials, decking materials, or cover fabrics.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Prohibition of Flame-Retardant Chemicals in Consumer Products.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>This regulation does not apply to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An electronic component, or the casing for an electronic component, of a juvenile product, a mattress, upholstered furniture, or reupholstered furniture;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A component of upholstered or reupholstered furniture other than cover fabric, barrier material, resilient filling material, and decking material;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Thread or fiber when used for stitching mattress components together; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Except for foam, a component of an adult mattress.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A person may not import, sell, or offer for sale any juvenile product, mattress, upholstered furniture, or reupholstered furniture that contains more than 0.1 percent of flame-retardant chemicals by mass.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Complaints and Investigations.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee may investigate conditions relative to the enforcement of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The person in charge of an establishment shall permit the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee to enter an establishment during its business hours for the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The person in charge of an establishment shall provide to the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee product safety data sheets, technical specifications, and any information available related to the composition of the juvenile product.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Violations.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>If a person willfully violates this chapter, the Secretary may assess a civil penalty:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>For a first violation after receiving a letter of reprimand, not exceeding $2,500;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>For a second violation, not exceeding $5,000;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>For a third violation, not exceeding $7,500; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>For any subsequent violation, not exceeding $10,000 for each violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>In determining the amount of a penalty under §A of this regulation, the Secretary shall consider:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The nature and severity of the violation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The good faith of the person;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The history of violations by the person;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The extent to which the person cooperated with any investigation by the Department; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Whether the person has previously been issued a letter of reprimand.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>For a violation of this chapter, the Secretary shall issue a letter of reprimand.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Request for Hearing.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In order to preserve a right to a hearing on a violation and penalty of this chapter, a person shall submit a written request to the Department for a hearing, if a hearing is desired, within 10 days of receipt of the notice of violation and penalty.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Secretary shall provide for a hearing on the violation by referring the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The Office of Administrative Hearings shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Schedule and conduct the hearing on the violation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Render a decision and notify the parties of the decision within 30 days after the hearing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Health-General Article, §24-306.1, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>