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U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a rule that allows the
agency to remove hazardous seasonal and decorative lights from the market more
effectively. According to CPSC, these lighting products have caused hundreds of
fire- and shock-related deaths and injuries. Over the years, a voluntary
standard was implemented, and since 1974, the agency has announced 47 voluntary
recalls of season and decorative lighting products, totaling 3.6 million units.
Under
the new rule, if these products lack any of the three characteristics as found
in UL 588 voluntary standard—minimum wire size, sufficient strain relief or
overcurrent protection—CPSC will consider the products to present a substantial
product hazard to consumers. The rule includes elements of the voluntary
standard and streamlines CPSC’s efforts to stop the distribution and sale of
nonconforming products.