text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Detergent Poisoning And Child Safety 
  Act of 2015'' or the ``Detergent PACS Act of 2015''.
  
  SEC. 2. SPECIAL PACKAGING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR LIQUID DETERGENT 
                PACKETS.
  
      (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
              (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer 
          Product Safety Commission.
              (2) Consumer product.--The term ``consumer product'' has 
          the meaning given such term in section 3(a) of the Consumer 
          Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)).
              (3) Detergent packet.--The term ``detergent packet'' means 
          a consumer product that consists of a detergent enclosed in a 
          water soluble outer layer.
              (4) Liquid detergent packet.--The term ``liquid detergent 
          packet'' means a consumer product that consists of a 
          substantially liquid or gel detergent enclosed in a water 
          soluble outer layer.
              (5) Special packaging.--The term ``special packaging'' has 
          the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Poison 
          Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (15 U.S.C. 1471).
      (b) Safety Standards Required.--
              (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (c)(1), 
          not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this 
          Act, the Commission shall promulgate a final rule that 
          establishes safety standards for liquid detergent packets to 
          protect children who are younger than 5 years of age from 
          injury or illness caused by exposure to such packets.
              (2) Elements.--The final rule promulgated under paragraph 
          (1) shall--
                      (A) require special packaging for liquid detergent 
                  packets;
                      (B) include standards to address the design and 
                  color of liquid detergent packets to--
                              (i) make them less attractive to children;
                              (ii) reduce the likelihood of exposure to 
                          detergent; and
                              (iii) otherwise reduce risks related to the 
                          ingestion or aspiration of, or ocular contact 
                          with, detergent and other potential injury 
                          risks of liquid detergent packets;
                      (C) include standards to address the composition of 
                  liquid detergent packets to make the consequences of 
                  exposure less severe; and
                      (D) prescribe warning labels that--
                              (i) adequately inform consumers of the 
                          potential risks of injury and death caused by 
                          liquid detergent packets;
                              (ii) are conspicuous and visible at the 
                          point of sale;
                              (iii) clarify hazard patterns, including 
                          known consequences of such hazards; and
                              (iv) identify actions needed to avoid 
                          injury.
              (3) Treatment as consumer product safety standard.--A rule 
          promulgated under paragraph (1) shall be treated as a consumer 
          product safety standard described in section 7(a) of the 
          Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056(a)).
              (4) Rulemaking.--
                      (A) In general.--A rule under paragraph (1) shall 
                  be promulgated in accordance with section 553 of title 
                  5, United States Code.
                      (B) Inapplicability of certain requirements.--
                  Section 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 
                  2058) shall not apply to a rulemaking under paragraph 
                  (1).
      (c) Adoption of Voluntary Standard.--
              (1) In general.--Subsection (b)(1) shall not apply if the 
          Commission determines that--
                      (A) a voluntary standard pertaining to liquid 
                  detergent packets manufactured or imported for use in 
                  the United States protects children as described in 
                  subsection (b)(1);
                      (B) such voluntary standard is or will be in effect 
                  not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
                  of this Act; and
                      (C) such voluntary standard is developed by ASTM 
                  International Subcommittee F15.71 on Liquid Laundry 
                  Packets, or such other entity as the Commission 
                  considers a successor to ASTM International 
                  Subcommittee F15.71.
              (2) Publication of determination.--If the Commission makes 
          a determination under paragraph (1), the Commission shall 
          publish such determination in the Federal Register.
              (3) Treatment of voluntary standard.--If the Commission 
          determines that a voluntary standard meets the conditions in 
          paragraph (1), such standard shall be treated as a consumer 
          product safety standard described in section 7(a) of the 
          Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056(a)) beginning on 
          the date that is the later of--
                      (A) the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
                  publication under paragraph (2) of such determination; 
                  or
                      (B) the effective date specified in the voluntary 
                  standard.
              (4) Revision of voluntary standard.--
                      (A) Notice of revision.--If a voluntary standard is 
                  treated as a consumer product safety standard under 
                  paragraph (3) and such standard is revised by ASTM 
                  International after the Commission makes a 
                  determination under paragraph (1), ASTM International 
                  shall notify the Commission of such revision not later 
                  than 60 days after making such revision.
                      (B) Treatment of revisions.--A voluntary standard 
                  with respect to which the Commission receives notice 
                  under subparagraph (A) shall be treated as a consumer 
                  product safety standard described in section 7(a) of 
                  the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056(a)), 
                  promulgated in lieu of the prior version, effective 180 
                  days after the date the Commission is notified of the 
                  revision under subparagraph (A), unless not later than 
                  90 days after receiving that notice the Commission 
                  determines that the revised voluntary standard does not 
                  meet the requirements of paragraph (1)(A), in which 
                  case the Commission shall continue to enforce the prior 
                  version.
      (d) Future Rulemaking.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission may, at any time after 
          promulgating a final rule under subsection (b)(1) or making a 
          determination under subsection (c)(1), promulgate such rules in 
          accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, as 
          the Commission considers appropriate to protect, to the maximum 
          degree practicable, children as described in subsection (a)(1).
              (2) Treatment as consumer product safety standard.--A rule 
          promulgated under paragraph (1) shall be treated as a consumer 
          product safety standard described in section 7(a) of the 
          Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056(a)).
              (3) Inapplicability of certain requirements.--Section 9 of 
          the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058) shall not 
          apply to a rulemaking under paragraph (1).
      (e) Report to Congress.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
          the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
          Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
          Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
          Representatives a report on risks posed by detergent packets to 
          young children and how the Commission is working to protect 
          such children from such risks.
              (2) Matters covered.--The report required by paragraph (1) 
          shall include the following:
                      (A) A quantitative assessment of annual national 
                  pediatric exposure to detergent packets, including the 
                  number of exposure incidents, the means of exposure 
                  (whether by ingestion, aspiration, or ocular contact), 
                  the clinical effects of the exposures, and medical 
                  outcomes.
                      (B) An assessment as to whether the rule 
                  promulgated under subsection (b)(1) or the voluntary 
                  standard adopted under subsection (c), as the case may 
                  be, has been effective in protecting young children 
                  from injury or illness caused by exposure to detergent 
                  packets.
                      (C) Such recommendations for legislative or 
                  administrative action as the Commission may have to 
                  protect young children as described in subparagraph 
                  (B).
              (3) Publication.--The Commission shall make the report 
          required by paragraph (1) available to the public on the 
          Internet website of the Commission.
target: Detergent Poisoning And Child Safety Act of 2015 or the Detergent PACS Act of 2015 Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish safety standards for liquid detergent packets to protect children who are younger than five years of age from injury or illness.  Directs the CPSC to establish such standards by promulgating a rule or adopting voluntary ASTM International standards. Provides for any final rule that is promulgated to include: (1) requirements for special packaging and warning labels, (2) standards to make the color and design of packets less attractive to children, and (3) liquid composition standards to make the consequences of exposure less severe.  Requires the rule or standards to be treated as consumer product safety standards under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
feat_title: Detergent PACS Act of 2015