SG 135/26
US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) publishes a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to designate certain corded window coverings as substantial product hazards.
On September 24, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the Substantial Product Hazard (SPH) List for window covering cords. The proposed rule would expand the list of readily observable hazardous characteristics on window coverings that would be deemed an SPH under Section 15(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).
What hazards are addressed by the proposed rule?
The proposal is intended to further reduce the risk of strangulation for children eight years of age and younger associated with accessible window covering cords. It builds upon CPSC's 2022 SPH rule for window coverings and reflects revisions incorporated into ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022. CPSC cited incident data involving cord-related fatalities and injuries as evidence that hazardous cord configurations continue to present significant risks to young children.
What window coverings would be deemed SPHs?
The proposal would deem certain stock and custom window coverings to present an SPH if they fail to comply with specified provisions of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022.
Stock window coverings would be deemed an SPH if they fail to comply with one or more of the following requirements:
- Operating cord requirements (sections 4.4.1.1, 4.4.1.2 and 4.4.1.3)
- Inner cord requirements (sections 4.5, 6.2 and Appendices C and D)
- On-product manufacturer label requirement (section 5.3)
- Roll-up style shade requirements requiring cordless construction (section 3, definition 1.04)
Custom window coverings would be deemed an SPH if they fail to comply with one or more of the following requirements:
- Inner cord requirements (sections 4.5, 6.2 and Appendices C and D)
- On-product manufacturer label requirement (section 5.3)
- Operating cord requirements relating to cordless, short static/access cord, or inaccessible operating cord systems (sections 4.4.2.1 through 4.4.2.3)
- Horizontal blind requirements prohibiting continuous loop operating systems with or without a tension device (section 4.4.2.5.1)
- Continuous loop operating system requirements for other custom blinds and shades (sections 4.4.2.5.1 through 4.4.2.5.3)
- Single retractable cord lift system requirements (section 4.4.2.4)
- Roll-up style shade cordless requirements (section 3, definition 1.04)
- Warning label and warning tag requirements for continuous loop systems containing a tension device (sections 5.1 and 5.2)
- Warning label and warning tag requirements for single retractable cord lift systems (sections 5.1 and 5.2)
What does this mean for stakeholders?
The proposed rule is open for public comment until November 23, 2026. If finalized, manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of window coverings may need to review product designs, cord configurations, labeling and compliance programs to ensure conformity with ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022 requirements and the expanded SPH criteria. Products deemed to present an SPH would be subject to CPSA reporting obligations and may be subject to corrective actions and other enforcement measures.
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