Crib mattress safety rules get a small update, but the process is the real story

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is asking for public comment on a minor update to crib mattress safety standards. This update comes from a voluntary industry group, not the agency itself.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission relies on voluntary industry standards for many product safety rules. When these standards are updated, the agency usually just incorporates the new version. This process means that industry groups often set the actual safety requirements, with the government's role being to rubber-stamp their changes.