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On Monday, Personal Flotation Devices Labeling and Standards, the final rule removing life jacket type codes from U.S. Coast Guard regulations, was published. The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to remove references to type codes in its regulations on the carriage and labeling of Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs). Removing these type codes from the regulations will facilitate future incorporation by reference of new industry consensus standards for PFD labeling that more effectively convey safety information, and is a step toward harmonization of our regulations with PFD requirements in Canada and in other countries.

NMMA has previously submitted comments, supporting this move as one that will allow U.S. labeling and standards to align with international models, moving the industry in a positive direction. At the time, NMMA noted that the current labeling requirements, specifying Types I though IV was complicated stating, "Consumers find it difficult to understand and thereby creat a further impediment to wear. Regulations should not be so complicated as to discourage the valuable use of a safety device. We must balance the need to regulate safety standards with the practicality of use. The current proposal opens a path to consider how the life jacket will be used and for which activity, rather than an arbitrarycategorical system that produced a rather unworkable framework."

Questions? Contact Nicole Vasilaros at [email protected].