NIOSH Planning to Raise Respirator Certification Fees
The agency has scheduled a public meeting April 30 so allow respirator manufacturers and other stakeholders can comment on the impact of the increases.
NIOSH had announced an April 30 public meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa., to discuss its plan to raise fees it charges for testing and certifying respirators. The agency has proposed fees as high as $3,000 for one type of test, but some test fees in its proposed list are as low as $150.
The meeting is planed so respirator manufactures and other stakeholders can comment on the impact of higher fees on the manufacturers, the respiratory protection market, or industries that rely on NIOSH-approved respiratory equipment. The meeting will last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT or until the last public commenter has spoken, whichever occurs first. The meeting will be available be remote access; visit www.cdc.gov/niosh for registration information.
The fee structure is set out in 42 CFR Part 84, which allows the agency to charge respirator manufacturers for the examination, inspection, and testing of respirators so NIOSH can certify them. "Existing regulations in Part 84, Subpart C--Fees reflect prices for respirator testing and approval that were promulgated in 1972, and have not kept pace with the actual costs of providing these services that benefit respirator manufacturers," according to the agency.