Trump Pick to Head Consumer Safety Board Is Seen as Too Close to Industries
December 7, 2017, New York Times
As President Trump’s nominee to head the agency, Ann Marie Buerkle, current Acting Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is drawing criticism for her positions. Like some Trump administration officials, Ms. Buerkle is an unabashed supporter of voluntary regulations, and believes that collaboration with manufacturers, rather than levying fines or imposing recalls, is the fastest way to get dangerous products off the market. “My top goal, of course, is safety,” said Ms. Buerkle in an interview.
CPSC to accept ASTM F963-2017 as mandatory standard with certain conditions
December 6, 2017, 4-Traders
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently published a direct final rule (DFR) mandating ASTM F963-2017 for toys with one exception. If no adverse comments are received, the new mandatory standard will become effective on February 28, 2018. According to the Commission, the new language in section 8.20.1.5(5) of ASTM F963-2017 functionally exempts pull/push toys from the A-weighted maximum sound pressure level (L) requirements and will decrease safety by allowing toys that produce sound levels that exceed noise exposure limits by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Apart from this new language, the Commission accepts all changes in ASTM F963-2017 as the mandatory standard.
Study: Flame Retardant Chemicals In Household Goods Harmful To Children’s Social Behavior
December 5, 2017. Study Finds
Some chemicals commonly used to treat furniture, electronics, and many other household items to prevent fires may affect the sociability and development of young children, according to a recent pilot study. Oregon State University researchers studied correlations between the social behaviors of children and their exposure to flame retardants widely found in common household goods from carpets to couches to kitchen appliances.
Toxic Free Toys Act Amended in New York’s Suffolk County
December 2, 2017, NB Herard
Suffolk County, in New York State, has approved a Resolution to amend the county’s Toxic Free Toys Act. Approved by the County Executive on October 23, 2017, the amendment updates several sections of the Toxic Free Toys Act, including: Heavy metals in children’s products regulated by state-wide or federal legislation are obliged to comply with these laws, otherwise children’s products are obliged to comply with the requirements for antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury under the Toxic Free Toys Act. These include: Antimony ≤ 60 ppm, Arsenic ≤ 25 ppm, Cadmium ≤ 75 ppm, and Mercury ≤ 60 ppm.
MARKETPLACE CANADA-‘That’s a real problem.’ Investigation finds baby products for sale despite recall orders
December 8, 2017. CBC Canada
A Marketplace investigation discovered a variety of recalled baby products for sale, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the system meant to protect the public from products with dangerous flaws. Over a period of two weeks, Marketplace purchased three different products in store and online after they’d been recalled by the manufacturer days, weeks and even months earlier.
Bayer to grant access to product safety studies to rebuild public trust
November 30, 2017, Euractiv.com
The recent re-authorisation of the world’s most commonly used weed killer, glyphosate, has heated up the debate about food safety in Europe.The lack of access to scientific studies used for the authorisation of products in the name of business confidentiality has triggered strong reactions from health advocates and policymakers who blamed the chemicals industry for a lack of transparency. German chemical firm Bayer will launch a transparency initiative providing EU consumers with access to the safety data of its products, aiming to restore the dwindling trust in the sector.
IKEA China will not recall problematic drawers but promises refund
December 8, 2017. Global Times
IKEA China has announced it will not recall its Malm line drawers again in China but customers can ask for full refund, reports Chinanews.com. The Swedish company launched a massive recalling of its Malm line drawers around the world including China last year after 7 children were killed by the tilting and falling of the drawers.
In May, another child in California was crushed to death after an unsecured Malm dresser fell on him. The company announced recently that it had launched a recall of 17.3 million drawers in the United States and Canada, but the company pointed out “The recall this time is not a do-over but a reiteration of the messages in the last recall.”
Communication is key during a product recall
December 8, 2017, Continuity Central
Simulated product recalls often show that the technical actions of a recall are carried out well, but frequently teams fall down on communication. This can have big implications: at worst it can lead to a relatively small issue developing into a major crisis. Should this happen would the technical manager be leading the recall team? And if so, is he or she equipped to handle communications effectively?
Technology, Regulation Prove Double-Edged Swords in Product Recall Risk
December 6, 2017, Insurance Journal
Exploding Samsung phones, error-prone Takata airbags, faulty GM vehicle ignition switches, failing Johnson & Johnson hip implants — multi-billion dollar product recalls have become more common over the past decade. According to one insurer, product-related risk is one of the biggest perils facing businesses today. A new report from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty says that with recall exposures increasing significantly over the past decade, there is the potential for larger and more complex losses than ever before.
The UK is in Brexit trouble. It can’t decide whether to be closer to the EU or to the U.S.
December 7, 2017, The Washington Post
The United Kingdom has now used up more than half the time it had to agree on an exit deal with the European Union, once it decided to leave in the Brexit referendum. It’s not yet clear what future relationship the U.K. wants. It claims that it wants both a close trading relationship with the E.U. and an ambitious trade agreement with the United States, but it can’t have both. Here is how things are likely to play out.
