In the News: May 21, 2018

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EPA changes course to regulate a deadly paint stripper
May 14, 2018, Huffington Post
In a surprise reversal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it would enact a rule targeting a widely available type of paint remover that has killed people for decades — including at least four since last year. It’s unclear whether the regulation would ban retail sales of these products, as the EPA proposed in the final days of the Obama administration. The agency would not clarify when asked.

California Takes Three New Steps Under Its Green Chemistry Initiative
May 18, 2018, Morrison & Foerster
California has taken three more important steps to implement its Green Chemistry Initiative. Also known as the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program, the state seeks to supplement federal regulations to regulate and encourage replacement of toxic chemicals in consumer products. The steps include establishing a new priority product for regulation, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) Systems, selecting a draft product to consider for regulation, Chemical Profile on Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs) in Laundry Detergents. The third new step is establishing a Three-Year Priority Product Work Plan (2018-2020)

Favorable verdict in products liability case
May 18, 2018, Mondaq (Lewis Brisbois)
Despite the existence – and admission into evidence – of the client product manufacturer’s self-critical analysis report, including acknowledgment of a design defect of the product at issue, Newark Managing Partner Colin P. Hackett obtained a verdict less than 15% of Plaintiffs’ settlement demand prior to trial. The defense did make an in limine motion seeking to bar reference to the client product manufacturer’s report as a “subsequent remedial measure”, however, the trial court ruled the report, including acknowledgment of a design defect of the product at issue was admissible.

New product safety requirements and recall procedures adopted by Mexico
May 16, 2018, National Law Review (Foley and Lardner LLP)
The commercial and legal environment on product safety in vehicles, auto parts, and other products has substantially changed in Mexico in 2018. Manufacturers carrying out business activities in Mexico should now be implementing increased efforts to comply with and properly react to new legislation, policies, recall procedures and safety standards that are now applicable in Mexico.

Saint Louis University: Individual Certification Course Details Announced
May, 2018, Society of Product Safety Professionals
The Product Safety Professional Certification Program at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business focuses on the theoretical as well as applied product safety management knowledge and skills essential in today’s global system of product safety requirements. Successful completion of the program requires completion of 53 hours of instruction from the several designated knowledge areas. The program focuses on designing and managing a broad product safety culture, mission, and program in a small, medium, or large company setting.

Toxic chemicals found in Canadian baby products, study finds
May 15, 2018, Toronto Star
Dozens of Canadian-made or imported products, including baby bibs, mats and blankets, contain chemicals with known links to cancer and hormone-related illnesses, according to a study by the NAFTA environmental protection agency. Two-thirds of 137 items tested contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), both banned in Canada and internationally.

ATV Attribute Modification Study: Results of Baseline and Modified Vehicle Testing
May 15, 2018, cpsc.gov
The report titled, “ATV Attribute Modification Study: Results of Baseline and Modified Vehicle Testing,” presents the results of static and dynamic vehicle testing conducted by SEA, Ltd. (SEA) on three model year 2014-2015 adult single-rider all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). SEA conducted baseline testing of the three vehicles in their as-received condition, then made modifications to the vehicles (under direction from CPSC staff) to improve their lateral stability and/or handling characteristics, and conducted tests on the modified vehicles to study the effects on performance as compared to the vehicles in their baseline conditions

Does it make economic sense to deliver consumer goods by drone?
May 18, 2018, San Diego Union Tribune
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced San Diego would participate in its drone integration program, which may include things such as food delivery. Will it be economically feasible to deliver things by drones? There are still significant technical and regulatory obstacles to overcome before drone deliveries to retail customers become commonplace. However, companies like Amazon and UPS are working to develop the needed technology and infrastructure.

People are using this smart doorbell to spy on each other
May 18, 2018, Market Watch
Ring, a smart doorbell maker still hasn’t fixed a security flaw that allows users to stay logged into the app — even after passwords are changed. Ring disclosed the flaw but hadn’t yet corrected the bug. The vulnerability lets people who previously had access to a Ring door camera still use it, even after the password has changed. The issue came to light when one customer discovered his ex-boyfriend was using the Ring app to spy on him after he changed the password twice, according to the report.

What Chinese Consumers Want From Western Retailers (Hint: It’s Not Just Fashion And Technology)
May 18, 2018, Forbes
Chinese shoppers continue to flock to Western brands—but they are not just seeking out aspirational names in fashion and technology. Millions of China’s shoppers are also looking to buy everyday items such as food and personal care products from international brands—and they are turning to online marketplaces to buy these categories directly from overseas brands and retailers.

NGO: School supplies with high lead content still being sold
May 19, 2018, Inquirer.net
With only a few weeks remaining before classes begin, an environmental non-government organization urged the Philippine government to intensify the product safety monitoring of school supplies. EcoWaste Coalition found out that some of the school bags they purchased from four different stores in Caloocan City had lead content higher than the allowed levels.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Food Safety, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain

In the News: May 14, 2018

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CPSC, PROFECO, and Health Canada Issue Joint Statement On The Fourth North America Product Safety Summit
May 4, 2018, cpsc.gov
Product safety regulators recently held the Fourth North America Consumer Product Safety Summit in Bethesda, Maryland to take stock of the accomplishments in recent years, gather input from a wide range of stakeholders, identify areas for joint work in product safety, and develop a path forward for future collaboration. Topics ranged from coordinated approaches to emerging hazards to addressing the safety challenges presented by direct-to-consumer cross-border e-commerce. The results are contained in a new Memorandum of Understanding.

Parents are calling for party bag regulations amid claims kids are being hurt by cheap toys… but are they overreacting?
May 11, 2018, The Sun
Parents are calling for party bags to be regulated after reports of children being injured by the cheap toys inside. As a result, nine in 10 support more stringent safety regulations on the items commonly put into the post-birthday packages according to a study Australian toddler Alby Fox Davis choked to death on a bouncy ball given out in the party bags at his fourth birthday party.

Blog: Sports, selfies, and sharks just some of the reasons Americans go to ER: A closer look at our dumb injuries
May 10, 2018, Spokesman.com
From drunken boxing matches to Halloween teeth that won’t come unglued, Americans visit the emergency room for varied, and sometimes amusing, injuries.New data on 2017 hospital visits suggest floors, stairs and beds remain the most dangerous items in the American home, collectively accounting for an estimated 3.2 million hospital visits. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a federal effort to monitor product-related injuries, collects data from a group of representative hospitals around the U.S.

FTC focuses on kids’ geo-location in latest COPPA warnings
May 8, 2018, JDSupra (Ifrah PLLC)
Today’s technology allows parents to answer questions regardless of the time of day. That technology, however, has recently drawn scrutiny for violating the parental notice and consent provisions of the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC’s”) Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”). Recently, the FTC sent two warning letters to companies whose products collect children’s geo-location. Reading between the lines of those letters, it is clear much more is at stake than the fate of those two companies.

Toys R Us Pain Could Be Gain For The Children’s Place
May 11, 2018, pymnt.com
In every story of less, there is usually someone who gained. In the case of the massive Toys R Us bankruptcy, children’s apparel retailer The Children’s Place could end up unexpectedly on the winner’s list. Senior Research Analyst Susan Anderson of investment bank B. Riley FBR put out a report saying that Babies R Us being suddenly out of the market means The Children’s Place has a chance to add as much as 2 percent to its revenue, helping to plug the $300 million hole in the bankrupt retailer’s children’s apparel division.

Cancer warnings for coffee may be overkill, but Proposition 65 is not
May 10, 2018, Los Angeles Times
It’s official: Coffee sold in California must carry cancer warnings, a Los Angeles judge ruled this week. The controversial ruling by a California Superior Court led to an outpouring of commentary leading an opinion writer to note California has gone off the “deep end.” But much of the reaction has overlooked a crucial detail: The California law behind such warnings, Proposition 65, has been the single most effective tool for spurring American companies to eliminate toxic chemicals from processed foods and consumer products.

This circuit break is still in homes despite safety concerns
May 9, 2018, Palm Beach Post (Washington Post)
Millions of U.S. and Canadian homes were built with circuit breaker panels that one expert has questioned as a potential fire hazard. Issues about Federal Pacific Electric’s Stab-Lok circuit breakers were first raised decades ago with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. After closing a CPSC investigation in 1983 because data then available did not establish the panels were a serious threat of injury to consumers” the agency in a 2011 update, clarified that the investigation was closed “without making a determination as to the safety of FPE circuit breakers or the accuracy of the manufacturer’s position on the matter.”

Ninth Circuit Reaffirms Decision Reinstating Action Over False Advertising of Wipes
May 10, 2018, Metropolitan News
A panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined, in an amended opinion, that it got it right last year when it reinstated a dismissed lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark for falsely advertising four of its cleansing wipes as “flushable.”

MPs demand urgent recall of one million tumble dryers over fears they could burst into flames
May 10, 1018, Evening Standard (UK)
The Government should consider ordering a recall of up to a million Whirlpool tumble dryers over defects that can cause them to catch fire, MPs have said. The US-based firm has failed to take responsibility for safety issues with its machines despite a warning from politicians in January, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee said.

EU Commission publishes evaluation reports on EU rules on machinery safety and product liability
May 8, 2018, EU Reporter
Technology is developing rapidly and Europe needs to seize the opportunities ahead. In addition to supporting industry modernization with initiatives such as measures on artificial intelligence and an upcoming strategy on connected and automated driving, the Commission wants to ensure that EU legislation is apt for emerging digital technologies and innovative products.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Food Safety, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment

In the News: May 7, 2018

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$69 Ikea dresser passes CR’s toughest furniture tip-over test
May 3, 2018, Consumer Reports
A new round of Consumer Reports testing into dresser stability underscores the need for a tougher, more expansive tip-over standard to make homes safer for young children and others potentially at risk. CR’s latest testing backs up our earlier findings that the industry already manufactures reasonably priced dressers that won’t easily tip over and potentially injure or kill young children. For example, the Ikea KULLEN and Ikea NORDLI dressers that passed CR’s latest testing currently sell for $69 and $129, respectively.

U.S. Grand Jury indicts former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in emissions scandal
May 4, 2018, The Star
A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn on charges stemming from the company’s diesel emissions cheating scandal in a plot that prosecutors allege reached the top of the world’s largest automaker. The four-count indictment charges Winterkorn, 70, with three counts of wire fraud and one of conspiring with other senior VW executives and employees to violate the Clean Air Act.

Toys “R” Us bankruptcy information
May, 2018, Toy Association
The Toy Association has created this section to provide a place for members of the toy community to monitor the status of the Toys“R”Us bankruptcy and liquidation process. The Toy Association intends to act as a clearinghouse for information from TRU on the bankruptcy case and to get similar creditor questions answered and shared with the broader membership.

Statement of Commissioner Elliot F. Kaye on re-emphasizing safety in ATV action plans.
April 18, 2018, cpsc.gov
Commissioner Kaye charges that There has been unacceptably slow progress in advancing ATV safety since the products were first introduced in the 1970s.In 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) effectively banned three‐wheeled ATVs and required the CPSC to adopt the ANSI/SVIA standard and any subsequent revisions of that standard as a mandatory consumer product safety standard.  Yet, ten years later, Commissioner Kaye says that rule making remains open in large part because the CPSC lacks the critical funding needed to fully advance the technical issues identified by CPSC staff.

ASTM ICPHSO roundtable 2018 proposed age guidelines for toys
April 17, 2018, cpsc.gov
More than 40 children’s toy products have been added to the guidelines that address proposed age appropriate use of these products. The toys cover the following categories: Exploratory and practice play, building play, pretend and role play, and game and activity play.

EU plans to ban plastics plates and balloons from children’s birthday parties
April 30, 2018, Express News
Brussels is planning to ban party items such as balloons on sticks, party plates and drinking straws as part of the EU Commission’s strategy on single use plastics. According to a draft legislative proposal, European Union chiefs are looking to ban party items with a one-use function to cut pollution caused by plastics damaging the environment, including oceans and beaches.

Legislative Update: Behind the scenes of the Vermont Governor’s veto of chemicals bill
March 5, 2018, The Northfield News
A legislator writes: “Earlier this week, the Senate, then the House dealt with the Governor’s veto of S.103, an act relating to the regulation of toxic substances and hazardous materials.  The Senate overrode the veto, but the House sustained it.  The media reported this veto as being anti-children, but really there is so much more to it.”

Marketing to children
May 1, 2018, JDSupra (Fox Rothschild LLP)
When marketing products or services to children, companies should be aware of applicable statutes and guidance and should be particularly cautious with their advertising claims. Companies have a number of rules and acts that govern children advertising and privacy issues.

SEA report to CPSC “Vehicle Characteristics Measurements of ATVs Tested on Groomed Dirt”
February, 2018, cpsc.gov
The report titled, “Vehicle Characteristics Measurements of ATVs Tested on Groomed Dirt,” presents the results of autonomous dynamic vehicle testing conducted by SEA, Ltd (SEA) on 12 model year 2014-2015 adult single-rider all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to study lateral stability and handling characteristics of ATVs on a groomed dirt surface.

Analysis: Insurance and the consumer IoT
April 30, 2018, Ecommerce Times
Smart home and consumer Internet of Things solutions promise significant opportunities for the insurance industry in terms of reducing costs, alleviating risks, deepening customer engagement, and creating new services and revenue streams. There are many barriers ahead to overcome, but given the tremendous upside, insurance companies have begun attacking these challenges with a multi-tiered strategy.

Expanding the Consumer Bill of Rights for material ingredients
April, 2018, Materials Today
In President John F. Kennedy’s original 1962 speech to the United States Congress, he called for the “right to be informed” into what is now called the Consumer Bill of Rights. Specifically, he pointed out that, “…if the consumer is unable to choose on an informed basis, then his dollar is wasted, his health and safety may be threatened, and the national interest suffers.” With significant evolution in material science and the information technology revolution, as well as the Internet, the ability to provide material ingredients for every product is no longer limited by technical feasibility.

New government of Canada regulations protect children from exposure to lead and cadmium
May 2, 2018, Newswire.ca
Parents want to do the best for their children and they need to know that the products that their children come into contact with every day are safe. That is why Health Canada is introducing new limits for toxic metals in children’s products to protect children from exposure to lead and cadmium through updates to the Children’s Jewelry Regulations and through new Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations.

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Home, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain

In the News: April 30, 2018

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$5 Million Penalty: CPSC enforcement of Poison Prevention Packaging standards: the first of many?
April 26, 2018, JDSupra (DLA Piper)
A recent investigation and lawsuit show that the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) is taking seriously violations of Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) standards – even without an injury. This year, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey entered a consent decree imposing a $5 million civil penalty against a multinational pharmaceutical company for knowingly violating the PPPA and the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).

Legal risks for consumer products companies
April 24, 2018, Morrison and Foerster
Developing and maintaining consumer trust is central to operating a successful consumer products company. Product recalls, contaminations, product defects, privacy violations, and data breaches can all undermine consumer trust in a company and its products. These risks, and the risks of related litigation, only increase when products are connected to the internet, contain sensitive consumer information, or operate autonomously.

CPSC’s Expanded Prohibition on Phthalates in Children’s Products Set to Take Effect
April 23, 2018, Lexology (Bryan Cave)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) final rule expanding phthalate restrictions in children’s toys and child care articles takes effect this week, on April 25, 2018. The rule renews the ban on DEHP, DBP and BBP, makes the interim ban on DINP permanent, and adds four new phthalates to the list of banned phthalates in children’s products.

Authorities urge child safety around blinds after infant death
April 26, 2018, tmj4.com
The recent death of a Sheboygan County one-year-old strangled by window blind cords is an unfortunate reminder about the hazards window blind and shade cords pose to young children. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission nearly one child a month dies from cord entanglement.

Internet of Things update: CPSC to consider safety of IoT products
April 26, 2018, National Law Review (Covington)
Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) issued a Public Notice announcing that it will be conducting a hearing on May 16, 2018 to receive information from all interested parties about potential safety issues and hazards associated with Internet-connected consumer products.This hearing reflects the CPSC’s recognition that although IoT products hold the promise of many benefits for consumers, such products raise safety concerns where none existed in the past and pose a challenge for regulators, standards organizations, industry actors, and consumer advocates alike to address.

Judge says glyphosate can be listed under Prop 65
April 24, 2018, kmjnow.com
A California Appeals Court sided with the Center for Food Safety and the state of California in affirming that Monsanto’s glyphosate can be listed under Prop 65. The listing says glyphosate is a known carcinogen. Monsanto filed a lawsuit challenging a California announcement that it would be listing glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, under California’s Prop 65.

Advocates’ letter urges CPSC action on toothpick crossbows and the risk to children
April 25, 2018, Letter
In a letter addressed to each CPSC Commissioner, safety advocates voice concern about the potential risk to children from miniature toy crossbows that can shoot toothpicks, needles, nails and other sharp projectiles. They say that products have already injured children in China, and are now available in the United States. They ask that the Consumer Product Safety Commission look into these products and act to keep the products out of the U.S. marketplace.

European Commission proposes new directive to protect EU whistleblowers
April 26, 2018, National Law Review (Katten)
On April 23, the European Commission (EC) adopted a package of measures, including a draft Directive and an Impact Assessment, to protect whistleblowers who report breaches of EU law.The definition of a “whistleblower” under the proposed new Directive would encompass any person who has “privileged access to information about breaches that can cause serious harm to the public interest and who may suffer retaliation if they report” (i.e., not just employees, but also self-employed people, contractors, unpaid trainees and even job applicants).

Toys R Us Canada Finds Safety Net Amid U.S. Chain’s Demise
April 24, 2018, Huffington Post
Toys “R” Us’s Canadian operations have found a safety net months after the retailer’s demise in the U.S. and overseas. Documents filed in a Richmond, Va. bankruptcy court on Monday revealed the retailer will be cancelling an auction for its 82 Canadian stores and seeking approval on Tuesday to sell them to Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., which is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management.

How technology is helping firms manage logistics and compliance risk
April 25, 2018, Journal of Commerce
The transportation and logistics industry is heavily regulated, with myriad federal, state, local, and international laws on the books whose terms are directly reflected in the contracts that exist between companies in this space and their suppliers, employees, contractors, and customers. This poses a considerable compliance burden, as well as a legal, financial, and public relations risk that is associated with being out of compliance — or in material breach — of any of the commitments within any of those contracts. But technology can help manage these risks.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain

In the News: April 23, 2018

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CPSC Reaction to Consumer Misuse – Human Factors Design Process
April 19, 2018, Retail Consumer Products Law (Crowell & Moring)
Product liability suits and regulatory product defect enforcement actions associated with consumer foreseeable – and unforeseeable – misuse have become the norm. Consumer product companies can mitigate these risks by focusing on use-related hazards and user-centered designs in an effort to reduce injuries and improve the usability of products. But the real question is how far to go with these efforts — at what cost and for what incremental benefit.

CPSC Releases Revised Draft Age Appropriate Guidelines for Consumer Products
April 2, 2018, Consumer Protection Connection (Keller & Heckman LLP)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced potential changes to its 2002 Age Determination Guidelines Relating Children’s Ages to Toy Characteristics and Play Behavior (2002 Guidelines). The new draft guidance, titled Guidelines for Determining Age Appropriateness of Toys (Draft 2018 Guidelines), “addresses toys that have come onto the market since the last update and provides changes to the recommended age group for certain classic toys.”

Chemical Compliance: Deadline Looms for Prop 65
April 20, 2018, Chemical Processing
In just a few short months, on August 30, 2018, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) revisions to its Proposition 65 (Prop 65) Article 6 “clear and reasonable warnings” regulations will come into force. By then, companies must be compliant with the revised regulations for consumer product, occupational and environmental exposures. Companies must change the warning language to state that the product “can expose you” to the Prop 65 chemical; reference OEHHA’s new website, www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/product; and identify the name of one or more of the listed chemicals requiring the warning.

Opinion: States are doing what Scott Puitt won’t
April 22, 2018, The New York Times
Federal action on chemicals seems to be slowing, even as the number we encounter daily grows. With the Trump administration seemingly getting the federal government out of the business of cleaning up the environment, states will have to show the way. Before President Trump was elected, Massachusetts, California and Maine led the charge, regulating certain toxic substances that the federal government had let slip by. Now Washington State has moved to the fore in this fight.

Vermont Governor Vetoes Toxics Bill But Senate Overrides
April 20, 2018, wmac.org
The Vermont Senate overrode Governor Phil Scott’s first veto of the session.  The Republican nixed a bill that would regulate toxic materials.  As WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley reports, Senate sponsors were rankled over the governor’s move, but industry lobbyists agreed with the governor that the bill is unnecessary.

Wrap up of federal and state chemical regulatory developments, April, 2018
April 18, 2018,, JDSupra (Bergeson & Campbell)
EPA Issues Draft Guidance On Expanded Access To Confidential Business Information: On March 16, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released three draft guidance documents for public comment clarifying the circumstances under which EPA may disclose Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) confidential business information (CBI) with an expanded set of people. 83 Fed. Reg. 17748.

A Blueprint for effective product recall
April, 2019, Furniture News
March saw the eagerly-awaited launch of the latest Publicly Accessible Specification (PAS), 7100: 2018. Published by National Standards Body BSI, it’s the result of the work undertaken by the Working Group on Product Recalls and Safety (WGPRS), the PAS Steering group and associated research into the need for corrective action planning and the issue and effectiveness of the public recall of consumer products.

CPSC Takes Smart Tech Safety to the Streets
April 19, 2018, Lexology (Baker and Hostetler)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has had the “internet of things” on its mind for some time now. Back in January 2017, it released a wide-ranging report, titled “Potential Hazards Associated with Emerging and Future Technologies,” that dealt with the broad sweep of emerging consumer products and technologies and the hazards that may be associated with them. A new major development in the CPSC’s engagement with the “Internet of Things” is an upcoming hearing, scheduled for May 16, 2018, in Bethesda, Maryland.

SC Johnson Sets a New Standard in Transparency
April 19, 2018, Pilot on Line
SC Johnson released its 26th annual Sustainability Report, The Science Inside, which
shares publicly the criteria inside the company’s GreenlistT ingredient selection program. The GreenlistT program helps the company continually improve its products by choosing ingredients to better protect human health and the environment.

Porsche exec arrested over Volkswagen’s ‘Dieselgate’
April 20, 2018, Money/CNN
Police have arrested a senior manager at Porsche in Germany in connection with an investigation into diesel emissions rigging at Volkswagen. Porsche, along with brands such as Audi, Skoda and Lamborghini, is part of the Volkswagen Group (VLKAY). Prosecutors said the executive was arrested and remanded in custody because police feared he might flee or suppress evidence. He has not yet been charged.

UL and the Release of a Battery Safety Standard for the UAV Industry
April 19, 2018, Commercial UAV News
With the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) growing exponentially for commercial use, the need for safe batteries and electrical systems is growing, as well. To address these safety concerns, UL (https://www.ul.com/drones) created a new standard – UL 3030 to help ensure the safety of Li-ion batteries used in UAVs. Certification to UL 3030 allows manufacturers to demonstrate to regulators and other interested parties that a specific UAV has been evaluated to a third-party safety standard.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain, Uncategorized

In the News: April 16, 2018

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CPSC Newsroom: Polaris Agrees to Pay $27.25 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Report Defective Recreational Off-Road Vehicles
April 2, 2018, cpsc.gov
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minnesota, (Polaris) has agreed to pay a $27.25 million civil penalty. The penalty settles charges that Polaris failed to immediately report to CPSC that models of RZR and Ranger recreational off-road vehicles (ROVs) contained defects that could create a substantial product hazard or that the ROVs created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.

CPSC’s Ann Marie Buerkle statement on the Polaris Recall and Civil Penalty
April 2, 2018, cpsc.gov
The Acting Chairman of the CPSC announced the recall of more than 100,000 Polaris Model Year 2014 to 2018 RZR XP 1000 recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). She noted that the “recall and penalty agreement is the culmination of many years of hard work between Polaris and CPSC staff. The company has agreed to maintain an enhanced compliance program going forward, which we will monitor closely. Consumers should know that our collaboration with Polaris to jointly address safety issues is ongoing.”

Thermomix fined $4.6 million for failure to report burns
April 11, 2018, abc.net.au
Product distributor Thermomix in Australia was fined $4.6 million for failing to alert the government when at least nine people suffered serious burns while using its faulty cooking appliances. Despite knowing about the problem, the company did not warn appliance users about the risk to their safety. Thermomix further breached the Australian Consumer Law by making representations to at least one customer that they could not receive a refund without first signing a gag order.

CPSC explores safety hazards in ‘Internet of Things’ products
April 11, 2018, National Law Review (Ballard Sparh)
In its public notice, the CPSC explained that the “purpose of the public hearing . . . is to provide interested stakeholders a venue to discuss potential safety hazards created by a consumer product’s connection to IoT or other network-connected devices; the types of hazards (e.g., electrical, thermal, mechanical, chemical) related to the intended, unintended, or foreseeable misuse of consumer products because of an IoT connection; current standards development; (and) industry best practices.”

AHFA broadens tip-over compliance awareness effort
April 11, 2018, Furniture Today
Case goods resources continue to communicate their efforts to comply with a voluntary stability standard that helps prevent furniture tip-over accidents. The American Home Furnishings Alliance has provided hundreds of “We Comply” tent cards that furniture companies will display on their case pieces at market. It launched the effort last year in time for the April 2017 market and said that it is broadening the initiative.

Santa Monica Lawmaker’s bills to ban rat poisons, toxic flame retardant chemicals pass key committee
April 12, 2018, Santa Monica Lookout
Two bills sponsored by Santa Monica Assembly member Richard Bloom to further tackle environmental threats passed a key committee this week, the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. The Committee approved AB 2998, a measure to protect Californians from toxic flame retardant chemicals, on a 5-2 vote. The other bill contained a ban on certain “rat poisons” that pose a “rampant threat” to pets and wildlife.

Just Released: Scope of Product Safety Certification Program for individuals
April 14, 2018, Society of Product Safety Professionals
The product safety professionals organization has published the scope of the recently announced Product Safety Professional Individual Certification Program. It details the knowledge areas that the certification course will include in the formal course at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University and the associated examination.

The European Chemicals Agency recommends restriction on flame retardants in polyurethane foams
April 12, 2018, Chemical Watch
Echa has recommended that a restriction proposal is prepared on the flame retardants TCEP, TCPP and TDCP in flexible polyurethane (PUR) foams in childcare articles and residential upholstered furniture. The agency published a screening report on its website that identified a carcinogenicity risk for infants from exposure to the substances.

European Commission releases RAPEX 2017 annual report
April 9, 2018, OpenPR
The European Commission has released its 2017 annual report for the Rapid Alert System (RAPEX). The report shows 2201 alerts were sent through RAPEX in 2017, with 3952 follow-up actions. This demonstrated a stabilization in the number of notifications and member state follow-up actions. The report confirms, as in previous years, that ‘toys’ constitute the largest sector of RAPEX notifications, with 29%. This is followed by motor vehicles (20%) and then ‘clothing, textiles and fashion items’ (12%). The most common form of risk was ‘injury’, with 28%, followed by ‘chemical’ (22%) and then ‘choking’ (17%).

A home safety checklist for seniors
April 3, 2018, St. Louis Post Dispatch
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 1.4 million people aged 65 and older receive hospital emergency treatment each year due to injuries from consumer products. Many injuries occur in the home, often from falls. This checklist can help caregivers and senior loved ones find and correct any safety issues. Improving home safety for older adults can reduce the risk of accidents and keep seniors stay safely independent.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain

In the News: April 9, 2018

Posted on by adk

$27.25 Million Settlement: Polaris finalizes resolution with Consumer Product Safety Commission
April 2, 2018, Business Wire
Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) announced a $27.25 million settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that resolves two 2016 late-reporting claims. Additionally, Polaris, in partnership with the CPSC, initiated a recall on select RZR XP/XP 4 1000 models. “I am extremely confident in the strength of our organization, the quality of our products, and the 11,000 employees who champion the principles and values that embody Polaris,” said Scott Wine, chairman and CEO, Polaris.

After ban, flame retardant chemical levels in children’s blood declined, but still remain
April 4, 2018, Laboratory Equipment
The flame-retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, were used in furniture and consumer products from the 1970s until the early part of the 21st century. They have gradually been phased out, since they were found to persist in the environment – and exposure to them was linked to developmental problems in children. A new paper by researchers reports that levels of a specific PBDE chemical have been decreasing in the blood levels of children in the years since the substance has been phased out, even if they have not disappeared entirely.

CPSC releases revised draft age appropriate guidelines for consumer products
April 2, 2018, National Law Review (Keller and Heckman LLP)
A new draft guidance, titled Guidelines for Determining Age Appropriateness of Toys (Draft 2018 Guidelines) will be replacing the previous guidance published in 2002 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The new guidance “addresses toys that have come onto the market since the last update and provides changes to the recommended age group for certain classic toys.”

Cancer warning labels on coffee? California ruling ‘crazy,’ scientists say
March 30, 2018, Seattle Times
The California court ruling that a cancer-warning label should be required on coffee has left the scientific community puzzled. There is plenty of research showing coffee doesn’t cause cancer, and can prevent liver and endometrial cancer. The World Health Organization announced two years ago that there was “no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect of drinking coffee.” One scientist thinks the logic of placing coffee on California’s Proposition 65 list of cancer-causing chemicals is “crazy” when looking at the science showing otherwise.

Report: Fewer deaths but more children’s product recalls
April 5, 2018, GoErie.com
There were fewer incidents, injuries and deaths caused by children’s products last year, yet the number of products recalled rose, according to a consumer advocates group. In 2017, 93 children’s products were recalled — a 22 percent increase over 2016, according to a report from Chicago-based children’s advocacy group Kids in Danger. No deaths were reported from children’s products last year, but there were 1,630 incidents — in which hazards occurred but no children were injured — and 153 injuries caused by 16 different products before manufacturers recalled them, the report said.

Consumer Agency bows out of IoT data security issue
April 4, 2018, fcw.com
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced it planned to stay in its lane when it comes to focusing on physical threats. “We do not consider personal data security and privacy issues that may be related to IoT devices to be consumer product hazards that CPSC would address,” the notice read. What makes the IoT different from other consumer product categories is the potential for “hazardization,” which CPSC defines as occurring when a safe product “connected to a network, becomes hazardous through malicious, incorrect, or careless changes to operational code.”

AQSIQ dismantled in Chinese government restructure
April 5, 2018, Fruit Net
In March China’s National People’s Congress approved the most comprehensive government restructure in nearly 50 years. The new plan will be rolled out over the coming months, and includes the establishment of a State Market Regulatory Administration (SMRA). The SMRA will acquire the responsibilities held by a number of individual government bodies, including the AQSIQ agency (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) that has overseen consumer protection from unsafe products that represent serious risk to consumers.

Vermont advances bill reducing hurdles to banning children’s products
April 5, 5018, Chemical Watch
Vermont’s legislature has approved a bill that would give the state’s health commissioner increased authority to ban or restrict children’s products. The governor’s signature is all that stands in the way of the controversial measure becoming law.

Opinion: Toxic chemical laws are not protecting human health
April 2, 2018, Toronto Star
More than four decades after taking action on chemicals judged as health risks, Canada’s health and environment departments are considering regulatory decisions that substituted harmful replacements. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently took the first step toward a full ban on an entire class of toxic flame-retardants in a variety of consumer products. Canada should do likewise. In Canada and the U.S., laws governing pollution and toxic substances have largely failed to protect human health and the environment from chemical hazards in everyday products. Something has to change. It’s time for a green chemistry revolution.

Counterfeiting in Asia hits alarming levels
April 5, 2018, WARC
Counterfeiting is rife in Asia and no longer affects just high-end brands, but now extends to any product with a logo, a leading representative from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned. According to Piotr Stryszowski, the OECD’s senior economist of public governance and territorial development, the trade in counterfeit goods is also causing huge revenue losses for governments across the region.

Canadian Apparel Federation holds workshop series for Canadian apparel, textile and footwear industriesApril 6, 2018, Textileweb.com
The Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) has selected SGS North America as its partner to deliver a workshop series for Canadian manufacturers and retailers in the apparel, textile and footwear industries. The workshops provide education on critical existing and upcoming regulations that impact Canadian companies who manufacture, test or trade products internationally.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain, Uncategorized

In the News: April 3, 2018

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Designers Of 17-Story Waterslide Face Murder Charges In Boy’s Decapitation
March 27, 2018, NPR
Roughly 18 months after a child died on what was once the world’s tallest waterslide, authorities have indicted two water park executives in connection with the gruesome death. Their indictments — on charges ranging from second-degree murder to aggravated battery — cap a wide-ranging investigation launched after the 10-year-old rider was decapitated at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Three men have been charged: the ride’s two principal designers, Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffrey Wayne Henry and John Timothy Schooley, as well as the park’s director of operations, Tyler Austin Miles, who had been indicted earlier. Henry and Schooley, together with Schlitterbahn’s private construction company, face 18 felony counts including second-degree murder — while Miles and the Kansas City park face 20 felony counts.

APNewsBreak: California Judge: Coffee needs cancer warnings
March 30, 2018, Washington Post
A Los Angeles judge ruled on March 28, 2018 that California law requires coffee companies to carry an ominous cancer warning label because of a chemical produced in the roasting process. Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle wrote in the proposed ruling that Starbucks and other coffee companies failed to show that the threat from the chemical was insignificant.

Companies replacing BPA with potential risky chemicals-CHEM Trust
March 30, 3018, Chem Trust
Companies are putting public health at risk by replacing one harmful chemical with similar, potentially toxic alternatives, according to a new report by a UK advocacy organization. Manufacturers should not be permitted to replace BPA in consumer products with other Bisphenols, according to CHEM Trust. The UK-based charity says some firms are claiming, when selling to downstream users, that BPA has no hazards. European Commission regulation means stricter measures on bisphenol A (BPA) will apply from September, 2018 forward.

CPSC to hold hearing connected with product hazards
March 30, 2018, National Law Review (Keller and Heckman LLP)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hold a hearing focused on unique challenges and considerations that connected products pose for product safety. Carefully establishing that the CPSC’s remit exclusively involves product safety, and not data privacy or information security, a staff-prepared draft notice (which was approved unamended by the Commission) identifies a number of possible safety-related questions about connected consumer products to be considered at the May 16, 2018 hearing.

Consumer Product Update – Health Canada warns of safety hazards with several uncertified USB chargers
March 26, 2018, Business Insider
As part of a planned national sampling and compliance project, Health Canada tested a number of uncertified USB chargers. The following products were found to pose an unacceptable risk of electric shock and fire and are being recalled. This table will be updated if and when new products are recalled.

How to achieve faster more precise recalls
March 29, 2018, Manufacturing Business Technology
Based on a renewed sense of urgency stemming from the release of a new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s office, it has never been more critical for food manufacturers to implement traceability to ultimately enhance food safety and instill consumer confidence in their brands. Coupled with a changing climate where more consumers value information transparency, clean labels, and authentic ingredients, it’s absolutely essential for a food manufacturer to implement traceability for survival in the digital age. There are three ways to improve a manufacturer’s traceability, according to one industry official.

Artificial intelligence: McKinsey talks workforce, training, and AI ethics
December 26, 2017, ZDNet
AI is a vague umbrella concept that ties together data and a set of technologies, such as pattern recognition and other techniques, that emulate human learning and intelligence. The term “artificial intelligence” is an imprecise marketing or presentation phrase used for the sake of convenience. Business buyers should dig deeper to understand the technologies that make the most sense for their organizations. Two recent reports from the McKinsey Global Institute focus on the business value of AI and the impact of automation and demographics on work and the economy.

Op-Ed: Why The Barcode Will Soon Become The World’s Largest Consumer Engagement Platform
March 27, 2018, PSFK
Pay attention to the humble barcode, it’s about to become the world’s largest consumer engagement platform. Named by the BBC as one of 50 inventions to have shaped the modern economy, the barcode is used by more than two million manufacturers globally on more than four trillion individual products each year. Now, following updates to iOS and Android that mean more than two billion smartphones around the world can automatically scan standard codes, GS1 (the standards body that manages the barcode and other product coding standards) has kicked off a program to effectively update the barcode.

Predicting a post-Brexit future is as hard as ever
March 30, 2018, Irish Times
An EU report last week found loose parts on cheap fidget spinners from China were causing serious injuries to children. The EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous goods blocked their entry into Europe. The weighted-pronged toys are apt metaphors, too, for where Brexit negotiations are right now. There is constant spinning and the hypnotising whirling motion creates the impression of dynamic movement. Then the wheel stops. The actual Brexit board-game that all sides are playing is squaring the circle: how can the UK government achieve the goals of leaving the EU’s customs union (the tariff-free zone) and single market (the common trading zone) and pursuing international trade deals, while avoiding a hard Border where the two territories meet in Ireland?

The best bike helmets you can buy
March 28, 2018, Business Insider
The publish of a magazine that gets a percentage of sales from manufacturer’s whose products they endorse, says that wearing a helmet when you ride a bicycle can save your life. “Our top pick is the stylish Schwinn Thrasher Adult Bike Helmet because it’s durable, comfortable, cool, and very affordable.” The endorsement points out “your helmet should have a sticker indicating that it meets required safety standards. Since 1999 in the US, bicycle helmets must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment

In the News: March 26, 2018

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Furniture tip overs: A hidden hazard in your home
March 22, 2018, Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports believes that the number of tip-over deaths due to dressers and storage units—there were 195 reported to the CPSC between 2000 and 2016— makes it a crisis. Today industry operates under a voluntary tip-over testing standard—which means any dresser taller than 30 inches should stay upright with 50 pounds of weight hanging from an open drawer. Some manufacturers meet the standard or go beyond it; others fall short. CR thinks setting a new tip-over testing standard that is reasonable should be based on protecting more at-risk children and should be mandatory.

New Federal Standard to Improve Safety of Infant Bouncer Seats Takes Effect
March 23, 2018, Market Watch
A new federal standard aimed at making bouncers safer is now in effect. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved the safety standard to prevent deaths and injuries to babies. The new mandatory standard applies to any infant bouncer seat manufactured or imported after March 19, 2018.

Blog: States aren’t waiting for Feds to ban flame-retardants from kids’ products
March 20, 2018, Pew Trusts
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted last fall to rid toys and furniture of a dangerous flame retardant that scientists say could cause lasting health problems in both children and firefighters. But advocates on the issue fear an internal political squabble will delay the agency from moving ahead with the ban. Sixteen states aren’t waiting around. They have bills in the works this year to ban or tightly restrict certain fire retardants from use in toys, child car seats, strollers and other children’s and household products.

The man behind the federal government’s funniest and most beloved Twitter account
March 20, 2018, Houston Chronicle
A government agency has found a way to turn consumer safety alerts and recalls into comedic gold. The creative muscle behind the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) quirky Twitter account is 31-year-old Joseph Galbo, of Orange County, New York. Since joining the 500-person federal agency in July 2016 as a social media specialist, Galbo has helped grow the agency’s Twitter followers by roughly 37 percent thanks to a mix of vibrant, meme-like images.

U.S., U.K., and E.U. regulators turn focus to IoT
March 19, 2018, National Law Review (Covington and Burling LLP)
With the tremendous economic and social impact of connected products, systems, and devices comes a more intensive focus on the legal risks of misuse, defects, and malfunctions. IoT has the potential to make products and services safer (in such diverse areas as consumer products, railroads and food), to reduce workplace hazards, and to improve patient safety and reduce preventable errors in hospitals. Connections to the Internet, however, also can introduce new vulnerabilities in the consumer market and in infrastructure, if not properly secured. Manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and regulators are increasingly focused on the consumer safety, security, and privacy implications of connected products.

ACCC launches new policy
March 19, 2018, Appliance Retailer
ACCC chairman Rod Sims has reaffirmed support for introducing a general safety provision into Australian Consumer Law to reduce the risk of unsafe goods entering the market. Speaking at the National Consumer Congress in Sydney, Sims said the new policy sets out how the ACCC will manage product safety risks, and the issues it will target in 2018. “As an agency, it is essential we prioritize our product safety resource allocation,” he said.

Secondhand toys are convenient but health experts say they can be harmful for kids
March 17, 2018, DNA India
Quite often, children receive hand-me-down toys from older siblings. Sometimes, we even save a toy for its sentimental value and pass it down to our kids. And while it’s a kind gesture to donate old toys that your child has outgrown to underprivileged kids, it might not be a good idea, after all. Reason being, according to a study, secondhand toys can cause health problems for kids. Experts shed light on the matter.

OPSS to build product surveillance and safety system
March 22, 2018, UK Authority
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), which went into operation in January, has begun to look for support in the alpha and beta phases of a project to develop a service to take over from the existing EU market surveillance systems, the Information and Communication System on Market Surveillance (ICSMS) and Rapid Alert System (Rapex). The existing systems are used to share intelligence and alerts on non-food products that could pose a risk to consumers, and the OPSS wants to have a minimum viable product in place by this time next year, in advance of the planned date for the UK to leave the EU.

New Code for product recall and corrective actions
March 19, 2018, Lexology (TLT LLP)
The UK regulatory regime for consumer goods has a new kid on the block in the form of the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) – and it has just announced its arrival by teaming up with the British Standards Institution (BSI) to issue a new Code of Practice for product recall and corrective actions. These changes come against a backdrop of criticism due to product recalls not being effective enough – particularly in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which fire investigators believe was caused by a faulty fridge freezer.

The impact workplace safety programs have on company culture
March 20, 2018, Food Processing
Consumer brand loyalty comes with greater trust built through both consistent quality and safety of food products; the latter two aspects being key requirements mandated by regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The goal of ensuring the safety of employees within these food and beverage industries is equally important to the outcome of product safety and quality; and is a goal that can only be accomplished through committed and exemplified leadership.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain

In the News: March 19, 2018

Posted on by adk

Opinion: The Courts against Proposition 65
March 13, 2018, American Thinker
A federal judge has frozen plans to require all products containing the widely popular herbicide glyphosate to display a Proposition 65 warning in a landmark ruling that could signal the turning of the tide for California’s nanny-state regulations.  The decision by Federal District Judge William Shubb represents a significant blow to both to the much maligned Proposition 65 and the organization that accounts for so many of its listings, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Manufacturers using perfluorinated chemicals should follow new regulations
March 12, 2018, Rubber & Plastics News
Perfluorinated chemicals, which include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have been widely used in manufacturing since at least the late 1940s. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, PFOA and PFOS were identified as “emerging chemicals” of potential regulatory concern due to findings of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the environment and human blood and a shift in regulatory science policies. Manufacturers using PFCs should pay close attention to new regulations. In November, PFOA and PFOS were listed by California as Proposition 65 chemicals “known to cause reproductive toxicity,” based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s issuance of drinking water guidance.

CPSC Guidance for companies that make children’s products
Cpsc.gov
Children’s products are subject to a set of federal safety rules, called children’s product safety rules. Determining how your product is classified enables you to identify correctly the set of children’s product safety rules applicable to your product.  The law defines a “children’s product” as a consumer product designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger. In addition, the Commission passed an interpretative rule with further explanation and examples.

Small toy makers: Death of Toys “R” Us leaves a ‘big hole’
March 16, 2018, Gant Daily
For many toy makers, Toys “R” Us wasn’t just a store, it was a lifeline. The national toy retailer, which announced earlier this week plans to close or sell all of its US stores, acted as the main — and sometimes only — distributor for companies large and small.

It’s Daylight Saving Time: Make Some Changes, for Safety’s Sake!
March 9, 2018, cpsc.gov
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to remind everyone of the simple life-saving habit of changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Change the batteries when you change your clock! Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday March 11 when clocks are set ahead one hour. It’s also the perfect opportunity for everyone to try to make a difference in reducing the more than 360,000 fires in homes each year.

Fidget spinners named one of the most dangerous products in the EU
March 13, 2018, alphr.com
A new report by the EU Commission declares fidget spinners pose a serious threat to child safety and may well be the victim of their own success after being named in the EU’s annual rapid alert report. The alert system, which is used by member states’ national authorities to help quickly identify and eradicate dangerous products from the market, outlines the danger that fidget spinners pose to children’s safety.

Securing Data Privacy & the Law Forcing Compliance
March 14, 2018, ebnonline.com
The countdown is on. Europe’s latest regulation aimed at ensuring even greater data privacy protection for all EU citizens comes into effect May 25, 2018. But global companies doing business in Europe and with Europeans are still struggling to define their compliance strategy and develop an approach to avoid the hefty fines for data security and user consent breeches and “privacy by design” violations. Several panel discussions and keynote speeches during the recent Mobile World Congress, the annual gathering of mobile industry executives, highlighted the challenges companies face with aligning their data collection and usage practices to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

UK: You Brexit, You Buy It: EU Notice Sets Out Post-Brexit Position For EU Product Rules
March 15, 2018, Mondaq.com
As part of the Brexit process, the European Commission has published various notices to stakeholders, setting out the position on a number of topics from the day the UK leaves the EU, “subject to any transitional arrangement” (read: in the event of a no deal scenario). One such notice covers a number of key pieces of product legislation including: the General Product Safety Directive, Cosmetics Regulation, WEEE Directive, Batteries Directive, Toys Directive, Machinery Directive and more – all set out in an “Indicative list of Union product legislation”.

Health Canada to contact Claire’s after news report claims makeup contains asbestos
March 14, 2018, globalnews.ca
Earlier test results provided by Claire’s, along with Health Canada’s own testing, did not identify any health or safety concerns regarding asbestos. However recent news reports indicate otherwise. “In light of these new reports, Health Canada is contacting the company to determine if additional actions are warranted,” according to a statement by Health Canada.

EU Commission: 53% of Banned Items Made in China, 26% in Europe
March 15, 2018, EU Scoop
53% of the European Commission’s list for dangerous products has goods made in China. Previously, we reported on the EUC’s concerns about fidget spinner brands and how dangerous they can be for the European market. Most of the current list consists of toys. The head of the Bulgarian Commission for Consumer Protection Dimitar Margaritov commented: “Pacifiers, soothers, baby car seats, toy cars, and beds – the main risks could be traced to the presence of small elements that can cause choking or wounding.”

Product Liability in Denmark
March 13, 2018, Lexology (Poul Schmith Law Firm)
The Danish product liability rules are well developed, well established and complicated. Denmark has a two-branch system where liability for damage or injury caused by a defective product may be established both under the Products Liability Act and under rules developed in case law.

 

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Food Safety, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment