Feature Stories

Hawaii Health Department Proposes New Restaurant Food Safety Rules

The Hawaii State Department of Health has proposed new food safety rules for restaurants and other food establishments that will signify the first major change to its food safety regulation…

Dec 18, 2013

Hazardous Toy Dolls Arriving From China Seized at Eight U.S. Ports

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently seized more than 200,000 toy dolls arriving from China, after finding that the toy…

Dec 18, 2013

Israel’s New Regulations to Align with EU’s No. 1223/2009

Israel's Ministry of Health has announced new draft regulations called "Pharmacists' Regulations (Cosmetics)" that will align cosmetic marketing with the European Union's "Regulation (EC)…

Dec 18, 2013

Netherlands Updates Commodities Act on Food Contact Materials

The Netherlands has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the updating of the Commodities Act on packaging and consumer articles that come into contact with food. The…

Dec 18, 2013

New EU Draft Regulations to Tighten Up Product Safety and Market Surveillance

A new draft regulation that will tighten up product safety and market surveillance in the European Union (EU) has been released with the endorsement of Internal Market Committee. According…

Dec 18, 2013

New Food Labeling Rules Under EU Regulation 1169/2011

According to new EU Regulation No 1169/2011, food and beverage industries must abide by food labeling requirements and properly inform consumers about their products, or could face…

Dec 18, 2013

New Mobile App Checks Cosmetic Product Ingredients

A new mobile application has been developed that will help consumers check cosmetic product ingredients by scanning the bar code of a product from any participating manufacturer. Once the…

Dec 18, 2013

OEHHA Adopts Reference Exposure Levels for Caprolactam

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of California has adopted the Reference Exposure Levels on the use of caprolactam. Caprolactam is the monomer used in the…

Dec 18, 2013

OEHHA’s Intent to List Unrefined Rapeseed Oil as Carcinogen

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has released its intent to list emissions from high-temperature unrefined rapeseed oil as a carcinogen under the Safe Drinking…

Dec 18, 2013

Request for Scientific Opinion for Nano Silica in Cosmetics

A request for scientific opinion on the safety of nano silica in cosmetics products is being done by the European Commission (EC), as these ingredients are not regulated in Cosmetic…

Dec 18, 2013

Scotland Government Tightens Food Safety Law

The Scotland government is taking initiative on their food safety law, following Europe's wide horsemeat scandal, with a legislation that will create a new food body and will be included in…

Dec 18, 2013

Study: Frozen Fruits Contain Same Nutritional Value as Corresponding Fresh Items

According to a study from the Frozen Food Foundation and the University of Georgia, the nutritional value of many frozen fruits and vegetables is generally equal to that of their fresh…

Dec 18, 2013

Two Changes Made to Children's Product Chemical List

The Washington Department of Ecology has adopted changes to the Children's Safe Product Act reporting list, which specifies the chemicals of high concern that children's product…

Dec 18, 2013

U.S. Introduces Textile Fraud Bill

A group of U.S. House lawmakers has introduced new legislation, known as the Textile Enforcement and Security Act, which aims to limit textile import fraud and transshipments. The act is…

Dec 18, 2013

UL Consumer Product Group Announces 2014 Monthly Webinar Program

A company's brand is often its most valuable asset and safeguarding brand reputation is of particular importance for toy, nursery and children's product manufacturers, suppliers and…

Dec 18, 2013

Updated Eco Textile Labelling Guide for 2014

An updated version of the Eco Textile Labelling Guide, available April 2014, will inform readers on the latest mandatory and voluntary organic textile standards and certifications including…

Dec 18, 2013

EU Amends Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, PAH in Consumer Goods

Details Commission Regulation (EU) No 1272/2013 amends Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation,…

Dec 12, 2013

CEN Develops New Amendment EN 71-1 for Cardboard Toys

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is developing two new amendments to EN 71-1, applicable to cardboard books and cardboard present in toys. The first (A1), is intended to…

Nov 20, 2013

CPSC Approves New Bassinet and Cradle Standard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory safety standard for bassinets and cradles. The new federal standard is an incorporation of the…

Nov 20, 2013

Drug Compounding Bill Passed by U.S. Congressional Panels

Legislation that will give more authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating drug compounding across state lines has been agreed upon by the U.S. House of…

Nov 20, 2013