Feature Stories

May 21, 2014

UL ICQ Hong Kong Receives HOKLAS Accreditation for Toy Related Standards

UL ICQ HK has recently received accreditation from HOKLAS for toy related standards for updated EN71-3 chemical requirements and electric toys testing of the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009…

May 21, 2014

Vermont Enacts Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Law

The Governor of the state of Vermont has signed a bill into law that will require the labeling of genetically engineered foods, the first such law in the nation. Under the new law, by July…

May 21, 2014

Vermont House Supports Toxic Chemical Regulation for Children’s Products

The Vermont House and Senate have supported passed Senate Bill S.239, which would provide regulation of toxic chemicals found in children’s products. The bill gives the Vermont Department…

Apr 29, 2014

Canada Bans TCEP in Children’s Polyurethane Foam Products

Details Schedule 2 to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) is amended by adding products that are made, in whole or in part, of polyurethane foam (PUF) that contains tris (2…

Apr 22, 2014

California Adds Methyl Isobutyl Ketone and Megestrol Acetate to List of Proposition 65 Chemicals

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added both methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and megestrol acetate to the list of chemicals known to the state of California to…

Apr 22, 2014

China Releases New Labeling Rules for Imported Baby Formula

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has implemented a new labeling rule, where information in Chinese characters for imported baby formula must…

Apr 22, 2014

CPSC Issues Final Ruling for Soft Infant and Toddler Carriers

In accordance with the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a final ruling, implementing safety standards for…

Apr 22, 2014

ECHA Publishes Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for 2014-2016

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) update for years 2014-2016, which lists 120 substances for evaluation by the Member State…

Apr 22, 2014

FDA Approves New Auto-Injector to Reverse Opioid Overdose

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a prescription treatment that can be used by family members or caregivers to treat a person known or suspected to have had an opioid…

Apr 22, 2014

FTC Issues Changes toTextile Labeling Rules

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued final amendments to its Textile Labeling Rules, addressing fiber content and country-of-origin disclosures. The Rules implement the Textile…

Apr 22, 2014

President Obama Announces Nominee for New Chairman of CPSC

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced Elliot Kaye as his nominee to become the next Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Kaye is currently serving as the…

Apr 22, 2014

Turkey Amends Regulation on Biocides

Turkey has amended its biocidal products Regulation to extend the transitional periods for various product types. The amendments came into force on March 12, 2014. The Regulation requires…

Apr 22, 2014

UL Bangladesh Laboratory Approved for GB Physical and Analytical Testing

UL’s Bangladesh laboratory has been approved for physical and analytical testing according to GB standards for textiles and leather. Textiles and leather testing services now include pH,…

Apr 22, 2014

University of Texas Study Finds Crib Mattresses Emit Potentially Harmful Substances

A recent study by environmental engineers at the University of Texas at Austin found that infants are exposed to high levels of chemical emissions from crib mattresses while they sleep. …

Apr 2, 2014

EU Amends Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Chromium VI in Leather Goods

Details Commission Regulation (EU) No 301/2014 amends Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation…

Mar 27, 2014

New Chinese Mandatory Textile Standard – GB/T 29862-2013

Details On May 1, 2014, the new China national standard GB/T 29862-2013 Textiles-Identification of Fiber Content will replace the FZ/T 01053-2007. Textile and apparel products placed on the…

Mar 26, 2014

Concerns Raised on Use of PFCs in Apparel

Details Recent testing conducted on outdoor apparel found perfluorinated compounds (PFC) in the coatings or waterproof membranes of all items. These findings raise environmental concerns…

Mar 25, 2014

BfR Calls for Aluminum Limits in Deodorants, Other Cosmetics Products

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has requested that limits be introduced on the use of aluminum in antiperspirant deodorants and other cosmetics. In its most recent…

Mar 25, 2014

Cadmium and Lead Found in Jewelry Samples in HCM City Shops

An investigation by the Ho Chi Minh City (HCM) Market Management Bureau found lead and cadmium in 17,000 Made-in-China jewelry samples retrieved from shops in District 5. The samples will…

Mar 25, 2014

California Introduces New Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Bill

California has introduced a bill (SB 1381) that requires any food, with certain exceptions, offered for retail sale in California to be labeled “Produced with Genetic Engineering” or …