Feature Stories

Oct 16, 2013

U.S. EPA Withdraws Draft BPA Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has withdrawn two proposed rules, including one that would have added bisphenol A (BPA) and several phthalates to the "chemicals of concern"…

Oct 16, 2013

U.S. FDA Determines Rice Arsenic Levels Too Low for Immediate Risk

A recent test by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that the amount of detectable arsenic was too low in the rice and rice product samples to cause any immediate or short…

Oct 16, 2013

UL Adds Toy Safety Testing in Gurgaon India Laboratory

Addressing the issue of toy safety has become a primary concern for the toy industry in India as a means to instill confidence in buyers; accreditation and quality-testing certifications…

Oct 16, 2013

Updated U.S. Guide for Apparel and Textile Exporters

The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) under the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has released the annual and updated report entitled "Going Global: Export Guide for…

Oct 16, 2013

USDA Revises FSIS Directive 8080.1, Recall of Meat and Poultry Products

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised FSIS Directive 8080.1, Recall of Meat and Poultry Products, to provide guidance regarding…

Sep 17, 2013

CHPA Calls for Expanding Acetaminophen Dosing Instructions

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take further actions to provide easier access and accurate dosing…

Sep 17, 2013

CPSC Amends Play Yard Standard, ASTM F406-13

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued the final rule for the implementation of the amended Play Yard Mandatory Standard, which went into effect on August 19, 2013…

Sep 17, 2013

ECHA Proposes New Revision of Classification and Labeling of BPA

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched public consultation on a proposal for the revision of harmonized classification and labeling (CLH) on bisphenol A (BPA). The proposal was…

Sep 17, 2013

European Commission Opens Public Consultation for Use of Preservatives MCIT and MIT

The European Commission (EC) has opened public consultation for the use of the preservatives methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCIT) and methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in cosmetic products. In the…

Sep 17, 2013

FDA Cautions of Rare Acetaminophen Hazard

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), acetaminophen can cause serious skin conditions such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute…

Sep 17, 2013

ISO Publishes New Sunglasses Standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published two new standards for sunglasses to help manufacturers ensure that their products are effective and work as intended. …

Sep 17, 2013

Norway Introduces Restrictions on PFOA

As of June 1, 2014, Norway will become the first country to ban the use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in consumer products. The ban will apply to solid and liquid consumer products, as…

Sep 17, 2013

Oceana Study: 33% of Seafood Mislabeled

A new report recently released by conservation group Oceana underlines that a large sample size of fish has been mislabeled. Fish samples collected by Oceana from 674 retail outlets in 21…

Sep 17, 2013

Pathogens May Exist in Unpasteurized Milk

According to the Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado, aged cheese made from unpasteurized milk has likely been responsible for several food poisoning outbreaks. The…

Sep 17, 2013

Russian Regulation CU TR 008 2011: Toy Import Certification Update

According to the Russian Regulation CU TR 008 2011, a certificate is needed in order to import toys into the Custom Union of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. There are two certification…

Sep 17, 2013

UL Offers Testing Services for Soft Infant Carriers

UL's Hong Kong laboratories have introduced a new service for the testing of soft infant carriers to help ensure compliance with Section 104(b) of the CPSIA and based on the voluntary ASTM…

Sep 9, 2013

California's Safer Consumer Products Legislation Approved

Details California's Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the Department of Toxic Substances Control's landmark Safer Consumer Products regulations (OAL File No. 2013-0718-03 S),…

Aug 23, 2013

California Dose Levels for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate Effective October 1, 2013

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has approved a Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) of 1,200 micrograms per day for oral exposures of butyl benzyl…

Aug 23, 2013

EC Harmonizes EN71-5: 2013 Safety Requirements for Chemical Toy

The European Commission (EC) has harmonized EN71-5: 2013 covering safety requirements for chemical toys other than experimental chemistry sets under the EU Toy Safety Directive (TSD). The…

Aug 23, 2013

EC Proposes Limits for PAHs in Consumer Products

The European Commission is amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction…