Feature Stories

Apr 10, 2013

CPSC Issues Final Guidance on Inaccessible Component Parts, Phthalates

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved the final rule (16 CFR 1199) containing guidance on inaccessible component parts for the requirement on phthalates for toys…

Apr 10, 2013

EU Wants Mandatory “Made In” Labels on Imports from Third Countries

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) recommend that EU must make the use of "made in" origin labels on goods imported from third countries mandatory. The initial goal is "to prevent…

Apr 10, 2013

Invitation to Ongoing Development of ASTM D3181

ASTM International is inviting all interested parties to join in the ongoing development of ASTM D3181, "Standard Guide for Conducting Wear Tests on Textiles." The standard is under the…

Apr 10, 2013

New Zealand Revises ISO Toy Safety Standard

Standards New Zealand recently published a newly revised and improved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards that aims to further reduce the risk of a child being…

Apr 10, 2013

REACH - Annex XVII, New Test Methods for Azodyes

With Regulation (EU) 126/2013 new standards concerning the testing methods for azo colorants and azodyes (under Annex XVII of REACH) have been identified: EN ISO 17234-1:2010 Leather -…

Apr 10, 2013

SAFE Seafood Act Introduced to Combat Fish Fraud

U.S. State Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) has re-introduced a new, bipartisan version of a previously-introduced bill to combat widespread seafood fraud. The bill comes on the heels of…

Apr 10, 2013

UL Acquires Everclean Services, Enters Food Safety Audit Industry

UL, a world leader in advancing safety, has acquired Everclean Services, one of North America's leading food safety audit providers. The addition further extends UL's capabilities in the…

Apr 10, 2013

UL’s ICQ MED Textile Laboratory Accredited for CPSIA Testing

ICQ MED is now registered with the CPSC as an accredited laboratory for CPSIA third-party testing, to assist clients with the testing and certification requirements under the Consumer…

Mar 25, 2013

CPSC Requires Third-Party Testing and Certification to ASTM F963-11

Details The recent approval of 16 CFR 1112 by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) will require toy manufacturers to obtain third-party testing from a CPSC-accredited laboratory…

Mar 13, 2013

Turkey Activates Regulatory Control of Child Care Products at Customs Level

Details With the goal of withdrawing products bearing serious risks from the market, Turkey is performing import checks for the presence of azo dyes, flame retardants and phthalates in…

Feb 15, 2013

EU Proposes Product Safety and Market Surveillance Package

Details The European Commission (EC) has proposed new legislative and non-legislative measures to improve consumer product safety and strengthen market surveillance of all non-food products…

Jan 31, 2013

CPSC Publishes Revised Methods for Lead in Substrate Testing

Details The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published revised test methods for lead in substrates which further expand the options for the use of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)…

Jan 8, 2013

Canada Adopts New Federal Food Safety Law

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government won the unanimous consent of the House of Commons for Canada's new federal food safety law. With its earlier passage by the Senate, the…

Jan 8, 2013

Canada Proposes TCEP Ban in Polyurethane Foam

Health Canada announced a proposed regulatory amendment that would prohibit products intended for children under three years of age that are made, in whole or in part, from polyurethane…

Jan 8, 2013

Canada Proposing to Amend Maple Products Regulations

The Government of Canada is proposing to amend the Maple Products Regulations to provide greater consumer confidence in the safety and purity of maple syrup, and to enhance export…

Jan 8, 2013

CPSC Passes Rule Defining Representative Sample Testing

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 2 - 1 to pass the proposed rule on representative samples amending 16 CFR 1107.21 -.26 on testing and labeling for product…

Jan 8, 2013

EU Harmonized Standards on Toys Safety

The European Official Journal has published the updated list of EN standards harmonized under Safety of Toys Directive 2009/48/CE. The update has included in the list the last amendment of…

Jan 8, 2013

FDA Reviews Safety of Energy Drinks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the agency is conducting a safety review of energy drinks and is considering requiring that labels disclose the amount of…

Jan 8, 2013

Genetically Modified Food Labeling Defeated in California

California voters said "No" to Proposition 37 by a vote of 53 to 47 percent. This decision means the state will not be at odds with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy of not…

Jan 8, 2013

Health Canada Announces New GMP Standards for Active Ingredients

Canadian public health officials have announced the expansion of Health Canada's regulatory authority to inspect and require all active ingredients (AIs)-sometimes referred to as active…