Feature Stories

May 21, 2013

JVC Announces “The Essential Guide to Conflict Minerals and the Dodd Frank Act”

The Guide, published by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), provides useful information for anyone interested in Dodd Frank and is particularly geared to businesses anywhere in the gold…

May 21, 2013

Maryland Governor Signs HB 99 Prohibiting TCEP in Child Care Products

On May 2, 2013 the Governor of Maryland signed Maryland House Bill 99, which prohibits child care products containing TCEP in amounts greater than 1/10th of 1% by mass (10 ppm) by October 1…

May 21, 2013

Norway’s KLIF Publishes Chemical Legislation Guide

Norway's Climate and Pollution Agency (KLIF) has prepared guides to make it easier for importers of chemicals and products to follow the different chemical regulations. The new guides…

May 21, 2013

Oregon Set to Ban Genetically Modified Salmon and Mandate GMO Labeling

The state of Oregon has introduced a trio of legislative bills requiring that all genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) be properly labeled, as well as prohibiting the import and sale of GM…

May 21, 2013

Publication of the EU Regulation 126/2013/EC Amends Annex XVII of REACH Restrictions

Regulation (EU) No. 126/2013 amending Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (EC) n. 1907/2006 was published on February 14, 2013 on the European Union Official Journal L 43. The Regulation…

May 21, 2013

Recent Developments in Textile Seam Testing

Task groups at the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and working groups at British Standards Institution (BSI), European Committee for Standardization (CEN), and the…

May 21, 2013

Switzerland Initiates Transitory Period for Labeling Legislation of Products Containing Furs or Pelts

Passed last December and now entered into force in Switzerland, a transitional period for a new piece of legislation "Ordonnance sur la déclaration des fourrures et des produits de la…

May 21, 2013

U.S. Judge Rules FSMA Implementation Requires New Deadlines

U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton of Oakland, California has used her authority to chide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for "admittedly" failing to comply with the mandatory…

May 16, 2013

CPSC Approves Proposed Rule Aimed at Making Strollers Safer

Details The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted on May 10, 2013 to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) in the Federal Register to create a federal safety standard…

May 6, 2013

Eight Substances Added to the Authorization List: Annex XIV of REACH (EU)

Details The European Union (EU) has adopted the Commission Regulation (EU) No 348/2013 amending Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on…

Apr 25, 2013

CPSC Seeking Information for Phthalate and Heavy Metal Content

Details The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a Federal Register Notice requesting information on materials used in the manufacture of consumer products that are…

Apr 10, 2013

California Proposition 65 Amendment Introduced

California Assemblyman Mike Gatto has introduced Assembly Bill 227, an amendment to The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (CA Prop 65) that would give businesses 14 days…

Apr 10, 2013

Canada Updates Labeling Process for Generic Drugs

Health Canada announced it will regularly post a table on its website which reflects updated and new safety information in Product Monographs (PM) of brand-name pharmaceutical drug products…

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…