Feature Stories

Dec 13, 2016

MoE Restricts Certain Nonylphenols for Household and Industrial Use

MoE Restricts Certain Nonylphenols for Household and Industrial Use Landing Copy: South Korea's Ministry of Environment (MOE) has released its updated list of substances restricted under K…

Dec 13, 2016

NJ Aims to Ban Supplemental Mattresses

The New Jersey Assembly has introduced a bill that aims to ban supplemental mattresses. The bill is tagged as Assembly Bill 1139 and prohibits the sale of unsafe supplemental mattresses…

Dec 13, 2016

Research Suggests Biological Factors May Contribute to SIDS

Researchers from the Royal Alexandra Hospital For Children in New South Wales, Sydney have suggested that biological factors can cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The research…

Dec 13, 2016

Washington Releases Chemical Evaluations for CHCC Chemicals

The Washington Ecology Department has released These Chemical Evaluations to Support Adding or Delisting Chemicals from the CHCC List. The reporting rule specifies the requirements for…

Dec 8, 2016

ANSES Concludes Safety Assessment of Certain Phthalates in Toys

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has released the results of its evaluation on certain phthalates in plastic toys and materials likely…

Dec 8, 2016

ASTM Releases Standards for Selection of Zippers for Care-Labeled Apparel and Household Furnishings

ASTM International has released a standard intended for zippers. The standard is entitled as "ASTM D3692 - 89(2016) - Standard Practice for Selection of Zippers for Care-Labeled Apparel and…

Dec 8, 2016

CAA to Enforce New Care Labeling Standard for Textiles

The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan is set to enforce JIS L0001-2014 “Textiles – Care Labeling Code Using Symbols” on December 1, 2016. This new standard contains five major care…

Dec 8, 2016

CEN Approves Standard on Safety of Toys

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has released the standard ‘EN 71-12:2017 Safety of Toys - Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-Nitrosatable Substances.’ The standard establishes…

Dec 8, 2016

EPA Releases Fact Sheet on Face Paints and Kids Cosmetics

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of New Zealand has released a fact sheet focused on face paints and kids cosmetics. The fact sheet is entitled as Face Paints and Kids Cosmetics,…

Dec 8, 2016

EU Member Countries Agrees on Limits for BPA and Phenol in Toys

European Union (EU) member countries voted for the migration limits of bisphenol A (BPA) and phenol in toys for children under three. These limits are covered by a proposed Commission…

Dec 8, 2016

FPS Releases Royal Decree for Varnishes and Coatings Used in FCM

The Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Public Health and Safety of the Food Chain and Environment released Royal Decree on varnishes and coatings intended to come into contact with…

Dec 8, 2016

FSAI Introduces 'Small Quantities' and 'Local' Definitions for Nutrition Labelling

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has introduced S.I. 559 of 2016 European Union (Provision of Food Information to Consumers) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2016. The document…

Dec 8, 2016

Latvia Publishes Regulation for the Safety of Toys

The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia has issued an amendment to Regulation no. 132 on Safety of Toys. This amendment has adopted the chemical requirements laid down by Commission Directive …

Dec 8, 2016

SASO Enforces Electrical Self-Balancing Scooters, Technical Regulation, 2016

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has enforced the Electrical Self-Balancing Scooters, Technical Regulation, 2016 starting December 3, 2016. This technical…

Dec 8, 2016

Standards Australia Releases Standard on the Safety of Toys

Standards Australia has released the standard ‘SA/SNZ TR 8124.8:2016 Safety of Toys - Age Determination Guidelines.’ The standard is an adoption of ISO/TR 8124-8:2016, which serves as a…

Dec 8, 2016

Suffolk County Delays Enforcement of Toxic Free Toys Act

The Federal District Court of Suffolk County has announced the delay of enforcement of the Toxic Free Toys Act of 2015 due to the lawsuit filed against the country by the Safe to Play…

Dec 8, 2016

Turkey Updates Regulation for Toy Safety

The Official Gazette of Turkey has published Toy Safety Regulation No. 29 847 to update the regulation that was published in 2013. This regulation sets the minimum safety standards for toys…

Dec 6, 2016

FDA calls the plays to protect the food supply

Foodborne illnesses caused by food-borne pathogens such as Listeria and E. coli are costly to consumers, the healthcare system, and food businesses. According to the U.S. Centers for…

Dec 5, 2016

Smoke Alarms and Smoke Detectors – New and Revised Requirements

Dan Kaiser, Staff Engineer, Building and Life Safety Technologies UL recently released the 8th edition of the Standard for Smoke Alarms, UL 217 and the 7th edition of the Standard for…

Female hands hold a tablet computer with system clever house on a screen on the background of the house

Nov 30, 2016

Don’t get smart with me! But your home can.

Connected-home devices hit 433.1 million units shipped in 2017, according to the IDC Smart Home Tracker, while future shipments are projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 18.5…