Feature Stories

Mar 10, 2016

Israel to Adopt Standard for Baby Bouncers

The government of Israel has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that SI 14036, a standard intended for baby bouncers, will be declared mandatory to protect human health and safety…

Mar 10, 2016

Italian Textile Manufacturers Commit to Detox Standard

Twenty companies from Italy's Prato textile district have announced their commitment to Detox, the highest standard in toxin-free fashion production. The adoption of the standard will…

Mar 10, 2016

Japan Approves Ban on Polychlorinated Naphthalene, Pentachlorophenol

Japan has amended the Act on the Examination, Regulation, and Manufacture of Chemical Substances to include polychlorinated naphthalene (with two chlorine atoms) and pentachlorophenol (salt…

Mar 10, 2016

Japan Designates Several Azo Compounds as Harmful Substances

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) released an amendment to the “Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances,”…

Mar 10, 2016

Japan Publishes ST 2016 for Toy Safety

Japan Toy Safety Standard ST 2016, published on February 1, 2016 and in force beginning April 1, 2016, incorporates recent changes in ISO 8124. Revisions include: ST 2016 – Part 1:…

Mar 10, 2016

Korea to Implement Common Safety Standard for Children’s Products

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has released the “Children’s Products Safety Special Act,” for textile and leather products intended for children aged 13 or under, and…

Mar 10, 2016

Serbia Releases Toy Safety Standard

The government of Serbia has released guidelines for warnings and instructions for toys. The notice provides instructions to manufacturers for placement of warnings and instructions for…

Mar 10, 2016

SIS Releases Textile Floor Covering Standard

The Swedish Standards Institute (SIS) has released SS-EN 1307:2014+A1:2016 Textile floor coverings – Classification, in accordance with the European standard. This standard sets…

Mar 10, 2016

Sweden Releases Paint and Varnish Standards

The Swedish Standards Institute (SIS) has released the following standards for paints and varnishes. STANDARD TITLE DESCRIPTION SS-EN ISO 4628-4:2016 Paints and varnishes - Evaluation…

Mar 10, 2016

TFDA Bans Estradiol, Estrone, and Ethinyl Estradiol in Cosmetics

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has issued a ban on cosmetics containing estradiol, estrone, and ethinyl estradiol which makes the import, manufacture, sale, and supply of…

Mar 10, 2016

Turkey Bans UV Filter 3-Benzylidene Camphor

The Turkish Drug and Medical Device Institution banned the use of 3-Benzylidene Camphor in cosmetics products. Commonly used in sunscreens, hand and body creams, and anti-aging products,…

Mar 10, 2016

Ukraine Orders Adoption of European Regulations for Electric Toys

The Ukrainian Research and Training Center of Standardization, Certification and Quality (SE "UkrNDNC") has issued Order No 42 of 18 February, 2016, On Amendments to the Order from…

Mar 10, 2016

Washington State Passes Bill Banning Five Substances from Children’s Products and Upholstered Furniture

The State of Washington House of Representatives has passed HB 2545, the “Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act,” a bill banning the following flame retardants from children's products and…

Mar 9, 2016

UL Provides Medical Device Manufacturers Alternative to Traditional CFDA Testing

Mounds View, Minn., March 9, 2016 – UL, a global safety science organization, today announced the launch of its new China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) testing program for medical…

Mar 8, 2016

What’s On Tap? Rainwater Catchment Systems Satisfy a Thirst

Increasingly, an adequate supply of drinking water is an issue facing communities around the globe, from western areas in the United States that have experienced droughts, in particular…

Mar 7, 2016

EN ISO 13485 FDIS transition date moved to 2019

There has been an amendment to the European Foreword to EN ISO 13485:2016 such that the Date of Withdrawal of EN ISO 13485:2012 is now 31 March 2019 instead of 30 September 2016. This is…

UL studies flame retardants, UL studies flame retardants

Mar 7, 2016

UL Heading Research of Flame Retardant Exposure

A 2013 UL study revealed that understanding the health impact of products consumers eat, use or interact with on a daily basis is a top priority for them. A focus of this priority is…

Mar 1, 2016

Spotlight on Mumbai: Newest UL Office Coordinates Work Done By Three Labs

UL’s newest location in India is in the sleek Bandra Kurla Complex, situated in a posh part of Mumbai, home to investment banks, multinational corporations and prominent Indian businesses. …

Feb 29, 2016

Industrial Internet Consortium Announces First Security Claims Evaluation Testbed

UL (Underwriters Laboratories), Xilinx, Aicas, PrismTech and other contributors join forces to provide a security and cybersecurity assessment platform for evaluating endpoint, gateway,…

Feb 26, 2016

CPSC will no longer require General Conformity Certificates for Low-Risk Adult Apparel already exempt from testing

Details The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has unanimously adopted the elimination of costly and unnecessary General Conformity Certificates (GCC) on clothing manufacturers…