Regulatory Bulletins
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03/02/12 FTC Seeks Public Comments Regarding Rules under the Wool Products Labeling Act
On January 30, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Request for Public Comments in regard to 16 CFR Part 300, Rules and Regulations Under the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939...Read more

31/01/12 EU Extends Ban of Dimethylfumarate
On 26 January 2012, the European Commission published implementing Decision 2012/48/EU on the extension of the temporary ban on Dimethylfumarate (CAS 624-49-7) which will come into force on 15 March 2012. The limit is still set as 0.1 mg/kg which applies for each component part of the article. No transition period has been deemed necessary since a ban on DMFu already has existed since 2009...Read more

31/01/12 REACH: 13 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) Recommended for Authorization by the ECHA
Pacifiers In December 2011, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) made a recommendation to the European Commission that 13 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) be added into Annex XIV of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH). If included in Annex XIV, these substances would be banned from use within the next three to five years unless an authorization is granted to individual companies for their use. The final decision on inclusion will be made eventually by the European Commission...Read More

31/01/12 European Union Publishes Three Guidance Documents on the Application of Revised Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC
In January 2012, the European Commission published three Guidance Documents intended to facilitate the application of the Revised Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC by all stakeholders....Read more

31/01/12 European Union Publishes Commission Decision on Safety Requirements for Bicycles
Pacifiers The European Commission published Decision 2011/786/EU in the Official Journal of the European Union on 2 December 2011. The Decision outlines European safety requirements for a range of bicycle types to enable compliance with the General Product Safety Directive.

This Decision 2011/786/EU is pursuant to the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC and entered into force on 22 December 2011. Background and highlights of new requirements follow...Read More

27/01/12 Update on Proposed Norwegian Regulation to Ban Hazardous Substances in Consumer Products
On 20 December 2011, Norway notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) about a proposed amendment to the Norwegian Product Regulations. The amendment, known as the “Prohibition on Certain Hazardous Substances in Consumer Products (PoHS),” would ban four hazardous substances (Lead, PCP, PFOA and MCCP) from use above a specific limit in nearly all consumer products. The ban is scheduled to enter into force on 1 July 2012...Read more

19/01/12 Austria: Ban of Bisphenol A in Pacifiers and Teethers
Pacifiers Austria’s ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in pacifiers and teethers takes effect on 1 February 2012. It prohibits the manufacture and placing of pacifiers and teethers on the market that contain bisphenol A. The ban was published on 6 October 2011 in the Federal Law Journal for the Republic of Austria and amends the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act (Lebensmittelsicherheits-und Verbraucherschutz)...Read more

05/01/12 Proposed Restriction on Phthalates in indoor articles and articles in contact with skin or mucous membranes
Pacifiers In January 2012, Denmark proposed a restriction of four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP) in indoor articles and articles that come in contact with skin or mucous membranes under REACH Annex XVII (EC 1907/2006). Suggested limits are 0.1% (1000 mg/kg) of one or more of these four phthalates. Comments on the proposed restriction can be given on the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website (see link below). The deadline for comments is 16 March 2012...Read more

04/01/12 NEWSBYTE: CPSC Releases Ballot Vote Sheet Recommending NPR for Infant Swings
On January 11, 2011, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released the draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for the Safety Standard for Infant Swings. The proposed rule would establish a safety standard for Infant Swings, pursuant to section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The CPSC staff presented the draft NPR to the Commissioners on January 18th during a public briefing. Upon the review and approval of the draft by the Commissioners, the NPR will be published in the Federal Register at which time comments may be submitted on the NPR....Read more

04/01/12 NEWSBYTE: US CPSC Issues Position Letter on Children’s Sleepwear
On December 22, 2011, the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) issued a letter to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and importers outlining and reminding them of the legal requirements for compliance of Children’s Sleepwear in the US. This document serves as CPSC’s position letter reiterating that all Children’s Sleepwear and Loungewear sold in the US must comply with the flammability requirements of 16 CFR 1615/1616....Read more

28/12/11 NEWSBYTE: US CPSC Announces Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Fire Pots and Gel Fuel, and Requests Comments
On December 27, 2011, an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) aimed at improving the safety of gel fuels and firepots was published in the Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 248. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 4-0 to publish the ANPR....Read more

21/12/11 REACH – 20 New Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
In a press release, dated 19 December 2011, the European Chemicals Agency introduced 20 new Substances of Very High Concern. Two substances (refractory ceramic fibres) were already included in the ECHA Candidate List and were re-evaluated to cover a wider substance definition. Therefore, the ECHA Candidate List is extended to 73 substances...Read more

21/12/11 NEWSBYTE: European Commission Publishes New Regulation Amending Regulation (EU) No 10/2011
A new Regulation (EU) No 1282/2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food was published on 10 December, 2011 in the Official Journal of the European Union...Read more

20/12/11 NEWSBYTE: GS Mark – PAHs List Officially Expanded
On 29 November 2011, the Central Department of the Federal States for Safety Features officially announced the list of PAHs expanded from 16 to 18 PAHs for GS Mark Certification. The two newly added PAHs are Benzo[j]fluoranthene and Benzo[e]pyrene...Read more

20/12/11 ASTM International Publishes Revised Standard for Toy Safety
The Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963-08 has been revised to ASTM F963-11. This revision was approved on December 1, 2011 and published on December 16, 2011. ASTM International will notify the US CPSC of the revised standard in accordance with Section 106 of the Consumer the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)...Read more

20/12/11 ASTM International Publishes New Standard for Bedside Sleepers
In December of 2011, ASTM announced the publication of a new standard for bedside sleepers. The new standard, designated as ASTM F2906-11, provides safety requirements and labeling requirements for bedside sleepers...Read more

20/12/11 NEWSBYTE: US Bottled Water Quality Standard - Maximum Established for DEHP [Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate]
The US FDA has completed its decision making process to establish a maximum allowable level of the synthetic organic chemical DEHP in bottled water. The FDA has determined this rule to be protective of public health...Read more

06/12/11 NEWSBYTE: French National Assembly Passes Ban of Bisphenol A in All Food Contact Packaging
On 12 October 2011, the French National Assembly passed a bill by 348 votes to two that would ban all food contact packaging, containers or utensils containing bisphenol A (BPA) effective 1 January 2014. This is the first step of the French prohibition procedure. Before the ban becomes final law, it will need to be passed by the French Senate...Read more

29/11/11 Proposed EU Restriction on Lead in Jewellery – RAC and SEAC Finalize Opinions
earings In 2010, France proposed a restriction of lead in jewellery under REACH Annex XVII. As part of this process, the RAC and the SEAC have finalized their opinions on the proposed restriction, so that the EU Commission can now prepare a decision on restricting lead in jewellery....Read more

22/11/11 Effective Date Delayed for Canadian General Service Lighting Energy Efficiency Regulations
Incandescent LightBulb The Energy Efficiency Regulations have been amended to delay the effective dates for incandescent phase outs prescribed in the Regulations by two years to January 1, 2014 for 100 and 75 watt bulbs and to December 31, 2014 for 60 and 40 watt bulbs....Read more

11/11/11 Denmark Announces Dossier regarding Hexavalent Chromium in Leather
Leather shoes The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) received a notice of intention by Denmark to submit a dossier regarding the restriction of Chromium VI in leather with skin contact based on its allergic effects. The dossier according to Annex XV of the REACH-directive is expected to be submitted in January 2012....Read more

11/11/11 European Union Publishes a New Regulation for Fibre Content Labelling and Testing
t shirt The European Union published a new regulation in its Official Journal on the 18th of October 2011 that combines fibre content labelling and fibre content testing into one single piece of legislation. There are several new implications involved both for fibre content labelling and testing of items falling within the scope of this new legislation.......Read more

11/11/11 REMINDER: The New Version of the Norms of Transformers, EN 61558:2009 will Replace EN 61558:1997 on 1 July 2012
electric power adapter In 2012, the new version of the Norms of Transformers, EN 61558:2009 will replace the old one, EN 61558:1997. The DOW (Date of Withdrawal) for the old version is 1 July 2012...Read more

03/11/11 NEWSBYTE: California Releases Draft Safer Consumer Products Regulation
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has released a new draft of the Safer Consumer Products regulation, commonly known as the “green chemistry” regulation for public review and comment. The new proposal, among other changes, immediately establishes a list of chemicals of concern, expands who would be responsible for compliance, shortens many timeframes, and lowers the acceptable limit for exempting certain chemicals .......Read more

03/11/11 ASTM Approves Children's Jewelry Safety Standard
child's bracelet On November 1, 2011, ASTM International approved ASTM F2923-11, “Children’s Jewelry Safety Standard,” that includes strict cadmium limits in children’s metal and plastic jewelry. The test method and limits were adopted from the CPSC's migratable content limit for cadmium in children’s metal jewelry...Read more

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