Regulatory Bulletins
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09/03/12 Toy Safety Directive: European Council tightens migration limits for cadmium
teddy bear The EC published Directive 2012/7/EU amending the Heavy Metals Requirements of Directrutive 2009/48/EC on the Safety of Toys. By this amendment the migration limit of cadmium will be lowered, considering new scientific results of the EFSA....Read more

05/03/12 EU: Portable Rechargeable Batteries and Automotive Batteries and Accumulators – Required to be Marked with their Capacity
Batteries According to Commission Regulation (EU) Nº 1103/2010, portable rechargeable batteries and automotive batteries and accumulators will be required to be marked with their capacity effective 30 May 2012...Read more

29/02/12 Final Rules for US Safety Standard for Portable Bed Rails Published in Federal Register
On February 29, 2012, the Final Rule for the Safety Standard for Portable Bed Rails was published in the Federal Register by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The final rule adopts the ASTM F2085-12 as mandatory with no changes. The final rule also establishes an effective date of August 29, 2012 and will apply to product manufactured or imported on or after this date...Read more

29/02/12 EU Starts Consultation to Revise the Limit of Lead in Toys
Directive 2009/48/EC on the Safety of Toys includes migration limits for certain elements (e.g., lead) in toys which are scheduled to come into force in July 2013. However, these limits can be amended by a “comitology procedure” when new scientific evidence indicates a need for change. This means that minor changes in legislation do not have to pass the EU Parliament but are instead discussed and adopted by a professional committee....Read more

23/02/12 US Toy Standard ASTM F963-11 to Become Mandatory
ASTM F963-11 “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety” becomes a mandatory standard on June 12, 2012. The 2011 version of the standard was published on December 15, 2011, and as defined under CPSIA it becomes mandatory within 180 days of publication, unless rejected by the US CPSC within 90 days of publication...Read more

23/02/12 RoHS: Consultation Sought on Exemption Requests
The European Commission has requested scientific support from the Öko-Institut e.V. and the Fraunhofer IZM for the evaluation of exemptions for substance restrictions under Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS). Stakeholders can provide comments until 20 March 2012 on pre-chosen exemptions, some of which are new and some which are being revised. The Öko-Institut e.V. then will issue a final opinion on the inclusion of new exemptions to the RoHS Directive...Read more

22/02/12 REACH: Eight Substances Listed under Annex XIV and to be Banned by the EU
On 14 February 2012, the European Union published Decision EC 125/2012 to include eight additional substances from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Candidate List to the EC 1907/2006 Annex XIV of the REACH regulation. This means that these eight substances will be banned from 2015 unless an authorisation is granted to individual companies for their use. These requirements apply regardless of the tonnage at which the substance is placed on the market or used. By adding these eight substances, Annex XIV now contains 14 substances in total...Read more

15/02/12 CPSC Issues Draft NPR for Safety Standard for Infant Swings
Baby Blue eyes The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for infant swings, released under Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The draft proposed rule incorporates the applicable voluntary standard ASTM F2088-11b with certain modifications to strengthen the standard. Comments on the NPR may be submitted up to April 25, 2012...Read More

09/02/12 Korea Certification (KC) Mark for Home Textile Products Update: KATS No. 2011 - 0727
Bed and blankets The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) announced a proposed amendment for home textile products in December 2011. The new requirements are intended to protect consumers from hazardous substances contained in textile products. The standard is scheduled to come into force one year from the date of the amendment announcement...Read More

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: 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

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: 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

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