Specialized Technology Resources (H.K.) LTD.

STR-US To Attend TOY FAIR On February 11-14, 2007

The American International Toy Fair^?/font> is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. More than 1,500 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from 30 countries showcase their toy and entertainment products. Toy Fair is the premier platform for innovation and inspiration and more than half of exhibitors will launch new products in 2007.

For more information on TOY FAIR please visit: www.toy-tia.org or via email at: toyfairs@toy-tia.org. To meet with an STR staff member at the show, please contact Susan DeRagon at Susan.DeRagon@strus.com.

STR-US To Attend And Present At ICPHSO's Annual Meeting

The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization's (ICPHSO) 14th Annual Meeting and Training Symposium will take place February 26 - March 1, 2007 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The event is a unique international forum for health and safety professionals to exchange ideas, share information, and take leadership roles in addressing health and safety concerns affecting all consumers.

We are pleased to announce that Susan DeRagon, STR's Manager of Toys and Premiums, will moderate the panel discussion, "Risk Management of Consumer Products". Sue has over 20 years of industry experience, and has been a frequent panel member at ICPHSO and other consumer product related safety symposiums. Also attending the meeting from STR are Karolyn Helda, Project Leader; Melissa Ritz, Technical Specialist; and Alex Sanchez, Project Manager.

For more information on the meeting, please visit: www.icphso.org. To meet with our staff during the event, please contact Karolyn Helda at karolyn.helda@strus.com.

Shuster Laboratories To Exhibit At Food Safety & Security Summit March 6-8, 2007

The Food Safety & Security Summit will be held March 6-8, 2007, at the Washington, DC, Convention Center. This show features intensive educational seminars conducted by industry experts, workshops, social and networking events and a large exhibit hall featuring the industry's leading problem-solving vendors. The summit provides an ideal venue to bring thousands of industry participants, regulators and lawmakers together to discuss the pressing issues facing the entire industry.

Shuster will have an exhibit at booth #506, and will showcase the company's comprehensive quality assurance and food safety services. Attendees from Shuster will be Katie Griffin and Gerry Kelly. If you would like to meet with the Shuster staff during the show or learn more about our programs and services, please contact Katie Griffin at katie.griffin@shusterlabs.com. For more information about the event, please visit: www.foodsafetysummit.com.

Design Chain Associates (DCA) Offers China RoHS Webinar

STR's partner, DCA, continues to offer important environmental compliance services to interested parties in the electrical and electronics fields. Their latest webinar, slated for Thursday, January 18th 2007, is entitled: China RoHS: Be Compliant by the March 1 Deadline!

This webinar will focus on similarities to and differences from the European RoHS Directive, as well as the much broader and onerous scope of China RoHS - which includes test and measurement, component, material, and medical products. The recent changes in marking requirements, and the revised meaning of the March 1st deadline will also be examined.

For more information on this and other DCA webcasts, please contact Alyce Mayer at alyce.mayer@strus.com, or access DCA's China RoHS website via www.ChinaRoHS.com.

Committee F40 On Declarable Substances Met In Shanghai

The ASTM International F40 Committee, which Mr. David Chianese of STR Enfield is a member, held their meeting in Shanghai, China, on Oct. 11-12, 2006. Approximately 30 people attended the two-day meeting and extensive time was spent working on standards and four virtual meetings have been scheduled for follow-up work.

Although Mr. David Chianese was unable to attend, Mr. Charles Ng from STR Hong Kong was able to go to the meetings as a proxy for Mr. David Chianese. Read more.

CPSC Takes Step Forward In Effort To Protect Children From Hazardous Metal Jewelry

Recently, in Washington D.C., the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) that could lead to a ban of children's metal jewelry that has more than 0.06 percent of total lead. An ANPR is the first step in CPSC's three step rulemaking process. Lead can accumulate in the body and lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral and growth problems and learning disabilities. Click here for press release.

"Dietary Supplement And Nonprescription Drug Consumer Act"

The One Hundred Ninth Congress and President Bush have approved an amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with respect to serious adverse event reporting for dietary supplements (Section 761). An adverse event is defined as death, life threatening experience, hospitalization, etc. Reporting requirements:

The retailer whose name appears on the label may, by agreement, authorize the manufacturer or packer to submit the required report.

The report must be submitted to the FDA within 15 business days using the MedWatch form.

The effective date of this amendment is December 2007. Click here to link to the legislation.

Food Labeling: Nutrition Labeling Of Dietary Supplements On A "Per Day" Basis

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending nutrition labeling regulations for dietary supplements to provide that the quantitative amount and the percent of Daily Value of a dietary ingredient may be voluntarily presented on a "per day" basis in addition to the required "per serving" basis when a recommendation is made on the label that the dietary supplement be consumed more than once per day. Click here to read federal register. Click here to read federal register.

STR-UK To Attend Toy Fair On January 24-27, 2007

The British Toy Fair is the only dedicated toy, game and hobby exhibition in the UK with over 250 exhibitors and is a great opportunity for visitors to touch, feel and experiment with the products of the future. The exhibition is a showcase, a networking opportunity and an ideal event to do great business in an exciting environment.

This year's event is being held January 24-27, 2007 at ExCeL London, the international exhibition and conference centre, located a stone's throw away from Canary Wharf and a five minute taxi ride from London City Airport.

For more information, please visit: www.britishtoyfair.co.uk. To meet with an STR-UK staff member at the show, please contact Ian Butler at Ian.Butler@struk.co.uk.

STR-UK To Attend Spring Fair On February 4-8, 2007 At The NEC In Birmingham, UK

Spring Fair is the UK's largest retail exhibition that attracts over 78,000 of the world's highest spending buyers and is renowned for delivering unbeatable business, where 4,000 suppliers to the retail industry meet customers from all over the globe. The 2007 show has been regrouped into four core buying zones: Giving, Living, Greetings and Jewelry. Each sector is represented by an icon, so you will know at a glance which areas of the show are most relevant to spend time in.

For more information on Spring Fair, please visit: www.springfair.com. To meet with an STR-UK staff member at the show, please contact Ian Butler at Ian.Butler@struk.co.uk.

STR HK - First HOKLAS Accredited Laboratory On EN 71-8:2003

We are pleased to announce that Specialized Technology Resources (H.K.) Limited is the first accredited laboratory who obtained HOKLAS accreditation on EN 71-8 Testing.

The amendments A1 & A2 of EN 71-8: 2003 have been published in May 2006 and December 2005 respectively. It covers swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use. The EN71-8: 2003 excludes equipment intended for use in schools, kindergartens, public playgrounds, restaurants, shopping centres and similar public places dealt within in EN 1176 Parts 1 to 6. For details of the scope of HOKLAS accreditation, please click here.

For enquires or other information on toy testing in HK, please contact: Victor Kam at 852-29434678 or via email: victor.kam@strhk.com or Eddie Hui at 852-29434673 or via email: eddie.hui@strhk.com or please visit our website: www.strhk.com.

European Parliament Cracks Down On Chemicals: Severe "REACH" Law Approved

On December 13, 2006, the EU Parliament approved what is purported to be the world's most rigorous law to protect human health and the environment from thousands of toxic chemicals. Known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals), the legislation is intended to force industries not only to register and submit health and safety data on chemicals, but to replace those considered most hazardous with safer alternatives. REACH is also planned to replace 40 current EU rules with a single, comprehensive program. Read more.

UK Government Finally Publishes Its WEEE Regulations

After significant delays, the United Kingdom has finally published its WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, SI 2006 No. 3289. This Statutory Instrument is predicated on the WEEE Directive, which strives to reduce the effect of electrical and electronic goods on the environment by reducing the amount of WEEE heading for landfills, and by increasing recycling and re-use. Producers, defined as any business that manufactures, imports, or rebrands electrical and electronic products, are held responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of WEEE. Retailers and Distributers, defined as any business that sells electrical and electronic equipment to end-users, are obligated to allow consumers to return their WEEE at no charge.

The delay in publication was predominantly due to resolving major issues that required several rounds of industry consultation. The summary of industry and government responses to the fourth consultation can be accessed by clicking here.

Regulations were presented to Parliament on December 12, 2006, and went into force on January 2, 2007. Non-statutory guidance will be available later in the year. To access the regulations, click here.

Directive 2006/122/EC Of The European Parliament And Of The Council

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are amending for the 30th time, Council Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (perfluorooctane sulfonates).

Please click here for attached links and general descriptions of EC directives 2006/122/EC (perfluorooctane sulfonates, PFOS) & 2006/139/EC (arsenic (As) compound) amending 76/769/EEC.

73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive Repealed And Codified As 2006/95/EC

There is a new EC directive, 2006/95/EC, on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits.

The Council Directive 73/23/EEC (also know as Low Voltage Directive - LVD) and all its amendments are consolidated and codified as 2006/95/EC. Directive 73/23/EEC was repealed. For references made to the repealed directive, you may refer to Annex VI for the correlation table of articles nos. between 73/23/EEC & 2006/95/EC.

The directive 2006/95/EC shall enter into force on the 20th day of its publication, (published on 27 Dec., 2006). Click here for directive.