June 22, 2009

  • Company News
  • Events & Seminars
  • Food/Drug
  • Toy/Children's Products
  • Personal Care Products
  • Responsible Sourcing
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    Company News

    • STR Doubles Capacity at New Shenzhen Quality Testing Laboratory
    STR's Shenzhen operation recently relocated to a new 75,000 s/f facility in Shenzhen, China, nearly doubling the size of its quality assurance testing laboratories to meet the growing demand for QA testing services. Read more.

    • STR Responsible Sourcing Services Help Contractors Comply with New Federal Regulations
    STR Responsible Sourcing has expanded its services to provide accountability assessments for government contractors who must comply with increased government regulations and oversight on ethics, labor, and environmental health and safety standards. Read more.

    • STR Responsible Sourcing Expands Online Learning Capabilities
    In May 2009, STR Responsible Sourcing launched a new service providing clients with customized training content in an online format using WebEx technology. Read more.

    • STR Vietnam Moved to a New Location
    STR Vietnam has moved to a new location. ... [Full Article]


    Events & Seminars

    • STR to Participate in Product Safety Seminar Series in China
    Susan DeRagon, Associate Director of Toys & Premiums, will co-present a series of China seminars in July 2009 on U.S. product safety testing regulations and product safety laws. Read more.

    • STR Toy Industry Seminars a Big Success
    STR recently conducted two successful seminars with the TIA in New York City and Shenzhen, China to provide updated information on TSCPSM to the toy industry. Read more.


    Food/Drug

    • New FDA Chief Discusses Priorities, Role in Ensuring Food Safety
    The new FDA commissioner, Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., and the principal deputy commissioner, Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., have indicated that they view the FDA as a public-health agency whose success should be measured by its impact on promoting health, preventing illness, and prolonging life. Read more.

    • Industry Fees Included in Food Safety Enhancement Act
    The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently approved food safety legislation that includes charging 378,000 food facilities ?located both in the U.S. and overseas ?an annual registration fee of $500 to help fund the work of the FDA. Read more.

    • Food Safety Working Group Seeking Input
    The Food Safety Working Group, created in March 2009 and chaired by the Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, is interested in hearing from a broad range of stakeholders about their ideas for improving the food-safety system. Read more.

    • FDA Seeking Comment on Reportable Food Registry
    The FDA is asking for comment on its Reportable Food Registry (RFR) draft guidance for the food industry, which is scheduled for implementation on September 8, 2009, and applies to all FDA regulated categories of foods, including dietary supplements. Read more.

    • FDA Issues Warning on Zicam Cold Remedies
    The FDA recently advised consumers to stop using certain Zicam intranasal cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell. Matrixx Initiatives, maker of Zicam, was warned by the FDA that these products cannot be marketed without FDA approval, and has since halted shipment of the nasal sprays and swabs. Read more.

    • FDA to Require Bottled Water Manufacturers to Test Source Water for E. coli
    Bottled water manufacturers will face stricter standards following the FDA's implementation of new rules to prevent contamination with E. coli bacteria. As of December 1, 2009, all manufacturers must test source water for E. coli, coliform, and fecal contamination, as is currently required for finished bottled water products. Read more.

    • Massachusetts Passes Strictest-Ever Restaurant Menu Label Rules
    Massachusetts has approved the most comprehensive and stringent statewide restaurant menu labeling rules in the United States. The rules, which take effect on November 1, 2010, will require major restaurant chains to post calorie counts next to each item on their menus or menu boards, including those at drive-through windows. Read more.


    Toy/Children's Products

    • Recent CPSC Actions
    The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued various rulings last month on allowable lead levels for ATVs, tracking labels for children's products, and toy safety standards, along with a handbook for resellers and a questionnaire from the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel. Susan DeRagon, Associate Director of the Toy and Premium Division at STR, provides additional insight and clarification on these issues in her latest blog. Read more.

    • Battle Over the Safety of Bisphenol A ?A Legislative Update
    The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will re-examine its long-standing position that trace amounts of Bisphenol A (BPA) pose no danger to human beings. The FDA will conduct a scientific review that is expected to be concluded by early fall of 2009. Read more.

    • Publication of EN71-1:2005 + A8 Incorporating Magnetic Toys and New Warnings
    In early May, amendments to the Toy Safety standard were published. The two amendments are A7 marking requirements and A8 magnetic toys. The standard was immediately harmonised, its reference having been published in the EU Official Journal on April 30th, 2009. Read more.

    • Baby Products Under Scrutiny for Hazardous Contaminants
    The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics recently commissioned an independent study, which documented the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane in bath products for children. Read more.

    • Updates on Australian Consumer Product Safety Standards for Flotation Toys & Swimming Aids
    The Australian Government recently published two Consumer Protection Notices for the update of the Consumer Product Safety Standards. Read more.


    Personal Care Products

    • FDA's Sunscreen Labeling Rules Set to Go Into Effect
    The new regulation that sets standards for formulating, testing, and labeling over-the-counter sunscreen products with ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection is expected to be finalized by September 2009. Read more.


    Responsible Sourcing

    • U.S. Labor Department Commits $60 Million to Combating Child Labor
    U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said recently that the federal government will commit $60 million this year in an effort to further curtail exploitative child labor practices around the world. Read more.



    STR provides testing, audit, certification, and responsible sourcing services to help ensure that clients have the highest level of confidence in the quality, safety and social standards of their products and systems. For more information regarding STR global services, please contact us at info@STRQuality.com.

    Raising the world's expectation of product quality, safety, and supply chain responsibility