TOY INDUSTRY UPDATES

New Requirement For Yo Yo Elastic Tether Toys

Recently, the ASTM F15.22 committee approved the new revision of ASTM F963-2007. A new requirement for Yo Yo Elastic Tether Toys was added.

In fact, strangulation hazards associated with Yo Yo balls have been observed for years in many different countries and some countries have even banned this product for sale in the market. Read more.

New ASTM F963-07: Magnets Requirements

The ASTM F15.22 committee approved the new revision of ASTM F963-2007. A new requirement for magnetic components was added.

Children's injuries from ingestion of detached magnets are of increasing concerns to the public. Up to the moment, there was one recall from the UK in 2006 and at least 33 cases of children's injuries reported in the US. Recently the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled two products for ingestion hazards associated with detachment of magnets. Click to read more and for recalls.

New ASTM F963-07: Jaw Entrapment Requirements

The ASTM F15.22 committee approved the new revision of ASTM F963-2007. A new requirement for Jaw Entrapment has been added.

There have been product recalls in past years to address incidents of jaw entrapment. There have been additional incidents of jaw entrapment in toy products that did not rise to the level of a recall. All but one incident involved entrapment in a handle or steering wheel. When a child's jaw becomes entrapped in a product, there is potential for damage to teeth and gums, long term orthodontic consequences and impairment of normal speech development. Click to read more and for recall.

TIA Commends Expedient Review And Update In ASTM F963-2007 Edition

The following new requirements and revisions to ASTM F963, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety (the "Standard"), are expected to be published shortly and will be applicable to future production of toy products.

The revised consensus Standard, created under the auspices of ASTM International (ASTM), involved the participation of industry experts, consumers, consumer organizations and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff, retailers, safety consultants, testing laboratories and academic institutions. Read more.

The article above was reprinted with the permission and authorization of the TIA - Toy Industry Association, Inc. For more information regarding TIA membership and the many benefits the association provides, please contact the TIA at: Toy Industry Association, Inc., 115 Broadway, New York, NY 10010. Tel.: 212 675-1141, Fax: 212 633-1429 or via e-mail: www.toy-tia.org.

New Updated Projectile Requirements In US & EU

EU - The European Commission published EC Directive 2007/224/EC on April 4, 2007 requiring that projectile toys with suction cup as an impact area, intended for children over 3 years of age shall be subjected to EC type examination.

The suction cup shall not detach when subjected to relevant tests (torque test, tension test). Click here for the full text of 2007/224/EC.

USA - The ASTM F963-2007 projectile requirements would harmonize with those in the ISO 8124-1 when they are finalized. Read more.

Draft For Amendment To ISO 8124-1 Concerning Projectiles, Rotors And Propellers

ISO Technical Committee 181 has distributed the "Draft text for amendment to ISO 8124-1 concerning projectiles, rotors and propellers" (doc. 181 N332 of March 2007) to its member countries for comment. Click here to read the key terms.

EUROPEAN UPDATES

European Commission Directive 2007/19/EC Amending 2002/72/EC And Commission 372/2007 (Plastic Materials In Contact With Food)

The European Commission has adopted a Directive to amend Directive 2002/72/EC relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food which goes into effect on July 1, 2008. Directive 2002/72/EC should apply to plastic layers or plastic coatings, forming gaskets in lids that together are composed of two or more layers of different types of materials. Lids containing a gasket should comply with restrictions and specifications laid down in Directive 2002/72/EC.

For general info of the above amending directive and regulation, you may refer to Commercial Information Circular No. 194/2007 of Trade dept. of Hong Kong SAR.

EC Commission Decision 2007/231/EC Amending 2006/502/EC Child-Resistant Lighters

There is an amending decision to change the date (extended by 12 months) of supply of child-resistant lighters and prohibit supply of novelty lighters from March 11, 2007 to March, 11 2008, and change the applicable date (extended by 12 months) of Decision 2006/502/EC, as well. Click for EC Commission Decision 2007/231/EC.

RoHS UPDATE

STR Becomes A Business Service Provider (BSP)

During the month of April 2007 Specialized Technology Resources, Inc. became a "Business Service Provider (BSP)" with BUYUSA.GOV's, US Commercial Service to the European Union. The BSP directory provides a useful starting point for U.S. companies seeking professional services in the European Union including RoHS/WEEE compliance. As European Union Member States harmonize their regulations and increase their economic integration, a direct connection to the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union can be the key to success in the European marketplace. Click here for BSP info. For more information on how STR can help you with your RoHS/ WEEE compliance and testing requirements please contact either Alyce Mayer, alyce.mayer@strus.com or Kevin Smith, kevin.smith@strus.com.

SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY UPDATE

CRN Launches Advertising Campaign Urging Supplement Companies To Support NAD Self-Regulatory Program

Recently in Washington, D.C., the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), announced a new advertising campaign to encourage supplement companies to file competitive challenges with the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB). The advertising campaign supports the CRN/NAD initiative announced last September that allows NAD to increase its scrutiny of dietary supplement advertisements through a series of multi-year grants provided by CRN. Press release.

LEATHER INDUSTRY UPDATE

Latest DIN Test Method For Determination Of PCP Content In Leather

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its derivatives are used as preservatives in leather articles to prevent rot and mildew. The toxicity, carcinogenic property and long term adverse effect to the environment have been well recognized. Many countries have already laid down regulations to restrict the level of PCP in products. For example in Germany, the maximum concentration of PCP and its derivatives has been restricted to 5 mg/kg in products which have been treated with PCP, PCP salts or compounds of PCP under the German Chemicals Prohibition regulation (ChemverbotsV). Read more.

EVENTS/SEMINARS

Shuster Laboratories To Exhibit at Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (NRA) May 19-22, 2007

Shuster will have an exhibit at booth #9375 at NRA's International Food Service Marketplace Show, being held May 19-22, at McCormick Place in Chicago. IL. Shuster will showcase the company's comprehensive quality assurance services for the food service industry. 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.restaurant.org/show/.

STR To Be A Contributing Sponsor For ICPHSO Conference In Beijing

STR is proud to be a Contributing Sponsor of the first ICPHSO/AQSIQ conference in Beijing, China on May 21 and 22, 2007. This conference will focus on, "Consumer Product Safety, Our Common Responsibility" and the life cycle of products are in three categories - Electrical and Electronic Goods, Toys and Juvenile Products, and Household Products. STR is co-chairing the Toys and Juvenile Products session, and Susan DeRagon and Ben Lau of STR, will be speaking about pre-market evaluation of these products. For additional information on this conference, please visit the ICPHSO website at www.icphso.org.

STR Looks Forward To Visitors At Chinaplas 2007

STR looks forward to welcoming visitors to Chinaplas 2007 at our booth 2D343, Hall 2D, at the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 21-24. Please be sure to also join us for our seminars: REACH - May 23, 2007 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm in Conference Room 3 on the mezzanine level, and our joint presentation with UL on STR's Complementary Services and UL's Plastics Certification Program & Material Pre-Selection - May 22nd, 14:30 - 16:30, in Hall 2C, Room C4. For more information, please contact Alyce Mayer at alyce.mayer@strus.com.

Shuster To Exhibit At Institute Of Food Technologists (IFT) Expo

Please join Shuster Laboratories at IFT's 2007 Foodsmarts Annual Meeting and Food Expo, being held July 28-August 1, 2007 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. Shuster will have an exhibit at booth #1774, and will showcase the company's comprehensive quality assurance and product development services offered to the food and beverage industry.

Staff attending the event will be Katie Griffin, Phil Katz & Caroline Hennigar Vogel. If you would like to meet with staff members during the show or learn more about our programs and services, please contact Katie Griffin at katie.griffin@shusterlabs.com. Click here for show info: www.ift.org.