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October 17, 2007
Volume:
10-07
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REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS TOY INDUSTRY NEWS Update On California Assembly Bill, AB 1108 - Phthalates In Products For Young Children California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 1108. This law prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of toys and child care products intended for use by children under the age of three that contain phthalates. It will take effect on January 1, 2009. Read more. California Recently Enacted A New Law Regarding Children's Jewelry Effective September 1, 2007, a person must not manufacture, ship, sell, or offer for sale children's jewelry for retail sale in California unless it is made entirely from one or more of the materials specified in the law. STR recently followed up on the new law with regard to products that may be on the shelf before the effective date. According to Caroline Cox of the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, "Our interpretation is that (one) cannot sell older jewelry that does not meet the new requirements in California, should not sell it elsewhere, and if destroyed, they need to destroy it in compliance with all laws." Amendment. European Union (EU) To Revise Toy Safety Rules In response to concerns sparked by high-profile recalls of Chinese-made toys this year, European Union toy safety rules will be revised by the end of the year. However, the approval process will take months before the revisions (or guidelines) will be in force. The new rules will update EU guidelines set in 1988 and target toxic substances and any components that might harm children. Read more. French Republic Issues Recommendations And Brazil Adopts Mercosur Standard Regarding Toys Containing Small Magnets In response to serious accidents resulting from the ingestion by children of small magnets in toys, the French Republic has issued recommendations to manufacturers, importers and distributors to be implemented as quickly as possible, and preferably before January 1, 2008. Read more. The Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) adopted Amendment 1 of the Mercosur Standard for magnets on September 18, 2007. Brazil Amendment or French Republic. New Zealand - Unsafe Goods (Lead In Children's Toys) Notice 2007 A notice has been issued in New Zealand, effective September 20, 2007, declaring that children's toys which contain lead in their accessible parts at a migration level greater than 90 mg/kg of toy material as unsafe goods. Read more. STR is a fully approved and qualified lab to test products for lead content. We have the expertise to determine and carry out the specific tests required for various materials and to assist companies with their regulatory compliance needs. Contact us at mailto:inquiry@strus.com EUROPEAN UPDATES Update To Standards Listed For Compliance With EMC Directive The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) has been updated with a new list of EMC standards under the EMC Directive (2004/108/EC). This update was much needed as the list of standards published in the OJEC under the new EMC directive was missing many common EMC standards, such as EN55022: 2006, the latest version of EN 55014-1, etc. Only harmonized standards (i.e. published in the OJEC) give a presumption of conformity with the EMC directive, so it was important that this list was correct. For further information contact John Reece at john.reece@struk.co.uk or click here for more information. RoHS AND WEEE UPDATES STR To Offer Certification To A RoHS Compliance Assurance System (CAS) For Organizations In The Electrical And Electronics (E/E) Industry STR offers Certification to a RoHS Compliance Assurance System (CAS) for organizations in the electrical and electronics (E/E) industry. The CAS is based on the EU's RoHS Enforcement Guidance Document, Version 1 that was published May, 2006. Upon the successful implementation of a RoHS CAS system organizations have the option to receive a Certificate of Conformance through STR's certification company STR-Registrar (ANAB Accredited). Read more. For more information regarding STR's RoHS Compliance Assurance System Certification please contact Kevin A. Smith at mailto:rohs@strus.com Governor Schwartzenegger Terminates State RoHS Bill On Friday October 12th, 2007 California Governor Arnold Schwartenegger vetoed a bill that proposed to significantly expand the RoHS statutes mandated by the California Waste Recycling Act. Read more. PROPOSITION 65 Request For Public Participation In A Proposition 65 Regulatory Update Project On Friday, November 2, 2007 in Sacramento, California the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) will hold a public workshop for the purpose of gathering input from interested parties concerning the relative importance of the Proposition 65 program. OEHHA is seeking input from stakeholders in the enforcement and business communities, as well as other members of the public concerning the direction this effort should take. Read more. |
EVENTS/SEMINARS CSCC To Offer Seminars And Webinars On China Labor Contract Laws CSCC is organizing a series of seminars and webinars which provide an overview on the Labor Contract Law and its implications on social compliance assessment. These seminars and webinars will cover the essential questions surrounding the impact it will have on the brands and retailers sourcing from the country, as well as on responsible sourcing programs and supplier requirements. For webinar schedule and to register click
here. Visit Shuster Laboratories At The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) Show In Chicago Please visit Shuster Laboratories at booth # 4721-4722 at the PLMA Show, November 11-13, 2007 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Chicago, IL. To learn more about Shuster's consumer product quality assurance services and programs or if you would like to meet with Shuster staff members during the show, please contact Katie Griffin at mailto:katie.griffin@shusterlabs.com For more information on the show contact PLMA at (212) 972-3131 or email or visit their web site at http://www.plma.org/ RESPONSIBLE SOURCING CSCC's C-TPAT Third-Party Validation Services Receive SAFETY Act Designation By US Department Of Homeland Security CSCC is pleased to announce that its C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) Third-Party Validation Services received SAFETY Act Designation by the US Department of Homeland Security. First passed in 2002, the SAFETY (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies) Act promotes the development and use of innovative technologies to detect and prevent terrorist activity. With this designation, CSCC will benefit from risk mitigation measures aimed at establishing the limits of liability as a result of terrorist activity. CSCC is honored to be recognized as a pioneer of qualifying anti-terror technologies as we continue to deliver to our clients the confidence they need to make informed global sourcing decisions. SHUSTER IN INDUSTRY NEWS "The Next Generation" - Product And Packaging Innovations Drive Store Brand Growth Janice Flowers of Shuster Laboratories was a contributing author in the September 2007 issue of Private Label Magazine. The feature article called, "The Next Generation - Product and Packaging Innovations Drive Store Brand Growth", reviews what retailers are doing to develop store brand product and packaging innovations that are unique or a step ahead of the National Brand. To receive a copy of this article, please e-mail mailto:articles@shusterlabs.com REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS CANADIAN UPDATES Canada Issues New Regulations For Corded Window Coverings Canada's New Government is taking steps to further protect the health and safety of Canadian children with an initiative to reduce the strangulation hazards posed by corded window coverings. The proposed regulations address the principal causes of strangulation associated with these products, namely the use of flexible continuous-loop pull-cords and loops in inner-cords. Read more. STR AND CSCC NEW OFFICE LOCATIONS STR Opens New Office In Vietnam In September 2007, STR Vietnam moved into a new office in the district of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon). Our Vietnam office can be found at: 236/29/2F Dien Bien Phu Street STR India Moves To A New Office On August 29, 2007, the office of STR India Subcontinent relocated from Global Business Park to IMT Manesar. STR India can now be found at: STR India Pvt. Ltd. CSCC's Los Angeles Office Moved, Effective October 1, 2007 Please note that CSCC's Los Angeles office has moved. Effective October 1, 2007, the mailing address and phone and fax numbers for LA will be as follows: 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 1790 Email and web addresses will remain the same. |
Client Confidentiality Please note that none of the articles make a direct reference to any past or present client. It is our policy and practice to maintain strict client confidentiality at all times. Our business, and yours, depend on it! |
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