Consumer Products

A collaboration between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Renault and Nissan has resulted in a new standard for volatile organic compound (VOC) and formaldehyde testing on materials that are used in vehicle interiors. The new standard – RNES-B-20116 – uses a micro-scale chamber to analyze materials. A small sample is placed in the chamber so that […]

The European Union (EU) has published a new limit of no more than 5 mg/kg for pentachlorophenol (PCP), its salts and esters under the POP Recast Regulation. The limit applies to substances, mixtures and articles. Published on February 23, 2021, the new limit is contained in Regulation (EU) 2021/277. The changes have been made under

Several US states have issued proposals to prohibit perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer goods. Most of these bills relate to food contact materials and articles, but other products include residential upholstered furniture, firefighting foams and firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE). Connecticut has issued two proposed bills: Proposed SB 111 – will prohibit PFAS

Since the start of 2021, several US states have published bills to restrict flame retardants (FRs) in a variety of consumer products. Delaware has published bill HB 77, with a proposed effective date of July 1, 2021. This covers a variety of consumer products with the following restrictions: Residential upholstered furniture: ≤ 0.1% each of

The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has added two new substances of very high concern (SVHC) to the Candidate List. These are: Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)ether (Tetraglyme) Dioctyltin dilaurate, stannane, dioctyl-, bis(coco acyloxy) derivs., and any other stannane, dioctyl-, bis(fatty acyloxy) derivs. wherein C12 is the predominant carbon number of the fatty acyloxy moiety [if !supportLists] Both substances have

The Californian Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed amendments to the short form of the ‘clear and reasonable’ warning required by Proposition 65 (Prop 65), known as a ‘Prop 65 Warning’. The proposed amendment to Article 6, ‘Clear and Reasonable Warnings’, was issued on January 8, 2021. Article 6 was originally adopted

The US state of Massachusetts has introduced restrictions on eleven flame retardants (FRs) in five categories of consumer product. Signed into law by the governor on January 1, 2021, the law regulates the following FRs: 2-Ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) Antimony trioxide Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Octabromodiphenyl ether (Octa-BDE) Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta-BDE) Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCP) Tetrabromobisphenol

SGS is reminding businesses operating in California about Proposition 65 (Prop 65) settlement agreements for shovels, tote bags, and wheelchairs with vinyl components. Settle agreements exist between two parties and are not legally binding on businesses not named within the settlement. However, it is advisable for companies operating in California to use them as a

SGS publishes an overview of Chinese minimum wage standards in 2020, clearly showing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018, fifteen provinces and cities raised their minimum wage standards. In 2019, seven regions raised their minimum wage standards. In 2020, only three provinces – Fujian Province, Qinghai Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region