Hardlines

SGS, the world’s leading testing inspection, and certification company, looks at the barriers surrounding recycling food contact plastics as Europe moves towards a circular economy. Consumers and regulators want to see greater sustainability in consumer products, especially in relation to plastics. The EU creates around 25.8 million tons of plastic waste annually but of the […]

The European Committee for Standardization (Comité Européen de Normalisation, CEN) has published a new standard covering experimental toy sets for chemistry and related activities. Published in December 2020, EN 71-4:2020 ‘Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities’ includes several updates. It defines the requirements for the maximum quantity or concentration of certain substances and mixtures

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been required to mandate a Federal furniture flammability standard by adopting the Californian standard – Technical Bulletin 117-2013. The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) has been pushing for the adoption of this revised flammability standard for over five years. The adoption covers both performance standards and test

On December 9, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published a list of designated toy safety standards that demonstrate presumption of conformity with Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. The list includes: Mechanical and physical – EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 Flammability – EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014 Migration of certain elements – EN 71-3:2019 Experimental

On December 15, 2020, the European Union (EU) published two directives to revise the two lists regulating the presence of allergenic fragrances in toys. The provisions in the directives will strengthen EU requirements on allergenic fragrances under Directive 2009/48/EC, the Toy Safety Directive (TSD). The two directives – (EU) 2020/2088 and (EU) 2020/2089 – update

The European Union (EU) has published Regulation (EU) 2020/2096, which makes several changes to Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). Published on December 16, 2020, the new law relates to ‘Restrictions on the manufacturing, placing on the market and use of certain dangerous substances, mixtures and

Suppliers of toys to European Union (EU) markets should be aware that an updated toy flammability standard – EN 71-2:2020 – has been published. The update follows an unfortunate accident in the United Kingdom involving a child’s Halloween fancy dress. Issued on December 9, 2020, the new standard applies to all toys offered onto the

Health Canada has issued guidance to help operators understand how it introduce enforcement of SOR 2019-97, the new Corded Window Coverings Regulations (CWCR). Published on October 16, 2020, the guidance applies to operators in the corded window covering product industry, who will need to comply with the new regulation when it comes into effect on

Switzerland publishes a new positive list containing approximately 5,000 substances that can be used for packaging ink under its food contact legislation. RO 2020 4811 was published under Official Collection No. 149 of November 24, 2020, replacing Appendix 10 to RS 817.023.21. The new list contains 53 more substances than its predecessor. Packaging inks are

New York State has signed into law a prohibition on adding perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS substances) to some food packaging materials and articles. The governor signed into law S8817 (companion A4739-C) on December 2, 2020. It amends the state’s Environmental Conservation Law and adds new § 37-0209 to prohibit PFAS substances in food packaging.