The European Commission (EC) has published a draft proposal to limit pentachlorophenol (PCP), its salts and esters, to no more than 5 mg/kg. The proposal is being made under an amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (recast), referred to as ‘the POP Recast Regulation’. If accepted the proposal will set the limit […]
EU Proposes Limit for PCP in Consumer Products Read More »
SGS, the world’s leading provider of testing and certification services, looks at the changes that have been introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure frontline health care professionals receive safe personal protective equipment (PPE). Responding to the pandemic has meant governments all over the world have suddenly started ordering medical PPE at unprecedented rates. This
SGS Examines the Delivering of Safe PPE to Frontline Health Care Professionals Read More »
The US state of Vermont has released the latest version of its rule concerning chemicals of high concern to children (CHCC) in children’s products. This updates contains multiple important changes, including: Expansion in the definition of formaldehyde – from ‘formaldehyde’ to ‘formaldehyde and substances that are intentionally added to release formaldehyde’. These include: [if !supportLists]
Vermont Updates CHCC Children’s Product Reporting Rule Read More »
Australia registered its new mandatory safety standard for toys containing magnets – Consumer Goods (Toys Containing Magnets) Safety Standard 2020 – on August 27, 2020. This new instrument means toys containing magnets must conform to specific clauses within one of the following toy safety standards: AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019 ‘Safety of toys – Part 1: Safety
Australia Introduces New Compulsory Standard for Toys Containing Magnets Read More »
The European Union (EU) has published a new regulation – Regulation (EU) 2020/1245 – that will amend and correct Regulation (EU) 10/2011 ‘Food Contact Plastics Regulation’. Regulation (EU) 2020/1245 contains a number of important changes, including a completely new Table 1 in Annex II ‘Restrictions on plastic materials and articles’. Table 1 defines the specific
EU Updates Food Contact Plastics Regulation Read More »
On June 22, 2020, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) to define the requirements for making ‘Made in USA’ claims on packaging and marketing materials. In the proposal, ‘Made in USA’ is defined as: “Any unqualified representation, express or implied, that a product or service, or a specified
‘Made in USA’ Requirements Proposed by Federal Trade Commission Read More »
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated two notifications signaling Mercosur’s intention to revise its technical regulations for food contact plastic materials and articles. The two notifications were submitted by Paraguay and circulated by the WTO in July 2020. They cover two pieces of draft legislation: Mercosur/LXXII SGT No. 3/P Resolution No. 2/20 (draft Resolution
Mercosur Proposes Changes to Food Contact Plastic Technical Regulations Read More »
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has released a Workshop Agreement, CWA 17553:2020, offering industry guidance for reusable fabric face coverings. CWA 17553:2020 – ‘Community face coverings – Guide to minimum requirements, methods of testing and use’, covers face coverings that are not normally within the scope of relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical
EU-CEN Releases Industry Guidance for Community Face Coverings Read More »
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an umbrella emergency use authorization (EUA) that sanctions the use of certain surgical masks in healthcare settings. The EUA was issued in response to concerns over the lack of disposable single-use surgical masks for healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EUA contains labeling and performance
FDA Authorizes the Use of Certain Surgical Masks in Healthcare Settings Read More »
On July 10, 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in China released Notice [2020] No. 1146 defining the scope of the microbead ban in rinse-off cosmetic products. According to Notice No. 1146, the prohibition applies to: Rinse-off cosmetic products intended for scrubbing, exfoliating, and cleaning etc. – including shower gels, facial cleaners, scrubs
China Defines the Scope of its Cosmetics Microbead Ban Read More »
