October 2017

On September 28, 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued Guidance Documents, 82 FR 45268, related to certain consumer products that may contain harmful organohalogen flame retardants.

In order to protect consumers and children from the potential toxic effects from exposure to these harmful flame retardants, the CPSC recommends manufacturers of the below products not intentionally add non-polymeric, organohalogen flame retardants in their products:

1. Durable infant or toddler products, children’s toys, child care articles or other children’s products (other than children’s car seats)

2. Residential upholstered furniture

3. Mattress and mattress pads

4. Plastic casing surrounding electronics

In the guidance, it is explained further that organohalogen flame retardants are typically added to foam, textiles and polymers before, during or after production to improve the product’s resistance to fire. The flame retardants are not chemically bound to the substrate, which may lead to serious public health concerns when being released from the product.

Therefore, the CPSC has voted to grant the petition to initiate rulemaking under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) on September 20, 2017.

On September 27, 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a draft rulemaking notice to determine that certain untreated and unfinished engineered wood products would not contain harmful chemicals that are limited under CPSIA and ASTM F963.

Upon approval, the following three untreated and unfinished engineered wood products, which are made from virgin wood or pre-consumer waste wood, would be exempted from third party testing for compliance with the requirements of CPSIA lead, CPSIA phthalates and ASTM F963 heavy elements in children’s products, children’s toys and child care articles:

1. Particleboard

2. Hardwood plywood

3. Medium Density fiberboard

On September 25, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final rule, 82 FR 44533, to extend the date of compliance to formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

In the final rule, the compliance dates are updated as follows:

On September 22, 2017, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a notice of intention to add Vinylidene Chloride to the Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer.

The chemical details are:

On the same day, the OEHHA proposed rulemaking to adopt Proposition 65 No Significant Risk Level (NSRL), of 0.88 mg/day for vinylidene chloride. The comment period for the proposed adoption will end on November 6, 2017.

On September 29, 2017, the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) adopted the proposal for the Chemical of High Concern to Children (CHCC) reporting rule and list amendment (See test).

The key changes for the CHCC reporting rule are summarized below:

1. Adds two new definitions:

   1. De minimis level

   2. Internal component

2. Provides updated schedule for manufacturers to report children’s product containing a CHCC that is higher than the de minimis level:

   1. On January 1, 2019 and annually thereafter (the report is due on January 1, 2019 for children’s products that are sold or offered for sale in Washington between September 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018.)

3. Updates the CHCC list from 66 CHCC to 85 CHCC

   1. Added 22 new CHCC

   2. Deleted 3 existing CHCC

In the US, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recent Recalls on the CPSC website, which is updated daily. The US recalls from May 1 to September 30, 2017 are summarized below:

*Other Hazards include Chemical Hazard, Entrapment Hazard, Impact Hazard, Ingestion Hazard, Laceration Hazard, Microbial Hazard, Strangulation Hazard, Tip-over Hazard, Violation of Federal Standard (Flammability) and Violation of Federal Standard (Lead) with a frequency of less than 10.

^Other Categories include Candles & Burning Items and Accessories, Computer / Audio / Video / Other Electronics & Accessories, Consumer Chemicals, Food Contact Material, Footwear, Juvenile Products and Tools and Hardware with a frequency of less than 7.

For the complete Recall Summary Click Here

In August 2017, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published a new amendment to toys safety standard for migration of certain elements, EN 71-3:2013+A2:2017. The amended standard supersedes EN 71-3:2013+A1:2014.

In the amended standard, EN 71-3:2013+A2:2017, the key changes are summarized below:

1. Updated test methods for detection of organic tin

2. Added organic tin confirmation method: ISO/TS 16179

Upon harmonisation to Toys Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, the standard will become mandatory.

On September 6, 2017, the European Commission proposed to amend Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 through World Trade Organization (WTO) notifications. The amendment is related to the migration limit of Bisphenol A (BPA).

Upon approval, the proposed regulation will amend the Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 on plastic material that is intended to come into contact with food. The specific migration limit will be updated from 0.6 mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg.

Apart from the specific migration limit, the restriction and specification has been updated:

1. BPA is not allowed to be used for the manufacture of polycarbonate infant feeding bottles

2. No migration of BPA is permitted from the plastic materials and articles specifically intended to be brought into contact with food for infants and young children

In September 2017, the European Commission issued a draft directive to propose amendment of the Toys Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. The amendment is related to the migration limit of Chromium (VI).

The migration limit for Chromium (VI) is proposed to be strengthened and the amendment summary is listed below: