General Electric Agrees to $3.5 Million Civil Penalty, Internal Compliance Program for Failure to Report Defective Ranges and Dishwashers
February 19, 2015, Reuters
CPSC penalty for company’s receiving notice of a range defect in 2004, but not reporting it to the agency until 2009. Civil penalty for not reporting also includes several dishwasher models.
How Social Media can Help and Hurt Companies During Product Recalls
February 17, 2015, Wiley’s Journal of Accounting Research (paid article access)
Researchers sampled 405 consumer product recalls between 2000 and 2012. The found that social media can lessen negative price reactions to recall announcements. However, the evolution of social media into interactive channels has resulted in a loss of control over content, and therefore, a lessening of benefits.
Analysis: New Federal Safety Standard Proposed for Phthalates in Children’s Toys and Certain Child Care Articles
February 12, 2015, Lexology
A legal examination is provided on the background and current prohibitions on certain phthalates in children’s toys and child care articles. The authors explain the role of CPSIA and Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel in addressing distinctions between phthalates.
Online Chemical Management Tools Launched
February 13, 2015, Environmental Leader
A new website has been designed to manage product stewardship and to ensure compliance with chemical regulations in the supply chain.
Tour of State Legislatures Finds Spotty Interest in Food Safety Issues
February 19, 2015, Food Safety News
The past 5 years have found food and food product safety an active legislative area with waves of laws and regulations in many states. Not so in the 2015 legislation review undertaken by the Food Safety News.
China Product Recalled in Australia After Hepatitis Outbreak
February 15, 2015, New York Times
Contamination scandals that led to deaths and serious illnesses have increased the popularity in China of imports of European, New Zealand, and Japanese food products. Hepatitis A frozen berry scandal places food production issues on public display.
The Audit Supply Chain Professionals Are Not Doing
February 15, 2015, EBN On Line
Globally, a third of large companies surveyed have no anti-bribery and corruption policy for their main suppliers. Connecting the dots goes beyond audits for quality, manufacturing certifications, and source of origin of parts and raw materials.
The Relationship Between Workplace Safety and Product Safety
February 13, 2015, manufacturing.net
A company can comply with OSHA standards, yet still have a defective product since such standards could be considered a minimum requirement. Product liability between company and worker can be as delicate to manage as between company and consumer.
EMA Explains Centralized Product Database, Talks Future Changes
February 18, 2015, Regulatory Focus News
Monitoring the safety of products after they enter the market place requires risk management plans, updated reports, and sometimes notifying regulators.
