Robert Adler becomes Acting Chairman of Consumer Product Safety Commission
October 1, 2019, cpsc.gov
Effective October 1, 2019, Robert (Bob) Adler became the Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Adler replaces Buerkle who earlier this year announced that she would step down as CPSC’s Acting Chair on September 30.
Baby death in Chicco inclined sleeper leads to lawsuit
September 30, 2019, ABC-TV
Lakin Harmon, is suing Chicco U.S.A. claiming her 3-month-old baby died in what she calls a defective product that is still on store shelves. She talked exclusively to Action News in hopes that sharing her story will prompt a recall of the product and motivate legislators to fix what she calls a backward system.
CDC intensifies warnings about vaping illness as cases top 1,000
October 3, 2019, NPR
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intensified its warnings about the risks of vaping, as the number of patients with vaping-related illness continues to climb. The case count has reached 1,080, the agency announced. There have been 18 deaths in 15 states, and more deaths are being investigated. All patients reported a history of vaping, and the majority reported using THC-containing products.
Are kids really eating vape pods?
October 3, 2019, Rolling Stone
In the midst of the investigation into the vaping epidemic, which has resulted in the hospitalization of more than 800 people and 12 confirmed deaths nationwide, there’s been a rush to point fingers at the potential culprit behind the epidemic, as well as generate concern about issues that may be tangentially related to vaping. The latest is a report which claims there’s been an increase in reports of very young children accidentally ingesting e-cigarette cartridges or liquid nicotine bottles.
Rulemaking on the way? FTC is seeking input by October 11 on its made in USA claims policy
October, 2019, Retail Consumer Products Law
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is soliciting comments on its 1997 Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims and its ongoing enforcement of that policy. On September 26, 2019, the FTC held a workshop with key stakeholders to discuss how consumers perceive “Made in USA” claims, how advertisers and marketers comply with the standard, and whether the FTC’s current enforcement strategy is effective.
Boeing 737 Max Safety System Was Vetoed, Engineer Says
October 3, 2019, The New York Times
A senior Boeing engineer filed an internal ethics complaint this year saying that during the development of the 737 Max jet the company had rejected a safety system to minimize costs, equipment that he felt could have reduced risks that contributed to two fatal crashes.
Statement of Commissioner Elliot F. Kaye on the vote on the final rule amending the fireworks regulations.
October 1, 2019, cpsc.gov
Commissioner Kaye explains his vote against a fireworks proposal: “If this vote passed, it would have limited each Commissioner’s ability to vote on the resulting Federal Register notice and prevented the Commission from even considering any substantive changes to the final rule prior to it being published.”
Mayo Clinic Report: Suggests that vaping injuries resemble chemical burns
October 4, 2019, The National Law Review (Stark & Stark)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that over 1,000 people became ill from vaping e-cigarettes, including 18 deaths. Now, research by the Mayo Clinic of Arizona suggests the lung damage may be the result of chemical burns. The research team tested lung biopsy samples from 17 patients, including two who have since died from the condition. All 17 biopsies suggested that the lung injuries were most likely caused by “direct toxicity or tissue damage from noxious chemical fumes.”
DieselGate continues to haunt Volkswagen as class action suit is filed
October 1, 2019, Digital Trends
A case has been brought by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations against Volkswagen in which 470,000 owners of the 2.0-liter TDI EA189 engine are seeking compensation due to the company’s diesel emissions scandal. The scandal was uncovered in 2015 via a tip from European researchers to the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board.
