Senators call for “independent” crumb rubber turf study
November 9, 2015, NBC News
Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Bill Nelson (FL) have urged the CPSC to undertake an “independent investigation into the health risks of crumb rubber turf”, a surface made of recycled tires used on playgrounds and athletic fields across the country. The senators noted in a letter to CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye that the agency said in September it would provide technical assistance to an evaluation of crumb rubber how being conducted by the California Office of Environmental Hazard but said CPSC should “lead the independent federal investigation on this important matter.”
Feds pushing safety regs for high chairs
November 6, 2015, The Hill
The CPSC has proposed high chair safety standards that would strengthen the rearward stability requirements for manufacturers after a dozen children were injured when their chairs fell over. Besides tipping over, the agency says other safety issues involve the frame, seat, restraint system, tray, armrest, footrest, and wheels. Over 1,300 incidents involving high chairs occurred between 2011 and 2014, including 138 injuries and 1 death, the agency says.
Unsafe toys lists are flawed, toy industry says, consumer group responds
November 11, 2015, PalmBeachPost
The Toy Industry Association is fighting back against lists of potentially unsafe toys released by watchdog organizations such as the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Challenging claims by such groups for failing to provide “credible, scientific data that families can trust,” the association’s leader says “what parents can rely on is knowing that all toys sold in the U.S. are highly regulated 365 days a year by the federal government and must meet more than 100 safety standard requirements.” The industry notes that none of the toys named in these reports have been recalled by the CPSC, but a PIRG spokesperson says “It’s meant to find potentially dangerous toys that are on toy store shelves which may need to be recalled once the appropriate government agency checks them out.”
Almost half of kids’ finger paints not compliant
November 3, 2015, cemarking.net
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority examined 29 different finger paint products. They found that 5 do not meet the chemical requirements as specified in the European Union Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/ED), and that 11 product labels do not include information on the preservatives that children with allergies are sensitive to, or can develop a sensitivity to.
European scientists say weed killer glyphosate unlikely to cause cancer
November 12, 2015, Reuters
The European Food Safety Authority says the weed killer, used in Monsanto’s Roundup product, is “unlikely to cause cancer in human,” and also proposed “a higher limit on the daily amount of residue of the popular weed killer deemed safe if consumed.” The EFSA advises EU policy makers and could lead the 28-member European Union to renew approval for the chemical, despite a charge in March by a unit of the World Health Organization that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
VW’s emissions-test trickery may not be illegal in Europe
November 12, 2015, The New York Times
A loophole in European pollution testing rules that would render vehicle emissions tests ineffectual was ultimately left in place, internal documents show. The company is still considering “whether the software in question officially constituted a defect device.” A European commission spokesperson said the commission had “no formal view on whether” the vehicles sold in the U.S. were “equipped with a ‘defeat device’ in the E.U. legal sense or not.”
Corporate Responsibility Magazine announces 2015’s top 10 best corporate citizens by industry
November 12, 2015, prnewswire
The list includes: Hasbro, Inc, in the consumer items category; Microsoft Corporation in the information technology category; and Walt Disney Co. in the media and entertainment category. The magazine’s focus is on company behavior and culture in 5 segments: a) government, risk, and compliance; b) environmental sustainability; c) corporate social responsibility; d) philanthropy; and e) workforce/diversity.
Alibaba leads world’s biggest online shopping spree
November 11, 2015, USA Today
An annual online 24 hour shopping event, dubbed “singles day”, will generate as much as $11 billion analysts estimate. “ It’s also a busy day for American companies selling into China. “Chinese consumers demand authentic high-quality products as diverse as baby formula, luxury shopping bags and organic produce, because they cannot trust product safety and authenticity domestically in China,” according to one expert.
Harmonization in food safety starts from within
November 9, 2015, Food Safety News
In pursuit of safe food, prevailing sentiment is that the onus for ingredient and finished products safety is on manufacturers large and small. In the context of global trade issues, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership now being debated in Congress, there is recognition that harmonization of regulations is a critical factor that affects every company’s supply chain. In this evolutionary process, achieving data harmony on product metrics can influence standards development, standards tracking, and how to respond if a breach occurs.
