Trump’s deregulatory push hits a snag at Product Safety Commission
March 20, 2017, The National Law Journal
Republican commissioner Ann Marie Buerkle is the CPSC’s new acting leader, while Democrats still hold a majority. The reason is that Elliot Kaye, the CPSC Chairman under President Obama, chose to stay on at the agency in a commissioner role, while most agency heads in the federal government choose to resign and the incoming administration can then appoint new leadership.
CPSC to consider new magnet set safety standards following 10th Circuit decision in Zen Magnets
March 21, 2017, Morrison Foerster
On March 1, 2017 CPSC met and unanimously approved removing the Magnet Sets Safety Standard from the Code of Federal Regulations. On a separate motion, the Commissioners split 3-2 along partisan lines in favor of revising rule making for magnet sets. This decision follows the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit’s November 2016 decision to vacate and remand to the Commissioner its earlier standard that effectively banned high powered, small, rare earth magnet sets.
California Proposition 65 settlement agreement reached for BPA in polycarbonate dish ware
March 17, 2017, openpr.com
A California Proposition 65 settlement agreement has been reached concerning the reformulation of bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate dish ware. The agreement involves several consumer products, including polycarbonate wine glasses, which must now contain BPA to a level of less than or equal to 1000 ppm. The settlement also allows for a Prop 65 warning to be used as an alternative.
TSCA implementation remains on target
March 22, 2017, Chemical Processing
Implementation of the newly amended Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) signed into law last June is in full swing. The Environmental Protection Agency is on target with its statutory obligation to promulgate 3 “framework rules” by June, 2017: 1) TSCA inventory notification, 2) prioritization procedures, and 3) risk evaluation process.
Regulatory Freeze: Where do we stand now?
March 23, 2017, National Law Review (Squire Patton Boggs, LLC)
A review of President Trump’s various executive orders and related executive branch guidance concerning the regulatory freeze and reform shows why there might be a delay in actions along these lines. The 5th and most recent regulatory document released on February 23, 2017 (Executive Order # 13777) orders the creation of regulatory reform task forces within each agency.
Consumer attitudes on disruptive technologies and their impact on future retail experiences
March 24, 2017, finchannel.com
Insights from Oracle Retail 2025 study highlight that consumers are most willing to engage brands with new technology if they feel they are in control. The Retail 2025 Report results provide a benchmark for where consumers are on the retail technology adoption lifecycle and the impact on retail in the next eight years. The Retail 2025 Report polled 709 consumers in February 2017.
Was Monsanto involved in EU glyphosate study?
March 23, 2017, dw.com (Deutsche Welle)
While environmental organizations are accusing Monsanto of influencing the outcome of studies on glyphosate, the pesticide active ingredient in the company’s popular Roundup product, some EU agencies have said it poses no risk of cancer to humans. The diversity between opposing studies is unusual and one German officials says it’s time to base decisions on “scientific evaluation.” However, doubts have been raised over existing scientific studies, that have now become the core of the controversy.
Volkswagen executive remains jailed in emission cheating case
March 17, 2017, nbcnews.com (CNNmoney.com)
A VW official involved in the automaker’s emissions cheating scandal has been in U.S. custody since his January 7 arrest at Miami International Airport preparing to return home in Germany following a vacation in the U.S. His attorney had warned his client that U.S. prosecutors said they would “not be offering safe passage”. He decided the trip here was worth the risk.
Presentation matters when seeking to compel arbitration on consumer class matters
March 24, 2017, The National Review (Polsinelli PC)
Recent opinions involving Samsung and Uber Technologies have reinforced earlier decisions and make it clear that businesses should consider presentation of the arbitration clause to their consumers, regardless of whether the business is selling its services or products in traditional packaging or electronically.
Savannah Dominick, 10-Year-Old, Dies From Fire Linked To Hoverboard Explosion
March 16, 2017, The Associated Press (huffingtonpost.ca)
A second child has died from a fire in Pennsylvania that fire officials blamed on an exploding hoverboard. The two deaths, if a follow-up investigation definitely links to the two wheeled battery-powered scooter, would be the first in the United States.
