Ikea relaunches Malm dresser recall
November 22, 2017, Stocknewspress.com
Ikea relaunched a recall of 29 million chests and dressers in the US and Canada Tuesday after the death of an eighth child. Ikea first launched a recall of various types of chests and dressers in June 2016, asking customers either to ensure the furniture is secured to a wall or to send the item back. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the number of recalled chests and dressers in the U.S. has been since been lowered to about 17.3 million based on updated information from Ikea.
Ikea drawers will not be recalled in Australia despite relaunch of US recall
November 22, 2017, The Age
Ikea Australia is not issuing a recall on its “Malm” dressers and drawers, or any other ranges, despite an eighth child being crushed to death by a chest of drawers in the US. Ikea Australia told the Herald: “IKEA chests of drawers and dressers are safe when attached to the wall, as directed in the assembly instructions. IKEA provides anti tip restraints and instructions for wall anchoring with all chest of drawers and other furniture which is at risk of tipping.” Ikea Australia is also offering free replacements of the wall anchors in store and for order online
Toy makers respond to list of ‘dangerous’ toys
November 21, 2017, Fox23.com
Toymakers and industry groups are challenging a consumer group that annually promotes a “dangerous” toys list. The responses include: “Each year, we find these lists by W.A.T.C.H. to be needlessly frightening to parents; each year these allegations do not stand up to scrutiny when reviewed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Safety issues are not uncovered by the group’s “gotcha” reporting.” Toymakers and The Toy Association are committed to toy safety year-round. These efforts include providing useful tips for families and caregivers to help them choose age-appropriate toys and ensure safe play. For reliable information on toy safety, families can visit www.PlaySafe.org, The Toy Association’s free, year-round resource for parents and caregivers.”
CPSC finalizes ban on certain children’s toys and child-care articles
November 20, 2017, National Law Review (Squire Patton Boggs)
On October 27, 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) issued a final rule prohibiting children’s toys and child care articles that contain concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of certain phthalates. The final rule states children’s toys and child care articles containing concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of diisononyl phthalate (“DINP”), diisobutyl phthalate (“DIBP”), di-n-pentyl phthalate (“DPENP”), di-n-hexyl phthalate (“DHEXP”), and dischyclohexyl phthalate (“DCHP”) are prohibited.
Minnesota regulators find toxic children’s jewelry
November 23, 2017, Southernminnesota.com
Minnesota state regulators reported finding three children’s jewelry products containing toxic levels of cadmium. The jewelry — a butterfly necklace, ladybug charm necklace and penguin charm necklace — were among 89 toys purchased online and in stores by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as part of a joint effort to enforce the state’s Toxic Toys Act.
Children’s smart watches now banned in Germany
November 19, 2017, Marea Informative
Germany has taken action to protect children by banning the sale of smart watches aimed at them. Telecoms regulator the Federal Network Agency implemented the ban to prevent companies from obtaining data on German children. The German regulator said the devices violated Germany’s strict surveillance laws. The smart watches are often purchased by parents as a means of tracking the location of their children.
US Children’s products trade group refutes NGO safety claims
November 23, 2017, Chemical Watch
US trade group the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association criticised an NGO report — which grades retailers’ on their efforts to tackle chemicals of concern — for implying children’s products could be toxic. Kelly Mariotti, executive director of the JPMA, told Chemical Watch that children’s products “cannot present either acute or chronic hazards to children” because they are “heavily regulated” under the Federal Hazardous Substance Act and Consumer Product Safety Act, and most products were tested by government-accredited laboratories before sale.
EPA Releases List of Chemical Substances Reported under TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) Rule
November 22, 2017, National Law Review (Bergeson & Campbell PC)
On November 22, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was releasing a preliminary list of chemical substances reported under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) rule that includes substances reported to EPA through November 10, 2017, and that it will be updated approximately once per month. EPA states that it is making this list available to help keep the stakeholder community informed of the status of reporting under the TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) rule. EPA is providing the list in a downloadable, searchable spreadsheet. The total number of chemicals on the list is 10,730.
New standard helps businesses raise the bar on safety
November 20, 2017, Scoop.co.nz
“The best way for businesses to ensure they sell safe products and to avoid a costly and time-consuming product safety recall, is to have a thorough product safety process in place,” says New Zealand’s Trading Standards Team Leader Martin Rushton. “The standard, called NZS ISO 10377:2017 Consumer Product Safety – Guidelines for Suppliers, guides businesses on how to ensure every stage of the product lifecycle – from product design, manufacturing, distribution, all the way to the shop shelf – has been enacted safely and is traceable.”
Washington State Expands List of Chemicals for Children’s Safe Products Reporting Rule
October 9, 2017, American Coatings Association
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) has revised its list of chemical compounds under the Children’s Safe Products Reporting Rule. In a revised rule issued Sept. 29, the department added 20 compounds to the catalogue, bringing the total to 85 compounds for which manufacturers of children’s products are required to report on use of those chemicals in children’s products. Washington state’s robust reporting program passed in 2008, as the Children’s Safe Product Act (CSPA).
Children to be banned from using glitter at nurseries due to harm it does to environment
November 17, 2017, Telgraph.co.uk
‘Tis the season to be jolly – but not if it involves glitter, according to the head of a nursery school group who has banned it due to the harm it does to the environment.The substance, which is popular for making homemade Christmas cards and decorations, has this year been banished from a chain of 19 nurseries across the south of England.
