CPSC Challenge: Chinese Seller Of Hazardous Infant Loungers Not Cooperating On Recall Or Remedy To Consumers
June 8, 2023, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Momaid infant loungers because they do not comply with federal safety standards for infant sleep products, posing a risk of suffocation and a fall hazard to infants. The seller, Zhejiang Juster Trading LLC, of China, is not cooperating with the CPSC on a recall of this product and is not offering a remedy to consumers.
Congress Pulls The Toy Gun Trigger: CPSC Takes Over Enforcement Authority For Imitation-Firearms Law
June 2, 2023, Arnold & Porter
With the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s myriad recent activities it would have been easy to miss the transfer of enforcement authority for toy, look-alike, or imitation firearms from the Department of Commerce to CPSC. However, CPSC’s recently issued Direct Final Rule adopting Commerce’s rule for the marking of toy, look-alike, and imitation firearms is a reminder of a jurisdictional shift that Congress effected last year that may portend a sea change in enforcement activity.
What Will Working With AI Really Require?
June 8, 2023, Harvard Business Review
To foster a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, organizations must find the appropriate balance between investing in human skills and technological capabilities. They must think strategically about how they attract and retain talent. To do this effectively, they need to think about where and how this technology will be used to assist people in their work; where people and machines will collaborate; and where either people or AI have skills that give them a clear advantage.
AHAM Urging Consumer Action On Gas Appliance Bill
June 7, 2023, Kitchen & Bath Design News
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers is urging consumers to contact their Congressional representatives to request support for the “Save Our Gas Stoves Act.” This proposed legislation would prohibit the U.S. Dept. of Energy from implementing a proposed cooking-product regulation that AHAM says would result in longer cooking times and the loss of many gas stove features.
VA Tech Transportation Institute / NEC Use AI And 5G Technology To Improve Intersection Safety
June 6, 2023, The Roanoke Star.com
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and NEC Corporation of America (NEC) have announced they have combined private 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) to create a roadway warning system that could potentially save lives. VTTI and NEC’s research have created the potential to identify dangerous traffic conditions and hazards, such as the approach of pedestrians or animals, to provide warnings to drivers. These tests were conducted from January to March 2023 in Blacksburg, Virginia on the Virginia Smart Roads, one of the only facilities in the world that can conduct these advanced tests.
CPSC Issues New Drowning Report With Child Fatalities; Reminder For Extra Water Safety Vigilance
June 8, 2023, cpsc.gov
The annual drowning and submersion report released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that fatal child drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries for children under age 15 remain high. Child drownings continue to be the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 years old. CPSC urges families with young children and those in historically excluded communities to make water safety a priority, particularly as they spend more time in and around pools during the summer.
Children’s Product Safety Organization, Kids In Danger, Commemorates 25th Anniversary
June 8, 2023, KID
Kids In Danger (KID), a Chicago-based nonprofit was incorporated on June 9, 1998, after the tragic death of 16-month-old Danny Keysar. Among KID’s victories over the past 25 years is the landmark Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008. More recently, KID helped pass the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, STURDY Act, and Reese’s Law.
Airsoft Store Says Changing Regulations Could Hurt The Future Of The Hobby
June 9, 2023, WPSD 6 Local
Regulation at the federal level could affect a local small business and a hobby some enjoy: airsoft guns. They are small toy guns that shoot non-metal BBs. The Consumer Product Safety Commission wants to add an additional layer of red tape to sell them. The commission argues increased safety measures are needed. Opponents say there are too many unanswered questions about the measure.
Singapore Identifies Six Generative AI Risks, Sets Up Foundation To Guide Adoption
June 8, 2023, ZDNet
Singapore has identified six top risks associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI) and proposed a framework on how these issues can be addressed. It also has established a foundation that looks to tap the open-source community to develop test toolkits that mitigate the risks of adopting AI. Hallucinations, accelerated disinformation, copyright challenges, and embedded biases are among the key risks of generative AI outlined in a report released by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Australia Recalls The Laundress Fabric Conditioners Due To Presence Of Harmful Chemical
June 8, 2023, 7Life
A series of fabric conditioner products have been recalled by Australia’s consumer watchdog for containing a potentially harmful chemical. Ethylene oxide was found in 16 cleaning products sold internationally and nationally by luxury fabric care brand The Laundress. According to Product Safety Australia (PSA), ethylene oxide is a carcinogen and consumers using these products may be exposed to the chemical through residue on clothing or through inhaling the product during use. “Direct long-term exposure may cause adverse health effects, including cancer,” PSA said.
Link Found Between Exposure To “Forever Chemicals” During Pregnancy And Increased Risk Of Childhood Obesity
June 8, 2023, TrendsInTech
Exposure to per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” has been associated with various health risks. A recent study conducted by researchers at Brown University provides further evidence of the potential dangers of PFAS exposure during pregnancy. The study examined a diverse dataset collected from research sites across the United States. The findings shed light on the link between maternal PFAS exposure and higher body mass indices (BMIs) as well as an increased risk of obesity in children.
New European Union Product Safety Regime To Take Effect
June 9, 2023, Pinsent Masons
Manufacturers selling goods in the EU and online marketplaces facilitating their sale are among the businesses being urged to prepare for new product safety regulations that are set to take effect. The EU General Product Safety Regulation will begin to apply on 12 June 2023, though the new provisions will not be enforced until 13 December 2024. Previously compliant products placed on the market before then can still be sold. The legislation applies to economic operators involved in placing products on the EU market, even if they are not themselves established in the EU.
