Boyle: CPSC To Propose Mandatory Requirements For Batteries For Micromobility Products
October 17, 2023, Bicycle Retailer
CPSC Commissioner Mary T. Boyle recently addressed the PeopleForBikes’ SHIFT’23 conference. She provided information on CPSC plans for micromobility device regulations. “I’m happy to announce we are poised to consider regulatory regulations for micromobility devices across the board, including e-bikes,” Boyle told the group. “We’re going to propose mandatory requirements for batteries in micromobility products. But it’s going to take a while,” she said.
Kids Still Getting Injured After Swallowing High-Powered Magnets
October 20, 2023, US News and World Reports
Despite warnings and public education campaigns, kids continue to suffer injuries from swallowing small but strong magnets, according to a new study. Children are also inserting high-powered, rare-earth balls into their ears and noses, even in households where parents fully understand the dangers of the toys, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For the study, the researchers reviewed 2017 to 2019 data from patients aged 21 and younger from a study that included 25 U.S. children’s hospitals.
What To Do If You Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Intuition
October 19, 2023, Harvard Business Review
It can be disconcerting to feel that your intuition isn’t working the way it should. What happens when, as a leader, you feel your intuition is suddenly failing you? In this article, the authors outline five strategies to help you get back in touch with your gut instinct: 1) Lean on your team. 2) Create space in your day to be quiet and reflect. 3) Stop multitasking. 4) Practice small decisions. 5) Don’t worry about perfection.
Fortress Biometric Gun Safes Recalled Due To Injury Hazard And Risk Of Death; One Death Reported
October 18, 2023, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fortress Safe, of Naperville, Illinois, announced the recall of about 61,000 biometric gun safes due to a serious safety hazard and risk of death. The cause of the recall is a programming feature that can allow unauthorized access to the safes. This can allow unauthorized users, including children, to access the safe to remove hazardous contents, including firearms. CPSC is aware of a recent lawsuit alleging a 12-year-old boy died from a firearm obtained from one of these safes.
Right To Repair Becomes Law In California
October 16, 2023, Recycling Today
Apple and HP are among the organizations that supported the legislation. Supporters, including Apple and HP say the bill “is an important way to slow the creation of electronic waste.” The legislation provides for independent repair shops and consumers to access the repair materials they need to keep their products in use and out of the trash.” However, device manufacturer trade associations, including the Consumer Technology Association, National Electronic Manufacturers Association and PRBA – the Rechargeable Battery Association, opposed the bill.
Update: EU Microplastics Ban Has Gone Into Effect October 17
October 18, 2023, The Toy Association
On September 27, 2023, the European Commission issued Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 to regulate microplastics. These regulations will immediately affect toymakers that use glitter in their products, along with other products that fall under the scope for microplastics, such as microbeads. Although there are some extensions for the implementation timeline of the new measures, they are limited to a few specific applications (including certain cosmetics); all other cases are effectively subject to an immediate ban.
EU Advocate General Argues That Harmonized Technical Standards Must Be Freely Available
October 19, 2023, Cooley Productwise
In a case brought by two nonprofit organizations against the judgment of the EU General Court (the EU junior court) upholding the European Commission’s decision refusing to grant access to four harmonized technical standards (HTS), the Advocate General (AG) argued that the Court of Justice of the European Union (the EU senior court) should annul the General Court’s judgment and the European Commission’s decision and order the European Commission to grant the two nonprofit organizations access to the standards. If the Court of Justice endorses the AG’s reasoning, this might have groundbreaking effects, as it could open the way to requiring HTS to be made freely available.
September 2023 Prop 65 Bounty Hunter Plaintiff Claims
October 16, 2023, National Law Review
In September of 2023, product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers were the targets of over 294 new Notices of Violation (“Notices”) and amended Notices, alleging a violation of Prop. 65 for failure to provide a warning for their products. This was based on the alleged presence of the following chemicals in these products. Noteworthy trends and categories from Notices sent in September 2023 are excerpted and discussed below. A complete list of Notices sent in September 2023 can be found on the California Attorney General’s website, located at 60-Day Notice Search.
CPSC Signals Its Regulatory Interest In PFAS
October 17, 2023, National Law Review
On September 20, 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a Federal Register Notice and Request for Information. The agency asked for public comment about the use and presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in “consumer products” under its jurisdiction. By issuing this Request for Information, CPSC has signaled its interest in joining the EPA, FDA and Department of Agriculture, along with several state and municipal jurisdictions, in studying and potentially regulating PFAS.
Pressure Rises On Online Retailers To Fight Fakes
October 17, 2023, Rollcall
From clothes and shoes to electronics and even aircraft engine parts, online retail sites and social media marketplaces are awash in counterfeit products. Of 13,000 online consumers surveyed in 17 countries by the Michigan State University Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection, nearly 3 out of 4 reported having bought counterfeit products Consumer advocates and legal experts are urging Congress to pass legislation to make online platforms liable for dangers posed by counterfeit goods by putting them on par with brick-and-mortar stores. Now, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s panel on intellectual property and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the panel’s top Republican, are pursuing legislation that would hold the platforms liable for the sale of counterfeits.
UK: Where Is The Design Industry In Terms Of Right To Repair?
October 20, 2023, Design Week
With the right to repair rising on the agenda we spoke to the Restart Project, designers and the Design Council about barriers from understanding and skills to legislation. Design Council senior Policy and advocacy manager Matilda Agace discusses how circularity and sustainable design has been on the Design Council’s agenda for many years – she describes encountering a mid-90s leaflet on the subject in the archive – but a focus on repairability is more recent, and particularly comes to the fore in this year’s edition of its Design for Planet Festival.
