CPSC Proposes Significant Changes To Rule Governing Certificates Of Compliance
January 4, 2024, National Law Review
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPR) to revise the existing rule on Certificates of Compliance (CoC). The last time CPSC proposed changes to Rule 1110 was in 2013. A decade later, the CPSC is reviving the CoC rulemaking process. This SNPR proposes a number of significant changes to Rule 1110. Changes include the addition of an electronic filing (eFiling) requirement for all imported CPSC-regulated products or substances, an expanded definition of “importer” and new CoC content and recordkeeping requirements.
This Commissioner’s New Year Goal: Regulate Water Beads
January 3, 2024, CNN Business
They’re colorful, small and fun to squish. But water beads pose major health risks to children, safety experts say. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has made it a priority in the new year to fully regulate water bead marketing toward young consumers. In a stinging letter on January 2, CPSC Commissioner Rich Trumka Jr.called out two retailers, Hobby Lobby and online retailer Wish, for alack of response in committing to discontinuing the toys. “They have failed to keep up with their competitors, as they have not made similar commitments to safety. Corporate greed can be deadly,” Trumka wrote. Trumka sent the letter to Hobby Lobby on December 20 and asked for a response by December 29.
Want To Be A Better Leader? Stop Thinking About Work After Hours
January 3, 2024, Harvard Business Review
It’s not uncommon for managers to continue thinking about their job after the official workday is over. This may involve ruminating about an issue with an employee, trying to think of a solution to a client problem or creating a mental to-do list for the next day. But new research shows that this tendency may not be beneficial, particularly for new leaders. In fact, constant rumination leads managers to be more depleted and less able to show up as leaders — something even their employees can pick up on.
States Looking To 2024 To Pass Revised Kids’ Online Safety Bills
January 2, 2024, The Washington Post
A group of state legislators and children’s safety advocates are planning a renewed campaign to import British digital safeguards for kids into the United States as they look to ward off legal challenges from the tech industry. After California passed a landmark online safety law in 2021 — styled after child protection rules in the United Kingdom — lawmakers in several other states, including Maryland and Minnesota, introduced their own versions. The law requires digital services to “prioritize” the well-being of children when developing products and vet those tools for potential risks before rolling them out.
How Playing With Toys Can Expose Children To Harmful Chemicals
January 4, 2024, Impackter
Like many consumer products, toys are composed of a range of materials, such as plastics, textiles and metals. Chemicals of concern (CoC), provide toys with certain functions such as fragrance, color and plasticity. Such exposure can result in long-term health effects for children such as interfering with the hormone system or cognitive development. When it comes to exposure to chemicals of concern children are one of the most vulnerable populations due to their rapid metabolic rate, high surface-area-to-body-weight ratio and rapid growth of organs and tissues.
Leading The Way: Ethics And Compliance As Leadership Responsibilities
January 3, 2024, JD Supra
To thrive in a world of constant change and challenge, firms must continuously innovate by pivoting business models, creating disruptive products and implementing new technologies. Keeping innovative, aligned and on course in these circumstances is no small feat. It requires a clear North Star in purpose and ethics as well as active, visible leadership to demonstrate what really matters and what is expected of everyone in the organization. To successfully elevate ethics to be a strategic advantage, it must begin at the top.
This Commissioner’s New Year Goal: Regulate Water Beads
January 3, 2024, CNN Business
They’re colorful, small and fun to squish. But water beads pose major health risks to children, safety experts say. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has made it a priority in the new year to fully regulate water bead marketing toward young consumers. In a stinging letter on January 2, CPSC Commissioner Rich Trumka Jr.called out two retailers, Hobby Lobby and online retailer Wish, for alack of response in committing to discontinuing the toys. “They have failed to keep up with their competitors, as they have not made similar commitments to safety. Corporate greed can be deadly,” Trumka wrote. Trumka sent the letter to Hobby Lobby on December 20 and asked for a response by December 29.
Researchers Surprised By The Level Of Toxicity They Found In Rubber Gloves
January 2, 2024, Science Norway
The plastic with which we surround ourselves contains a range of chemical additives that can leach out into water systems in the natural environment. Even if it takes a long time for products to break down into microplastic particles, the chemicals start to leach from the plastic as soon as it enters the water. Researchers have been trying to find out more about whether this phenomenon is harmful to animals and perhaps also to humans. They have examined how toxic 50 common plastic products, such as plastic bags and children’s toys, can be for small animals in the ocean.
Forever Chemicals’ Contaminate America’s Freshwater Fish
January 4, 2024, Kaiser Health News
Gone fishing? Depending on the lake, your catch may not be safe to eat. A group of chemicals collectively known as PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer goods, including dental floss, rain jackets and nonstick cookware. Over decades, these chemicals have spewed from manufacturing plants and landfills into local ecosystems, polluting surface water and groundwater, as well as the wildlife living there. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down quickly in the environment, instead accumulating in soil, water, fish and our bodies. Hundreds of military bases have been pinpointed as sources of PFAS leaching into nearby communities’ groundwater.
The Top 5 Leadership Trends That Will Drive Success In 2024
January 4, 2024, Forbes
In 2024, the leadership landscape continues to evolve in response to dynamic global, technological, and societal shifts. Leaders are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, prompting the emergence of key trends that are reshaping leadership methodologies and practices. In this context, leaders must stay ahead of the curve, adapting their approaches to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Here are our top five leadership trends for 2024, exploring how these trends influence the way leaders navigate complexity, inspire teams, and drive organizational success.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Says Don’t Buy These Replacement Batteries For Dyson Vacuums
January 4, 2024, PennLive.com
A federal safety agency has issued a warning about replacement batteries for Dyson cordless vacuums sold on Amazon. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the lithium-ion replacement batteries not only are not authorized by Dyson but also are not safe. The battery packs in question are sold by Zautnkn.inc on Amazon, the commission said, and “are manufactured in China by Ganzhoushimeizishengwukejiyouxiangongsi. ” The commission said the manufacturer “has not agreed to a recall” or “to offer a remedy to consumers.”
India: Government To Come Up With 65 Quality Control Orders To Stop Imports Of Sub-Standard Goods
January 4, 2024, The Economic Times
The Government will soon issue 65 quality control orders (QCOs) which will cover over 500 products to contain imports of sub-standard goods and boost domestic manufacturing. Under these orders, items cannot be produced, sold, traded, imported and stocked unless they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark. Violation of the law can attract a penalty of up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence, which increases to Rs 5 lakh minimum for the second and subsequent offences.
