Shein, Temu Branch Further Into Toy Market Amid Worry Over Fake Products
November 29, 2024, Reuters
Fast-growing specialty e-commerce sites such as PDD’s Temu, along with its rival Shein, are branching deeper into the business of selling toys as many American and European shoppers prepare to seek out steep bargains. In previous years, Temu and Shein – which sell primarily from mobile phone-based apps – would not have been the usual places for shoppers to buy toys and other holiday gifts. The sites face concerns from regulators and U.S.-based consumer product makers about fakes and counterfeits. Now both Temu and Shein are looking to win a bigger slice of the global market for toys, which fuel sales for retailers during the holiday season. Toys drove $108.7 billion in sales globally in 2023, according to market research firm Circana.
New York And California: Bans On PFAS In Textiles And Apparel Begin January 1, 2025
November 25, 2024, Morgan Lewis
Bans in California and New York on textile articles and apparel containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will take effect January 1, 2025. That same day, Colorado will commence its phased approach to prohibit PFAS in outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions, starting with a PFAS disclosure requirement. While an increasing number of states contemplate legislation and regulations addressing PFAS in textile goods and apparel—whether that be product bans or reporting and disclosure requirements—the size of the California and New York markets will likely impact national strategies for these types of products. At a minimum, businesses that manufacture, distribute or sell textile articles or apparel would be well served by diligently monitoring the growing patchwork of prohibitions and requirements.
Let’s End Toxic Productivity
November 13, 2024, Harvard Business Review
Toxic productivity is an unhealthy compulsion to be productive at all times, often at the expense of our mental and physical well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life. This mindset isn’t just harmful; it’s dangerous. People are already struggling to meet their core job requirements, but when you factor in a staggering 192% increase in weekly meetings post-pandemic, it becomes significantly more challenging. Despite the longstanding perception that more hours worked means higher productivity, data and research are finding otherwise. Leaders play a crucial role in either perpetuating or breaking this cycle of toxic productivity.
Toy Association™ Comments On Proposed CPSC Update To Toys With Button/Coin Cell Batteries
November 19, 2024, The Toy Association
The Toy Association™ submitted comments on November 14 in response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) to add additional performance and labeling requirements for toys containing button cell or coin cell batteries. The NPR seeks to largely align the toy regulations under 16 CFR 1250 with broader consumer product requirements outlined in Reese’s Law (16 CFR 1263). CPSC cites a desire for regulatory consistency, despite an explicit exemption for toys under Reese’s Law, which recognizes ASTM F963 as already providing sufficient protection for battery safety in toys.
CPSC: efiling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
December 2024, cpsc.gov
“Gaining familiarity with the resources available on the webpage and in the Consumer Product Safety Commission Document Library such as our eFiling Quick Start Guide and Product Registry Training Videos is an excellent way to kick off participation in the eFiling voluntary stage,” according to a statement from the CPSC.
Vespa-Loving Italian Minister’s Safety Law Targets ‘Wild’ E-Scooters
November 25, Forbes
Italy will require helmets, license plates and insurance for e-scooter riders after a surge in injuries. It will also ban the controversial micro mobility machines from cycle lanes and pedestrian sidewalks. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said in a social media post: “No more wild scooters.” E-scooters are increasingly controversial following bans in Paris and Madrid, though Italy isn’t outright outlawing them. The Italian parliament approved a transport bill that regulates e-scooters, as well as introduces tougher penalties for drunk driving and abandoning animals alongside roads. Salvini said the changes were designed to “reduce the carnage on Italian roads.”
CPSC Final Rule: Safety Standard For Soft Infant And Toddler Carriers
November 25, 2024, Intertek
On November 20, 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission staff published a Direct Final Rule in the Federal Register, updating the safety standard for soft infant and toddler carriers. This final rule references the latest version of the ASTM F2236 standard, which includes several key revisions. The updated standard, ASTM F2236-24, replaces the previous version, ASTM F2236-14. The updated safety standard will become effective on February 22, 2025, unless significant adverse comments are received by the CPSC by December 20, 2024. If the CPSC receives such a comment, it will publish a document in the Federal Register, withdrawing this direct final rule before its effective date. Manufacturers of soft infant and toddler carriers must ensure their products comply with the new standard to avoid any regulatory issues.
Health Canada Flags Lithium-Ion Batteries And More As Key Hazards In New Prohibitions List
November 25, McMillian
Health Canada monitors hazards and risks posed by consumer products. Health Canada has recently added lithium-ion batteries (including products containing lithium-ion batteries), water beads, and infant bath seats to its watch-list for products that may pose a danger to human health and safety. After Health Canada identifies a “hazard of concern” the agency adds that class of consumer products to the General Prohibitions List. The General Prohibitions List allows Health Canada to monitor hazards, existing or potential, in the Canadian marketplace.
CPSC Issues Toy Safety Warning Amid Holiday Shopping Season
November 29, 3034, KNDO Nonstop News
As holiday shoppers hunt for deals, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging caution when purchasing toys. The CPSC reports that toys have led to 200,000 emergency room visits nationwide, resulting in 10 deaths. The agency emphasizes the importance of selecting age-appropriate toys. Parents should be particularly cautious of small items which can be easily swallowed or inhaled. These small parts are prone to getting lost in carpets, posing a risk to children crawling on the floor. For those considering gifts like bikes, scooters, or motorized scooters, the CPSC advises including safety equipment, such as helmets.
Redefining Infant Safety: Visionary Research Targets Sudden Infant Death Risks
November 26, 2024, Boise State University
In 2021, Kids in Danger, an organization that advocates for product safety for children presented Erin Mannen the Best Friend Award for her groundbreaking infant product research that led to policy changes and recalls recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Now, the associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering is spearheading a transformative study on sudden unexpected infant death. The research, supported by a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, seeks to protect thousands of more infants by identifying how biomechanical factors such as body position, feeding, and infant product design features influence infant respiration and suffocation risks.
