Toymaker VTech hit by largest-ever hack targeting kids
December 1, 2015, Reuters
A cyber attack on the Hong Kong toymaker exposed data of 6.4 million children in what experts called the largest known hack targeting youngsters. Security experts said they expected the size of the breach would prompt governments to scrutinize VTech and other toymakers to review their security.
Hoverboards impounded at UK ports over explosion risks
December 2, 2015, The Guardian
Retailers have issued product recalls as trading standards officers sugest consumer vigilance over self-balancing scooters this Christmas. Over 17,000 units imported from beyond the EU have been examined of which 15,000 (88%) failed basic safety checks.
Another effort to reduce poisonings caused by laundry detergent pods
November 30, 2015, The Wall Street Journal
A New York legislator has introduced a bill calling for child-resistant packaging for the packets, which have been involved in a number of accidental poisonings after children mistook them for toys or candy. Earlier this year a member of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced federal legislation to create new safety rules for the laundry capsules, but that bill was put on hold after Procter & Gamble and other makers of laundry packets agreed to a voluntary U.S. safety standard for the product.
Reformulation is necessary to meet market, cultural, safety, and environmental demand
December 1, 2015, cosmeticsdesign-europe.com
The first-ever in-cosmetic summit kicked off in London with a big focus on reformulation due to market demands, differing climates, cultural preferences, trends, health and safety concerns. Sensorial aspects, effectiveness, plastic micro beads and appearance are factors now affecting how developers approach product formulation.
Cycling gear startup pitches pricey wearables with fear
November 30, 2015, Observer.com
Even as cycling is getting much safer in the U.S., this Los Angeles company is pitching expensive jackets based on its dangers. Critics take issue when the conversation is solely about what the biker has to do to protect themselves, and note that cyclist fatalities have been basically flat at around 700 per years since 2004, even though bike miles traveled more than doubled from 2001-2009.
Overnight Regulation: Grocers take lead on GMO labeling
December 2, 2015, The Hill
The Grocery Manufacturers Association launched an initiative to satisfy both consumers and food producers in the fight over whether to label foods with genetically modified ingredients. Over 30 companies have agreed to participate in a SmartLabel program, allowing consumers to find detailed product information by scanning a QR code on a package. Consumer group claims program leaves vulnerable populations without recourse.
Certain holiday lights ‘pose serious safety risk’: Health Canada
December 1, 2015, globalnews.com
The Canada product safety regulator has warned that lights manufactured by Taizhou Honpeng Colour Lanterns ‘may pose a serious risk.” Samples tested by both health Canada and the CSA Group confirm that these decorative lighting products do not comply with Canadian standards posing a potential danger to the health and safety of Canadians,” officials said.
‘Food Freedom’ bill would free some Utah farms from safety rules
December 3, 2015, The Salt Lake Tribune
Small farms subject to restrictions and inspections by state regulators are seeking more flexibility for selling directly to consumers, pointing to similar business models such as Uber and Airbnb which are able to deal directly with consumers outside of current regulatory frameworks that apply to their respective industries. A Utah state official responds that if farmers don’t follow Utah federal meat and poultry standards, federal regulators “will step in and start inspecting instead.”
Brand reputation: good and bad ways to manage product recalls
November 30, 2015, PRWeek
Having to take back a product seems like a no-win situation, but it can be a chance for brands to show their worth. Brands can suffer two main types of damage in these situations—financial and reputational. While product recalls involve an “initial financial hit,” one consultant notes, “they can greatly mitigate the reputation damage with a solid response”
New solutions for supply chain management risk: a case study
December 2, 2015, Forbes.com
It is now becoming possible to detect supply chain risks much more quickly. An agricultural equipment manufacturer that has grown by acquisition began a transformation of the company’s sourcing organization in 2012. They have since moved from a fragmented decentralized system to a centralized commodity management structure for leverage and future organizational growth.
