Complaints to CPSC over hoverboard refunds
July 26, 2016, Consumerist
As part of the recall of 500,000 hoverboards earlier this year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission encouraged a full refund by retailers to consumers wanting to return their products, generally at a cost of $800 per unit. Some consumers are complaining to the CPSC about how some retailers are issuing these refunds. One company, Hoverboard360 has offered consumers $800 applied toward the purchase of clothing from the same company. As one family quickly found out, the clothing was limited in size and styles. The CPSC is working with the company to find a better solution.
6 State employees criminally charged in Flint water crisis
July 29, 2016, Detroit Free Press (with video)
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has charged six more state employees with crimes in the Flint water crisis because of negligence and arrogance. “Some people failed to act, others minimized harm done and arrogantly chose to ignore data, some intentionally altered figures…and covered up significant health risks,” he said at a news conference. Three employees from the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality and three others from the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services were charged.
CONCERN FOR NFL, NHL PLAYER CONCUSSION RISK WIDENS
>NFL and players agree to new game day concussion protocol enforcement policy
July 28, 2016, The National Law Review (Jackson, Lewis)
In the latest efforts to improve player safety, the NFL and National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) announced an agreement to implement specific penalties for violations of the league’s game-day concussion protocol. The agreement calls for greater mandates on player protection and higher penalties for non-compliance. Play concussions in the NFL increased by an alarming 32% during the 2015 season.
>NHL Commissioner Bettman downplays concussion-CTE link
July 27, 2016, Foxsports
The National Hockey League Commissioner’s reluctance to link hits to the head in hockey with a degenerative brain disease found in several deceased former players has reached Congress. League attorneys filed a letter Commissioner Gary Bettman’s sent to Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal with the presiding judge over a concussion lawsuit against the NHL. In that letter Bettman said the research on the link between concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy “remains nascent.”
>Prominent Boston-area doctors head panel to find NFL’s new chief medical officer
July 21, 2016, cbslocal.com
The NFL made headlines in May, when the New York Times reported on a Congressional study that found the league tried to influence a major concussion study by rescinding grants previously given to various research facilities. A major portion of the research that the league reportedly attempted to “discredit” was from work done by Dr. Robert Stern, a neuropsychologist who is the director of clinical research for the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center. As part of a search for a chief medical officer who would work full-time with the medical staffs, the players union, and various league committees, the league tapped Dr. Robert Cantu from the Boston University School of Medicine to serve on the panel of experts who will conduct the search. Could Dr. Stern become a candidate for CMO of the NFL?
European Commission publishes plans to restrict hazardous substances (CMR) in textile articles and clothing
July 28, 2016, 4-Traders.com (SGS)
The European Commission has published a summary document of feedback after public consultation on the potential restriction of carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproductive substances (CMRs) in textile products in two phases. The first phase covers clothing, footwear, and interior textiles articles (such as bed linens). Articles in the second phase might include floor coverings, carpets, upholstery, clothing accessories, and leather articles.
Researchers say public hazard warnings need fine tuning
July 29, 2016, Claims Journal
A group of risk experts is proposing a new framework and research agenda that they believe will support the most effective warnings when a hurricane, wildfire toxic chemical spills or any other environmental hazard threatens safety. Right now, “the potential for errors is high,” when officials decide when to issue emergency warnings, who to send them to, and what safety measures to urge the public to take, according to one college professor.
FDA cites corporate confidentiality laws in secret sugar recall
July 28, 2016, Food Safety News
Federal officials are working with a producer to recall an undisclosed amount of sugar because of contamination with bits of metal, but they say they can’t reveal either the sugar company or the food producers that received the sugar. Conagra and Pennsylvania-based Weis Markets both initiated recalls, and the sugar supplier contacted the Food and Drug Administration. “This voluntary action is being taken due to our supplier’s recall on the sugar ingredients,” according to the Weis Markets’ recall notice on the FDA website. The FDA cites federal law on corporate confidentiality as the reason it has not published any information of its own regarding the sugar recall.
Blog: How will Brexit impact environmental product regulations
July 22, 2016, edie.net
Legislation designed to reduce the environmental impacts of products including REACH, ROTTS, WEEE, batteries, packaging, end of life vehicles, and eco-design requirements were all negotiated and agreed to at the EU level. In light of the Brexit referendum and the planned with drawl of the UK from the EU, impacts on UK’s environmental products regulations can be anticipated. UK and EU environmental product legislation is highly integrated and requirements will continue to apply unless repealed or amended by the government. Several paths are available to the UK in renegotiating its new position with the EU. In the short term, however, change is unlikely.
