Safety concerns prompt NJ lawmakers to mull sales ban on baby walkers
February 14, 2019, NJ Spotlight
In New Jersey, a Senate panel approved legislation that would prohibit anyone from selling infant walkers in the state, a policy enacted by Canada more than a decade ago, as well as a number of counties and municipalities here in the U.S. Accidents involving baby walkers send roughly five infants to the hospital each day — some with serious, lasting injuries. And while the popular devices are safer now, some state lawmakers want to make the Garden State the first in the nation to ban their sale entirely.
Legislation introduced to prevent CO deaths
February 15, 2019, International Falls Journal
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Hoeven, R- N.D., introduced bipartisan legislation to help prevent carbon monoxide-related deaths. The Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, named for two young brothers from Kimball, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning, would empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, to encourage tougher standards to help ensure carbon monoxide detectors are safe and reliable.
CPSC Commissioner Elliot Kaye’s Framework Statement on Internet Safety
February 13, 2019, National Law Review (Mintz, Levin)
Commissioner Elliot Kaye recently released a framework, which he co-authored with his Senior Science and Policy Advisor, Dr. Jonathan Midgett, that provides an “overview of technology-neutral best practices to ensure consumer product safety in the design and deployment of devices, software, and systems used with the Internet-connected consumer products.” This framework should prove useful to consumer product companies.
Illegal car seats on sale via online marketplaces
February 15, 2019, ITV News
Child car seats which are illegal to use in the UK are still available to buy from online marketplaces, a watchdog has warned. The seats, made of fabric, offer “almost no protection” in the event of a car crash and sell for as little as £8 on sites such as eBay, Amazon and AliExpress, Which? found. The consumer group said the seats clearly lacked the support needed to protect babies and toddlers despite being described in listings as suitable for newborns and children up to the age of five.
CPSC releases mobile app for product recalls
February 13, 2019, WHNT News
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched a new CPSC Recall App to make recall information currently on the website more accessible to consumers. The app is used to quickly search and find specific product recalls. “At CPSC we are looking for ways to improve how consumers can access information about recalls,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle. “I encourage consumers to download CPSC’s Recall App today, and let us know how we can make it better.”
California Holds That Internet Service Providers, Such As Yelp, Can Disobey Orders To Remove Defamatory Posts – So How Can Companies Remove False Reviews From The Internet?
February 15, 2019, National Law Review (Ryley Carlock Law, pc)
With so many consumers looking online to evaluate your company, a false negative review can have a dramatic impact on whether customers choose to buy from your company. This puts significant responsibility on internet service providers (“ISPs”) that host online reviews to ensure that users do not post false content. But if the ISPs aren’t required to remove false reviews, what can a company do to protect its online reputation?
U.S. EPA Announces national “PFAS action plan”
February 14, 2019, National Law Review (Godfrey & Kahn)
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) acting Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, announced the U.S.EPA’s PFAS Action Plan. Wheeler stated that the Agency’s plan was the most comprehensive cross-agency plan introduced by the U.S.EPA. The Acting Administrator highlighted five key elements of the PFAS Action Plan.
Connectivity and safety: The future of product safety (Dekra video)
In this short video, a consulting firm explains its approach to a safe, connected world through technology and the new requirements for safety applied to smart homes and appliances in the Internet of Things.
Forecast Report: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STM Toys market set to booming evolution in Education sector by 2026-Global top leading players Hasbro, Learning Resources, LEGO Group, Mattel, Spin Master
February 13, 2019, Open PR
Growing application of Al in STEM toys to run market growth. The application of artificial intelligence (Al) in STEM toys has developed over the last few years. Al-powered STEM toys are becoming popular, especially amongst working parents. This is because these toys act as learning buddies for children and proposal customizability for a range of lessons in core STEM disciplines and coding.
ISO updates standard for phthalates in toys and children’s products ISO-8124
February 14, 2019, Open PR
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 8124-6:2018 in November 2018. This second edition of the standard covering the use of phthalates in toys and children’s products, replaced ISO 8124-6:2014 upon publication. ISO expanded the ISO 8124 series of standards for toy safety in 2014 to include a methodology for the determination of six phthalates. These were:
