China, US, EU Reach New Consensus On Cooperation On Consumer Product Safety
April 11, 2024, State Information Office, Republic of China
China, the United States and the European Union (EU) reached new consensus on deepening cooperation on consumer product safety, according to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC). The three sides agreed to build common standards, deepen common supervision, focus on common protection of consumer rights and interests and strive to protect the common safety of consumer products. The Eighth China-US-EU Trilateral Summit on Consumer Product Safety was co-hosted by the GAC, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commission.
EU Trade Relations With The United States. Facts, Figures And Latest Developments
April 15, 2024, European Commission
The European Union and the United States have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship and enjoy the most integrated economic relationship in the world. Although overtaken by China in 2020 as the largest trading partner specifically for goods, when services and investment are taken into account, the US remains the EU’s largest trading partner by far. Either the EU or the US is the largest trade and investment partner of almost every other country in the global economy. Taken together, the economies of both territories account for one third of global trade in goods and services and close to one third of world GDP in terms of purchasing power.
What To Do When Your Team Blames You
April 12, 2024, Harvard Business Review
When you’re a manager, at some point, regardless of how the circumstances arise, your team will blame you for something that’s making them unhappy, whether you have control over it or not. Being accused by your team of failing them in some way induces a threat state in your brain, impairing your ability to think clearly and triggering a variety of cognitive distortions and defensive behaviors. The authors offer several strategies to help you work through the experience while keeping important relationships intact.
Urgent CPSC Warning: Stop Using Unit Pack Power (UPP) E-Bike Batteries; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
April 15, 2024, TMCNet News
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing this public health and safety notice to warn the public about the risk of serious injury and death with Unit Pack Power (UPP) e-bike batteries. The lithium-ion batteries pose fire and burn hazards. The Commission has found that the public health and safety requires this notice to warn the public quickly of the hazard. CPSC’s urgent warning comes after 13 people in the United States reported the battery overheated, including seven reports of fire and substantial property damage. The batteries reportedly were also involved in multiple fires in the United Kingdom. The batteries are manufactured by Shenzhen Unit Pack Power Technology Co. Ltd., d/b/a Unit Pack Power or UPP, of China, which has refused to conduct an acceptable recall.
Firefighting Gear Without PFAS Heads To North American Cities
April 10, 2024, Bloomberg Law
Two North American cities are moving forward with the purchase of firefighting gear that has no intentionally added PFAS, a key development for manufacturers who have faced legal liability over the presence of the forever chemicals in their equipment. Vancouver, Canada, and Concord, N.H., are the first North American cities to commit public funds to purchase personal protective gear made without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Neil McMillan, director of science and research with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) union, said in recent interviews. The development follows political, legal, and financial pressure over the risks associated with the equipment.
Lunchables Under Fire After Reports Of Concerning Lead, Sodium Levels
April 10, 2024, Washington Post
Consumer Reports is calling for the removal of Lunchables from school trays across the country after discovering concerning levels of lead and sodium and a potentially harmful chemical in their packaging in products sold in stores. A petition lobbying the U.S. Department of Agriculture to get rid of the Kraft Heinz products from the National School Lunch Program has more than 14,000 signatures. Consumer Reports has found concerning levels of lead when it tested store-bought Lunchables.
CPSC: Stop Using Chiwanji Hammer Toys Due To Choking Hazard; Banned Small Parts; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
April 11, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Chiwanji Vertical Box Hammer Case Hammer Toys because the small balls pose a choking hazard to young children. CPSC testing determined the hammer toys contain small balls that are prohibited small parts and that are banned for children under three years of age because they are a choking hazard. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Chiwanji, of China, but the firm has not agreed to recall these hammer toys or offer a remedy to consumers.
Australia: BIG W Issues National Recall After Fire And Safety Concerns: ‘Stop Using Immediately’
April 12, 2024, 7News.com.au
Thousands of BIG W products are being recalled across Australia due to safety concerns that could result in “serious injury”. The discount department store issued the recall of its rechargeable battery-operated hand stick bagless vacuum due to the “risk of serious injury and property damage from fire”, reportedly as a result from an electrical issue. There had been incidents in which fires started by the vacuums had caused property damage, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Long Island Residents Face Renewed Concerns After Discovery Of Toxic Chemicals
April 13, 2024, Fox News
Large chemical drums found buried on Long Island have reignited anger and outrage from area officials and residents who have long feared that the park’s past may be linked to cancer’s prevalence in the community. The latest discovery has left some to believe there are more secrets to be dug up. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced at the end of March that six 55-gallon steel drums had been discovered encased in concrete at Bethpage Community Park as the multi-year cleanup of the contaminated site continues.
Austin Rolls Out New Regulations, Limitations on E-Scooters
April 12, 2024, The Daily Texan
Austin Transportation and Public Works implemented new regulations on April 1 for electric scooters, including allowing only Lime and Bird scooters to operate within the city, after ongoing challenges surrounding safety and accessibility. The number of e-scooters in the city dropped from 14,000 to 8,700 last fall after the departure of the scooter vendor Link, TPW director Richard Mendoza said at a Mobility Committee meeting. The new regulations reduce that amount to just 6,700 in the city with only 2,250 in the downtown area, he said. “These things really need your full attention when you’re out there mixing it up with traffic,” Mendoza said. “Trauma centers were observing a number of serious head injuries that were attributable to scooters.”
AI Regulation – Key Developments For European Products Stakeholders
April 9, 2024, Cooley Products
A summary of three recent developments in the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe, which will affect all stakeholders who incorporate AI technologies into hardware or software products. The three are: European Union AI Act approved by European Parliament; EU AI Liability Directive moves forward; and UK AI private members’ bill reaches second reading.
