December 16, 2009
Company News
Events & Seminars
Toy/Children's Products
Food/Drug
Standards Updates
Apparel/Textile
Consumer Products
Private Label/Store Brand
Responsible Sourcing
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Specialized Technology Resources, Inc.
Raising the world's expectation of product quality, safety and supply chain responsibility
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Company News
• STR-Registrar, LLC Certifies Toys Under TSCP®
STR-Registrar, LLC, an independent company and an accredited certification body, recently certified two of the first eight toys under the Toy Industry Association's (TIA) new Toy Safety Certification Program (TSCP®).
Read more.
• Kingfisher Asia Approves STR Hong Kong for RoHS Testing
STR is pleased to announce that Kingfisher Asia has approved STR Hong Kong as an accredited laboratory for RoHS testing. Read more.
Events & Seminars
• STR will be Exhibiting at the Following Events:
- Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong - January 11-14, 2010.
Event Details.
- Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair, Germany - February 4-9, 2010. Event Details.
- TOY FAIR®, New York City - February 14-17, 2010. Event Details.
- ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium, Washington, DC - February 15-18, 2010. Event Details.
• STR to Host 5th Annual Responsible Sourcing Summit
STR Responsible Sourcing's annual conference, "GPS: Navigating the New CSR Landscape" will be held February 25-26, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA. Event Details.
• STR Participated at AAFA Product Safety Seminar in New Delhi
STR participated in the "International Product Safety & Restricted Substances" seminar organized by American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi on November 18, 2009.
Read more.
• APEC and TIA to Hold "An Open Dialogue on Toy Safety for all Stakeholders"
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Toy Industry Association (TIA) will host a workshop for regulatory officials and toy manufacturers and retailers on January 12, 2010 in Hong Kong. Event Details.
Toy/Children's Products
• Magnetic Toys to be Regulated in Australia and New South Wales
Beginning March 1, 2010, magnetic toys must comply with the relevant provision in the Australian/New Zealand Standard entitled AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2002, Safety of toys, Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties (ISO 8124-1:2000, MOD). Read more.
• Susan DeRagon Reviews Toy Safety Progress
In her latest Playthings' "Play It Safe" blog, Susan DeRagon, Associate Director of Toys and Premiums at STR, discusses the progress the toy industry has made in ensuring toys are safe and in compliance. Read more.
• Five Steps to Take Before February 2010
In the latest issue of Promotional Products Business, Susan DeRagon details what suppliers and distributors need to do before new product safety and testing requirements go into effect. Read more.
• TSCP® Process Guide Available Online from TIA
The new Toy Safety Certification Program (TSCP®) Process Guide, which complements the TSCP Program Requirements, Electronic Certification System User Guide, and other TSCP documents, is now available online. Download here.
• Moms of Toy Safety Share Insights
Susan DeRagon joined a panel of toy industry executives – all moms – to share their insights on how to select appropriate toys. View video.
Food/Drug
• Laboratory Testing Critical to Safe Food Supply
Chemical & Engineering News recently took an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the issues and challenges food testing laboratories face as they work to ensure a safe food supply.
Read more.
• U.S. Senator Introduces New Food Safety Legislation
The Processed Food Safety Act would prohibit the sale of any food that has not been certified to be free of pathogens or undergone a pathogen reduction treatment, and require more detailed ingredient labeling. Read more.
Standards Updates
• BS EN 12521: 2009 Furniture - Strength, Durability and Safety - Requirements for Domestic Tables
The European pre-standard ENV 12521:2000 which had been used for years in evaluation of the mechanical and structural safety requirements of domestic tables, was revised and approved in July 2009 by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 207 into an official European Standard EN 12521:2009 "Furniture – strength, durability and safety – requirements for domestic tables". Read more.
Apparel/Textile
• New Jersey Enacts Fur Labeling Requirement
On November 20, 2009, the state of New Jersey enacted Assembly Bill No. 2653 which requires disclosure when selling certain clothing apparel containing fur. Read more.
Consumer Products
• U.S. Senate Moves Ahead on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform
In an effort to reform the 33-year-old TSCA, Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) recently announced his plan to strengthen chemical management laws by requiring chemical companies to prove that their products are safe. Read more.
Private Label/Store Brand
• Robust Testing Helps Grow Store Brands
Scott MacLennan, Director of Store Brands at STR, is profiled in a story about how robust testing programs can help retailers improve their store brands to meet consumer expectations.
Read more.
• Retailers Use Robust Testing to Grow Private Brands
Eugene Damon, Senior Vice President of STR, discusses the role of robust quality assurance testing in helping retailers expand their private brands, build customer satisfaction, and grow market share. Read more.
• PLMA Issues 2009 Roundtable Report
Eugene Damon, Senior Vice President of STR, was a panelist on the Private Label Manufacturers Association's (PLMA) "Innovation for Success" roundtable, which discussed the roles of innovation and ingredients in the growth of the private label industry.
Read more.
Responsible Sourcing
• Oxfam Releases Paper on Poverty Footprint
Oxfam has released a paper on its Poverty Footprint Methodology, which helps companies to understand how their business operations affect the people and communities in their value chains.
Read more.
• Companies Need to Educate Consumers on Meaning of Green
While 60 percent of U.S. consumers want "green" products, they are confused about what green claims mean, according to recent research. Read more.
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