January 20, 2010

  • Events & Seminars
  • Toy/Children's Products
  • Food/Drug
  • Lead/Chemical
  • Standards Updates
  • Apparel/Textile
  • Consumer Products
  • Responsible Sourcing
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    Events & Seminars

    • STR will be Exhibiting at the Following Events:
    -- Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair, Nürnberg Exhibition Centre, Germany - February 4-9, 2010. Event Details.
    -- TOY FAIR®, Javits Convention Center, New York City - February 14-17, 2010. Event Details.
    -- ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium, Capital Hilton, Washington, DC - February 15-18, 2010. Event Details.

    • Upcoming STR Webinars:
    -- "Enhancing the Quality of Store Brands Through Consumer and Sensory Studies". Event Details.
    -- "CPSIA - What You Need to Know for Compliance in 2010". Event Details.
    -- Demonstration of LESLi's Features: STR RS' recently-launched Labor & Employment Standards Library (LESLi), an online database of labor and safety standards for over 140 countries. 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.


    Toy/Children's Products

    • CPSIA Improvement Recommendations Sent to Congress
    On January 15, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sent to the U.S. Congress four consensus recommendations for improving certain provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). Read more.

    • Vietnam Adopts Technical Regulation on Toy Safety
    The regulation is effective April 15, 2010 and pronounces physical, mechanical, chemical, flammability and labeling requirements. Read more.

    • Susan DeRagon Discusses Changes in Canada's Toy Safety Standards
    In her latest Playthings’ "Play It Safe" blog, Susan DeRagon, Associate Director of Toys and Premiums at STR, provides an overview of Canada's proposed toy safety regulatory changes. Read more.

    • Susan DeRagon Clarifies Recent CPSC Actions
    The Consumer Product Safety Commission made several important decisions that will impact product testing and compliance for 2010 and beyond, as STR's Susan DeRagon explains in her Playthings’ "Play It Safe" blog. Read more.

    • Safer Toys, By Design
    In the January issue of Playthings, Susan DeRagon, Associate Director of Toys and Premiums, and Jill Hurley, Project Leader of the Human Factors Department at STR, detail how manufacturers can design safer toys. Read more.


    Food/Drug

    • American Public Grades Food Safety
    The vast majority of Americans are at least "somewhat confident" that their food is safe, but there is room for improvement, according to the results of a CBS News poll. Read more.

    • Asian Countries Sign First-Ever Food Safety Agreement
    Japan, China, and South Korea have signed their first joint memorandum on food safety, pledging greater cooperation on food safety issues. Read more.


    Lead/Chemical

    • 14 Chemical Substances of Very High Concern Added to List
    As of January 13, 2010, 14 chemical substances have been added by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for authorization. Read more.


    Standards Updates

    • Oeko-Tex® Revises and Expands Test Criteria
    Oeko-Tex® Association has revised and expanded the test criteria, limits and by-laws of the product certification process under the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100. Read more.


    Apparel/Textile

    • China to Stop Subsidizing Export of "Famous Brand" Merchandise
    China has agreed to end "famous brand" subsidies intended to help manufacturers develop private label brands that would compete with other apparel products. Read more.


    Consumer Products

    • Companies to Stop Manufacturing DecaBDE
    Three manufacturers have agreed to phase out production of DecaBDE, a fire retardant commonly used in consumer goods that is a potential carcinogen and toxic to the nervous system. Read more.

    • CPSC Approves Final Rule on Guidelines for Mandatory Recall Notices
    The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) unanimously approved a new rule setting guidelines and requirements for information to be provided in mandatory recall notices. Read more.


    Responsible Sourcing

    • EPA Proposes Stricter Standard to Reduce Smog
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comment on a proposal to set a stricter standard for smog-causing pollutants that, while benefiting human health, would cost industry and local governments billions. Read more.


    www.STRQuality.com

    STR provides testing, audit, certification, and responsible sourcing services to help ensure that clients have the highest level of confidence in the quality, safety and social standards of their products and systems. For more information regarding STR global services, please contact us at info@STRQuality.com.

    Raising the world's expectation of product quality, safety, and supply chain responsibility