November 2017

On March 30, 2017, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued Final Rule 16 CFR 1234 in the Federal Register 82 FR 15615 regarding the safety standard adoption for infant bath tubs. The final rule was effective on October 2, 2017.

In the final rule, the ASTM F2670-17 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath Tubs is adopted. An infant bath tub is defined as a tub, enclosure, or other similar product intended to hold water and be placed into an adult bath tub, sink, or on top of other surfaces to provide support or containment, or both, for an infant in a reclining, sitting, or standing position during bathing by a caregiver. Products commonly known as bath slings typically made of fabric or mesh are excluded from the scope of the standard.

Below is a summary of recently updated ASTM standards:

On October 27, 2017, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued Final Rule 16 CFR 1307 in the Federal Register 82 FR 49938 to approve updates regarding the prohibition of children’s toys and child care articles containing certain phthalates.

The Final Rule updates the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), Section 108, as summarized below:

1. The interim prohibition of DINP for any children’s toys and child care articles that can be placed in a child’s mouth has been revised to a permanent prohibition.

2. Four additional phthalates are now prohibited:

   • Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP)

   • Di-n-pentyl Phthalate (DPENP)

   • Di-n-hexyl Phthalate (DHEXP)

   • Dicyclohexyl Phthalate (DCHP)

3. The interim ban of DNOP and DIDP has been removed since they do not lead to certain developmental reproductive toxicity according to the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP)’s advice.

The rule will become effective on April 25, 2018. Upon enforcement, any children’s toy or child care article that contains concentrations over 0.1 percent of DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIBP, DEPENP, DHEXP and DCHP is prohibited.

On October 3, 2017, House Bill H5082, An Act Relating the Health and Safety - Child Products and Upholstered Furniture entered into force without the Governor’s signature. The implementation date of the rule will be July 1, 2018.

Upon enforcement, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers cannot manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale or distribute for use in the state any children’s product or residential upholstered bedding or furniture, which contains over 100 ppm of any organohalogen flame retardant chemical applied to plastic, foam or textile. The implementation schedule is summarized as below:

Ninety days before the implementation date of the prohibition, a manufacturer of products that are prohibited shall notify persons or entities that sell the products in the state.

On October 26, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rule, 40 CFR 713 under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require applicable persons to provide information to assist in the preparation of an inventory of mercury and its supply, use, and trade in the United States.

Upon approval, any person who manufactures or imports mercury or mercury added products (including mercury compounds) or otherwise intentionally uses mercury in a manufacturing process is required to report to the EPA.

The proposed rule is now receiving comments until December 26, 2017.

In Canada, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the Recalls and Safety Alerts Database on the Health Canada website, which is updated daily. The Canada recalls from May 1 to October 31, 2017 are summarized below:

*Other Hazards include Cut Hazard, Electric Shock Hazard, Entrapment Hazard, Injury Hazard, Microbial Hazard, Product Safety, Strangulation Hazard, Tip-Over Hazard, Violation to Certification Requirements, Violation of Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, Violation of Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations, Violation of Flammability Regulation and Violation to Packaging and Labeling Requirements with a frequency of less than 10.

^Other Categories include Candles & Burning Items and Accessories, Children's Products, Computer / Audio / Video / Other Electronics & Accessories, Consumer Chemicals, Food Contact Material, Footwear, Furniture, Home Electrical Appliances (Hair Dryer, Iron, etc.), Homeware (Non-food Contact), Jewelry, Watch or other Fashion Accessories, Lighting Equipment and Tools and Hardware with a frequency of less than 8.

For the complete list click here

On September 15, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that the Registered Identification Number (RN) Webpage has been updated to allow real-time data validation for applicants and alert them to possible errors to avoid unnecessary delays.

Under the current rule, most clothing, textile and fur products are required to have a label identifying the manufacturer or other business responsible for handling the item. The updated webpage allowing real-time data validation of RN makes it easier for companies to obtain an RN, which can avoid putting long company names on labels. The use of the updated RN webpage will streamline the application process for participating businesses and increase the efficiency to deliver RN services.

On October 26, 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a Final Decision and Order holding that Zen Magnets are a substantial product hazard.

In the final decision and order, CPSC Commissioners held that Zen Magnets are defective, and that the defect creates a substantial risk of injury to the public. Additionally, they found that it is reasonably foreseeable that children will ingest Zen Magnets and the warnings do not mitigate the risk. When two or more magnets are ingested, they can attract to each other or to other ingested metallic objects resulting in catastrophic injuries or death. Therefore, it is illegal under federal law for any person to sell, offer for sale, manufacture, distribute or import into the United States any Zen Magnets.

On November 4, 2017, Health Canada proposed an amendment to SOR/2011-17 Toys Regulations through the Canada Gazette. The amendment proposes to add a magnetic toys requirement due to ingestion hazards resulting in serious damage to intestinal tissues and long-term health consequences.

The key amendments, which are aligned with few exceptions to ASTM F963-16, are summarized below:

1. Updated definitions

2. Added requirements for magnetic toys: any magnetic toy or magnetic component that is a small part shall have a magnetic flux index of less than 0.5 T2mm2, except a magnetic component that is:

   1. Necessary for the operation of motors, relays, speakers and other electrical components in a magnetic toy, provided that the magnetic properties are not part of the play or learning pattern of the toy; and

   2. Part of a kit intended for carrying out educational experiments involving both magnetism and electricity. The product shall be intended for a child of at least 8 years of age and labeled with appropriate warnings.

3. Added testing method for magnetic flux index measurements

4. Added warning requirements for magnetic toys that are intended for carrying out educational experiments

El 3 de octubre de 2017, el Comité de Representantes de la Cámara de Representantes de la República de Filipinas aprobó los siguientes 4 proyectos de ley de la Cámara relacionados con el etiquetado de seguridad y los requisitos sobre sustancias químicas peligrosas en juguetes infantiles, material escolar y artículos de puericultura:

• House Bill 0321 Una ley que regula la importación, fabricación, distribución y venta de juguetes para niños, útiles escolares, artículos de puericultura y otros productos relacionados que contienen sustancias químicas peligrosas y que prevé sanciones por violaciones de los mismos

• House Bill 02349 Una ley que prevé el etiquetado de seguridad de juguetes y juegos, la asignación de fondos para ello

• House Bill 03043 Una ley que prohíbe la venta de juguetes y otros artículos que contengan ftalatos a los niños de tres años de edad o menos

• House Bill 03943 Una ley que regula la importación, fabricación, distribución y venta de juguetes para niños, útiles escolares, artículos de puericultura y otros productos relacionados que contienen sustancias químicas peligrosas y que prevé sanciones por violaciones de los mismos.

A continuación se resumen los principales requisitos de las cuatro leyes aprobadas:

En el plazo de tres meses a partir de la fecha de entrada en vigor de esta Ley, la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de Filipinas (FDA) elaborará una lista de sustancias y productos químicos prohibidos que puedan causar daños, lesiones o la muerte a los niños. En la lista se incluirán también las siguientes sustancias químicas

(Véase test).

Todo juguete o juego que contenga los siguientes componentes deberá llevar una advertencia adecuada en el embalaje:

1. Pieza pequeña destinada a niños menores de 14 años

2. Cualquier canica destinada a ser utilizada por niños menores de 14 años

3. Cualquier globo de látex o cualquier balón con un diámetro de 1,75 pulgadas o menos destinado a ser utilizado por niños menores de 10 años.

La declaración de precaución en la etiqueta de advertencia estará escrita en inglés, filipino o en ambos idiomas.

(Véase test).