PRODUCT SAFETY LETTER View the entire issue in PDF format.

CPSC AND LEGISLATORS SEEK INPUT ON MAGNETS IN TOYS Two hearings on the safety of magnets took place June 18 in Bethesda, Md. and Chicago, Ill.

CPSC VIDEO GIVES SIDE-BY-SIDE LOOK AT MATTRESSES CPSC’s June 20 highlighting of the mattress flammability standards about to come into effect included a video that shows a side-by-side demonstration the burn time of mattress that do and do not meet the new standards.

PRE-JULY 4TH FIREWORKS WARNINGS START COMING CPSC announced that its annual demonstration of fireworks safety on the National Mall will be June 27.

COALITION SEEKS MORE U.S. POWERS FOR COUNTERFEITS The Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy has launched a campaign aimed at strengthening U.S. enforcement of intellectual property laws.

EU PARLIAMENT VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD ON MERCURY BAN The European Parliament June 20 voted to move forward with a ban targeting the export and import of products containing mercury.

NEW ZEALAND GIVES BED HEATING SAFETY TIPS The New Zealand Department of Consumer Affairs June 18 warned of the risks associated with warming beds.

FINLAND RAISES CONCERN ABOUT DISPOSABLE GRILLS Finland’s Kuluttaja Virasto (Consumer Agency) June 20 warned that the use of disposable charcoal grills has increased, raising fire safety concerns.

AUSTRIANS AND SWISS TARGET POOL RISKS Austria’s Kuratorium fur Verkehrssicherheit (Road Safety Board) June 20 warned that about 80 to 90 Austrians drown in swimming pools annually.

COAST GUARD POINTS TO CO RISKS ON BOATS The U.S. Coast Guard June 19 urged users of recreational watercraft to beware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.

MAINE POINTS TO THOMAS RECALL TO HIGHLIGHT LEAD RISKS The Maine Department of Health and Human Services June 15 highlighted a recent toy recall to emphasize the risk of lead to children.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on generators, fireworks (2 briefs), necklaces, computer batteries, ATVs, snow throwers, glassware, CPSC meetings.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on toys, lighters, chests/dressers, helmets, sports surfaces, fire doors, cables, batteries, tools, microwave ovens, wiring boards.

RESEARCH & JOURNALS BRIEFS Briefs on Heelys, carbon monoxide, home injuries, smoke, fire.

CONSUMER ADVOCACY & PROTECTION Briefs on sunscreen, strangulation.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on safety seats, camping, stuffed toys, carbon monoxide alarms, dishwashers, paint, RAPEX.

STATE ACTIVITY BRIEFS Briefs on California, mercury.