PRODUCT SAFETY LETTER View the entire issue in PDF format.

SUBSTITUTION IS RISK OF PHTHALATES BAN, CPSCer SAYS Beware of replacement plastics and plasticizers when considering a ban on phthalates, a CPSCer told Congress June 10.

KERRY ALLEGES CPSC HAS IGNORED SMOKE DETECTOR ISSUE CPSC “has failed to investigate” concerns about ionization smoke detectors, alleged Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) June 12.

UNKNOWNS DROP IN RAPEX, KUNEVA TELLS CHINESE The EU has improved its knowledge of the origin of problem products, EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said June 11 during a visit to China.

REPORT URGES REVIEW OF EU AND U.S. CONFIDENTIALITY RULES They EU and U.S. should analyze criteria they used to treat information as confidential, according to a report on import safety.

NFPA WARNS ABOUT CONSUMER FIREWORKS USE Firecrackers and sparklers each accounted for 21% of fireworks injuries that occurred in 2006, according to a recent report from the National Fire Preventions Association (NFPA).

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on utility vehicles, pajamas, rugs, lights, swing sets, overalls, play equipment, saunas, hammer drills, sports/play, China, CPSC meetings.

OTHER FEDERAL BRIEFS Briefs on outdoor recreation, NFIRS.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on cell phones, fountain pumps, air heaters, pools, clothes dryers, refrigeration, wiring, power supply, communication equipment, power distribution, antenna, alarms, wiring, sprinklers, component connectors, infant carriers, child carriers, bath seats, cribs/play yards, pool alarms.

RESEARCH & JOURNALS BRIEFS Briefs on safety attitudes, injury surveillance, child restraints, falls.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL Briefs on toys, REACH, global sourcing, cribs, bath toys, light fixtures, CB radios, clevis hooks, toy jewelry, phones, science projects, toy kitchens, RAPEX.

STATE ACTIVITY BRIEF Brief on generators.