PRODUCT SAFETY LETTER View the entire issue in PDF format. (Print-only subscribers must CLICK HERE to log in.)

PASSAGE OF NINE PROVISIONS MAKES FINAL HR 4040 CLOSER House and Senate conferees July 17 edged closer to a final version of HR 4040 with unanimous voice vote passage of nine provisions.

FEW AIRBAG/CHILD DEATHS INVOLVE CHILD RESTRAINTS Most of the 177 children killed by passenger-side airbags from 1990 to 2008 were unrestrained, according to July data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

EU SEEKS INPUT ON RAPEX RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES The EU through October 15 will be seeking input on its draft Risk Assessment Guidelines for Non-Food Consumer Products.

EU RECEIVED 132 RAPEX REPORTS IN JUNE The EU in June 2008 received 132 RAPEX reports, coincidentally the same number it received in June 2007.

NZ TV STATION FINED FOR CLOTHING SAFETY STORY New Zealand’s Broadcasting Standards Authority July 9 said that TV3 will pay a NZ$4,000 fine related to a clothing safety story aired on its Target show.

CPSC QUESTIONS ASTM DEFINITION OF LOTS CPSC will urge ASTM to remove reference to color uniformity to the definition of lots for an in-the-works standard

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on electrical adapters, propane tanks, TV stands, log splitters, ATVs (2 briefs), CPSC meetings.

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEF Brief on novelty lighters.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on pressure cookers, smoke alarms, wiring, boilers, circuit breakers, exercise machines, A/V carts, communication cables, optical fiber, transfer switches.

RESEARCH & JOURNALS BRIEFS Briefs on cribs/bassinets, bed sharing, mobile phones, cell phones, flame-resistant material, material flammability.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on water safety, heating safety, grills, safety seats, microwave ovens, ball poppers, SCUBA, chargers, convection ovens, sleep suits, log splitters, children's jewelry, hammer drills, cosmetic masks, hair spray, pool alarms, personal care, sun safety, RAPEX.

STATE ACTIVITY BRIEFS Briefs on recalls (2 briefs), ATVs.