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

MARTYAK WILL BE CHIEF OF STAFF; DODD RESIGNS Joe Martyak October 1 will become CPSC Chief of Staff. He will replace Quin Dodd, who will leave that day.

NORD TELLS CHINESE THEY NEED TO KNOW U.S. EXPECTATIONS CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord September 19-27 visited China to educate manufacturers and others about U.S. product safety expectations.

FOUR CPSC PUBLIC MEETINGS TARGET CPSIA CPSC will hold four public meetings in the coming months addressing elements of the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

DG-SANCO, AQSIQ AND CPSC VOICE COOPERATIVE DESIRE The EU Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General (DG-Sanco), Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and CPSC September 19 reiterated their desires to work towards product safety.

CALIFORNIA SUES FURNITURE MAKERS FOR FORMALDEHYDE The California Attorney General Office September 24 said it would initiate a Proposition 65 suit against five baby furniture manufacturers.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on CPSC budgets, lead paint certification, ATVs, scooters, TV stands, coolers, chairs, toy cars, ceiling lights, bookends, fryers, wood toys, wood/coal appliances, toy caps, CPSC meetings.

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEF Brief on environmental risks.

OTHER FEDERAL BRIEFS Briefs on nanotechnology, LATCH, mold.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on play equipment (3 briefs), kitchen tools, fire tests, decks, doors/windows, plugs/receptacles, appliances, furniture, coffee makers, battery chargers, spas, massage baths, LP gas, optical/electrical cables, luminaires, sprinklers, fire extinguishers.

CONSUMER ADVOCACY BRIEFS Briefs on hurricanes, cosmetics.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on Japan, Li Changjiang, REACH, hair dye, hair irons, water bottles, paint solvents, toy trains, SCUBA, cribs, lubricant, Heelys, lanterns, RAPEX (2 briefs).

STATE ACTIVITY BRIEFS Briefs on sprinklers, safe sleep, falls.