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

CPSC WARNS ABOUT TRANSITION FROM VOLUNTARY TO MANDATORY When a voluntary standard becomes a mandatory consumer product safety standard, do not assume that CPSC will show less vigilance towards products made before the effective date of the mandatory requirements.

CPSC HELPS CUSTOMS SEIZE RECORD NUMBER OF COUNTERFEITS U.S. Customs and Border Protection October 14 reported that the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex in fiscal 2008 (ended September 30) saw a 50% rise in seizures of counterfeits over the previous year.

CPSC CONFERENCE CALL WILL COVER TOY ADS CPSC October 20 will host a conference call on its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) on product warnings in ads for toys and games.

CPSC INCLUDED IN TRIAL LAWYERS ALLEGATIONS CPSC is among the regulatory agencies targeted by October 15 allegations from the American Association for Justice (AAJ) that “helping corporations escape accountability for dangerous products has been the … top priority” of the administration of President George W. Bush.

EU LOOKS AT NEED FOR REGULATION OF MUSIC PLAYER NOISE About 5% to 10% of people using personal music players risk permanent hearing damage, an EU product safety committee said October 13.

EU GOT 156 RAPEX REPORTS IN SEPTEMBER The EU in September received 156 RAPEX notifications, bringing its year-to-date total to 1,347.

TWO PHTHALATES AMONG EU VERY HIGH CONCERN CHEMICALS The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) October 9 said its Member State Committee unanimously voted 14 chemicals to be Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).

HUD GRANTS LEAD PAINT MITIGATION MONEY The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) October 15 said it would grant about $131 million for mitigating lead paint hazards in homes or increasing public awareness of the hazards.

GAO URGES USE OF INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE FOR MOLD The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should use an interagency committee for its indoor mold efforts, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended October 15.

STATES URGE FIRMS TO END USE OF BPA IN BABY BOTTLES The Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey attorneys general October 13 send letters to 11 companies calling on them to stop using bisphenol A in baby bottles and baby formula containers.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on battery chargers, toy boats, magnets, wireless headsets, generators, cribs, baby walkers, CPSC meetings.

OTHER FEDERAL BRIEFS Briefs on injury deaths, bug bombs.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS AC adapters, gas regulators, taps/adapters, dampers (3 briefs), electrical equipment, ranges, capacitors, power units, signal lights, pool/spa drains, fire tests, building material.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on car seats, baby shoes, water coolers, pressure tanks, costumes, toy trucks, toy guns, RAPEX.