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

CPSC ASKS FOR FEEDBACK ON CIVIL PENALTY FACTORS CPSC seeks comments by December 18 on the civil penalty provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

PHTHALATES RULE WILL NOT APPLY RETROACTIVELY TO INVENTORY CPSC November 17 said that it would not apply the phthalates provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) retroactively to existing inventory.

NORD VOICES INTENT TO SAY AT CPSC CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord November 18 told an audience in Brussels that she intends to complete her seven-year term, which ends in 2012.

CPSC AND HEALTH CANADA WARN ABOUT ROMAN SHADES CPSC and Health Canada November 20 both warned consumers of the strangulation risks to children association with Roman shades.

NIST FINDS APPLIANCES RELEASE LOTS OF ULTRAFINE PARTICLES Extremely small nanoparticles are released by common household small appliances in greater numbers than previously thought, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reported November 12.

HOUSE FIRES SEE BIG JUMP IN WINTER, USFA WARNS There was a 67% increase in deaths associated with house fires during last year’s “home fire season,” compared to the preceding warmer months, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

DG-SANCO AND AQSIQ EXTEND MOU The EU’s Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General (DG-Sanco) and China’s General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) November 17 renewed their memorandum of understanding (MOU).

CPSC, DG-SANCO AND AQSIQ IDENTIFY FIVE PRIORITIES Five areas – product traceability, harmonization of toy safety standards and regulations, information sharing on children’s products, soliciting product safety stakeholders’ expertise, and personnel exchanges – are the priorities of “tripartite” product safety cooperation among the U.S., the EU and China.

OCTOBER RAPEX REPORTS PUT EU NEAR TO RECORD YEAR The 219 RAPEX reports received by the EU in October put it just 39 notices away from breaking the record set in 2007.

CHINA INVESTIGATES ONE-IN-FIVE RAPEX CASES China investigated 599 of 2,916 RAPEX notices sent to it between September 2006 and August 2008, according to the EU November 13.

TIME IS RIPE FOR SAFETY HARMONIZATION, CONFEREES HEAR Both the political will and the opportunity exist for harmonizing product safety standards and regulations.

CHINA WANTS AQSIQ CERTS TO SATISFY CPSIA 3RD-PARTY RULES China wants CPSC to accept inspection certificates from the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) as satisfying the third-party inspection requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

GILBERT AND ADLER ARE OBAMA’S CPSC ADVISORS President-elect Barack Obama has named Pamela Gilbert and Robert Adler to handle CPSC matters for his transition team.

LAWYERS DECRY FOREIGN FIRMS' PROTECTIONS Foreign manufactures of unsafe product enjoy too many liability protections asserted two studies made available November 13 by the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

WATCH ISSUES ANNUAL “10 WORST TOYS” LIST World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) November 18 issued its “10 Worst Toy” List.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on Roman shades (2 briefs), candles, toys, fire suppression, wall ovens, batteries, diving, dive sticks, jackets, CPSIA FAQs, ATVs, small parts, CPSC certificates, toy ads, CPSC meetings.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on floors, dishwashers, LP gas (2 briefs), dehumidifiers, fans, electric motors, lights (3 briefs), office furniture, doors, windows, battery chargers, flotation devices.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on consumer behavior, playgrounds, REACH, bunk beds, heaters, educational products, air conditioners, personal watercraft, cabinets, gas grills, plush toys, necklaces, personal care, RAPEX.