COMMISSION SPLITS 1-1 ON PEN VOTE BUT MOST PENS NOT COVERED CPSC Acting-Chairman Thomas Moore and Commissioner Nancy Nord June 3 split 1-1 in a vote on excluding certain ballpoint pens from CPSIA Section 101 lead limits for children’s products and on whether to direct agency staff to draft a stay of enforcement.

DEFINITIONS ARE KEY TO LEAD IN KIDS’ BOOKS By by Arunjana Das Devising correct definitions is the key to effective implementation of the CPSIA for children’s books, CPSC General Council Cheryl Falvey said June 9 with publishers, printers and the American Library Association.

MATTEL FISHER-PRICE PAY $2.3 MILLION OVER LEAD ALLEGATIONS Mattel and subsidiary Fisher-Price will pay $2.3 million to settle CPSC allegations that they knowingly imported and sold toys with violative levels of lead.

CPSC TO LOOK AT UPDATING STRATEGIC PLAN CPSC June 9 called for input on its agenda, priorities and Strategic Plan for fiscal 2011.

HISPANIC OUTREACH GROUP EXPLORES PARTNERSHIP WITH CPSC By by Arunjana Das QMRI, a marketing firm with focus on health issues and the Hispanic community, is seeking a partnership with CPSC for its outreach campaigns.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on Tenenbaum hearing, cribs (2 briefs), jackets, blasting caps, CPSC meetings.