Source: https://www.qima.com/regulation/04-20
Timestamp: 2020-07-10 19:48:11
Document Index: 77711390

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1224', 'art 1232', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 7', 'art 7', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 1']

April 2020 Regulatory Update
New Mandatory Safety Standard for Portable Bed Rails
ASTM F2085-19, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Portable Bed Rails, applies to portable bed rails intended to be installed on an adult bed to prevent children from falling out of bed. These bed rails are intended for children who can get in and out of an adult bed unassisted (typically children from 2 to 5 years of age). The standard is codified in the Commission’s regulations at 16 CFR part 1224 as the mandatory standard.
ASTM F2085-19 includes the revisions noted below:
Two of the footnotes that were in section 7, which provide explanatory information, such as how to measure thickness and the definition of the “indentation load”, have been moved to the Notes section within the text of the regulation. Notes and footnotes are both considered to be nonmandatory text and for information only.
Changes to unit expressions to bring the standard in accordance with the ASTM form and style guidelines.
This change relates to the fiber content of the mattress cover, which used to be a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend and will be a 60/40 cotton/polyester blend.
ASTM F2085-19
(Effective on May 20, 2020) ASTM F2085-12
The mattress shall be covered with a standard twin-sized fitted sheet. The sheet shall be a 60/40 cotton/polyester blend containing 100 to 300 threads per square inch.
The mattress shall be covered with a standard twin sized fitted sheet. The sheet shall be a white, 50/50 cotton/polyester blend. It shall have 100 to 300 threads per square inch.
The CPSC concluded that this change is neutral regarding safety while increasing the ease of sourcing the test materials.
New Mandatory Safety Standard for Children’s Chairs and Stools
In December 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a consumer product safety standard for Children’s Chairs and Stools. The standard incorporated by reference the applicable ASTM voluntary standard. On April 1, 2020, the CPSC published a direct final rule revising the CPSC’s mandatory standard for Children’s Chairs and Stools to incorporate to ASTM F2613-19 with an effective date on July 6, 2020.
ASTM F2613-19, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Children’s Chairs and Stools, applies to chairs and stools intended to be used by a single child who can get in and get out of the product unassisted. The chair or stool would have a seat height of 15 in. or less, and would be with or without a rocking base. The standard was codified in the Commission’s regulations at 16 CFR part 1232. This rule is incorporating ASTM F2613-19 as the mandatory standard.
ASTM F2613-19 includes the revisions below:
Several changes were minor and editorial and do not affect the safety of children’s folding chairs and stools.
Section 5.7 and 5.8 removed duplicative language such as “when folded” and “when being folded”, and clarified words to add “comply with” instead of “meet”.
The Latching and Locking Mechanisms section under section 5.8.1 were restructured to improve clarity and organization.
All of the non-substantive changes made in ASTM F2613-19 are neutral regarding safety and do not affect the safety of children’s folding chairs and stools.
ASTM F2613-19
(Effective on July 6, 2020) ASTM F2613-17a
5.8.1 Latching and Locking Mechanisms:
5.8.1 Latching and Locking Mechanisms – Products shall have a latching or locking mechanism or other means to prevent folding of the product.
[NEW] 5.8.1.1 Products shall have a latching or locking mechanism or other means to prevent folding of the product.
5.8.1.3 If the product is designed with a latching and locking mechanism that prevents unintentional folding, the latching and locking mechanism either shall have a double action release system or shall not release and remain operative when tested in accordance with section 6.9.
5.8.1.2 Products designed with a latching or locking mechanism must meet either 5.8.1.2(1) or 5.8.1.2(2).
5.8.2 Products without Latching and Locking Mechanism – Products without latching and locking mechanisms shall be constructed such that a ½-in. (13-mm) diameter rod can be admitted at all positions between any adjacent moving parts and between any moving part and an adjacent stationary part along the entire length of the clearance, as shown in Fig.1. The entire length of the clearance shall be assessed during the folding and unfolding of the products.
5.8.2 Hinge Line Clearance – Products shall have adequate clearance to provide protection for the fingers, hands, and toes from crushing or laceration in the event of a sudden movement or collapse of the product.
5.8.2.1 Products having a gap or clearance along the hinge line between a stationary portion and a movable portion shall be so constructed that, if the accessible gap at the hinge line will admit a 3/16-in. (5-mm_ diameter rod, it shall also admit a ½-in. (13-mm) diameter rod at all positions of the hinge. The hinge shall be evaluated along the entire length of the gap in all positions of the hinge.
CPSC Publishes New Age Determination Guidelines: Relating Consumer Product Characteristics to the Skills, Play Behaviors, and Interests of Children
In January 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a new Age Determination Guidelines to supersede the 2002 version.
Updates to the Age Determination Guidelines are divided into 4 main parts.
Scope is Expanded Beyond Children’s toys
Current (2002 version) New (2020 version)
AGE DETERMINATION GUIDELINES:
Relating Children’s Ages to Toy Characteristics and Play Behavior
Relating Consumer Product Characteristics to the Skills, Play Behaviors, and Interests of Children
Reorganization of the Guidelines
Split the Introduction into 3 segments: Introduction, Background, and User Guide
Technology Play category formed from existing subcategories
Age groups added
3-5 years for Mirrors, Mobiles & Manipulatives
12-18 and 19-23 months for Sports Equipment
Subcategories renamed to Building Play and Learning Products
Updates to Children’s Basic Abilities
Incorporated latest research on children’s typical development
Removed product references to focus on childhood development
Replaced "infant" & "toddler" with "children"
Products Addressed in the Guidelines
Examples of Products Added:
Suction cup building sets
Wooden blocks with internal magnet connectors
Qualitative information added to studied products
Starting as of June 1, 2020, the CPSC staff will begin using the 2020 Age Determination Guidelines.
New ASTM Standard for Children’s Jewelry
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) published ASTM F2923-20, Standard Specification for Consumer Product Safety for Children’s Jewelry in March of 2020. This new version reduces the screening limit for total cadmium and adopts new phthalates requirements. The other changes to the standard are mainly editorial changes.
Compared to the previous standard, ASTM F2923-14, the significant updates include:
Reduced total cadmium screening limit: From 300 ppm to 75 ppm, which is aligned with ASTM F963
New phthalates requirement: Adopted the 8 phthalates requirement from 16 CFR 1307 for plasticized materials while also keeping the exemption for specific plastics listed in 16 CFR 1308
US FTC Proposes to Amend the Textile Fibre Product Identification Act
On February 18, 2020, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) to amend the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (16 CFR 303). The change will incorporate by reference the latest ISO 2076 standard: ISO 2076:2013(E), “Textiles—Man-made fibres—Generic names.”
According to the section 303.7 of the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, the generic names for manufactured fibers must be used in the required fiber content disclosures by:
1.	Referencing the generic names and definitions set forth in the ISO 2076 standard (current ISO 2076-2010(E) standard is incorporated by reference)
2.	Following the list of the generic names and definitions the FTC has established through its textile petition process
The proposed amendment to incorporate by reference the ISO 2076:2013(E) and seven additional manufactured fibers will be applied (see the list below). These were added to the ISO standard in the revision from 2010 to 2013:
This incorporation by reference will promote international consensus along with providing manufacturers selling textile products in multiple countries with more flexibility in the labeling of their textile products.
US State of California Proposes New Priority Product
On February 28, 2020, The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced a regulatory proposal to list Carpets and Rugs Containing Perfluoroalkyl or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances as Priority Products.
The DTSC is proposing this regulation because they have identified carpets and rugs as major sources of human and ecological exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). All PFASs have at least one hazard trait (meaning it can harm people or the environment) as defined under the Safer Consumer Products regulation.
PFASs associated with carpets and rugs have the potential to cause significant and widespread adverse impacts to sensitive subpopulations, including fetuses, infants, young children, pregnant women, carpet installers, carpet recyclers, carpet cleaners, and carpet retail sector workers. These chemicals are also harmful to environmentally-sensitive habitats, and can threaten endangered species. Given the known hazard traits, replacing currently-used PFASs in carpets and rugs with other members of the PFAS class could be equally problematic.
The proposal is now under public comment period until April 13, 2020.
US State of Maryland Proposes to Amend the Restriction of Flame Retardants Rule for Children's Products and Furniture
On January 27, 2020, the US State of Maryland passed Senate bill SB 447 to amend the State’s Restriction of Flame Retardants Rule for Children's Products and Furniture.
The proposed bill intends to expand the restriction of flame retardants from TCEP and TDCPP to include all general flame retardants.
Flame retardants, according to the proposed bill, are defined as chemicals which:
(i) are used to resist or inhibit the spread of fire or act as a synergist to chemicals that resist or inhibit the spread of fire, including any chemical for which the term “flame retardant” appears on a safety data sheet
(ii) fulfil any one of the following chemical properties
Contains one or more halogen elements, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine;
Contains one or more carbon elements and one or more phosphorus elements;
Contains one or more carbon elements and one or more nitrogen elements; or
If the proposed bill is enacted, the import, sale, or offer for sale of any juvenile product, mattress, upholstered furniture, or reupholstered furniture that contains more than 0.1% of a flame–retardant chemical by mass will be prohibited after October 1, 2020.
New Version of EU Standard for Electric toys EN IEC 62115:2020+A11:2020 is Published
In February of 2020, the European Committee For Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) published a new version of the EU standard for electric toys, EN IEC 62115:2020+A11:2020. The new version of the EN standard aims to achieve worldwide harmonization to IEC 62115:2017.
Highlights of the key changes between EN62115:2005+A12:2015 and EN62115:2020+A11:2020 are as below:
Safety of remote controls supplied with electrical ride-on toys
Instructions for electrical toys to be connected to class 1 equipment
Safety of USB connection as power source
New testing and warning requirements for button and coin batteries
Reduce the requirement for impact resistance from 0.7J to 0.5J
Assessment of LEDs is amended by using LED technical data sheet
It is expected EN IEC 62115:2020+A11:2020 will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) as a harmonized standard to the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC.
India Updates Toy Safety Regulation
On February 25, 2020, the India Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 was published. It shall come into force as of September 1, 2020.
The Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 contains several important provisions:
Will apply to Toys that are designed or clearly intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age;
Conform to the latest versions of Indian Standards including amendments as shown in Table 1;
Bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), as per Scheme-I of Schedule-II of BIS (Conformity Assessments) Regulations, 2018;
Directs the BIS to be the certifying and enforcement authority
IS 9873 (Part 1): 2018* Safety of Toys Part 1 Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties
IS 9873 (Part 2): 2017 Safety of Toys Part 2 Flammability
IS 9873 (Part 3): 2017 Safety Requirements for Toys Part 3 Migration of Certain Elements
IS 9873 (Part 4):2017 Safety of Toys Part 4 Swings, Slides and Similar Activity Toys for Indoor and Outdoor Family Domestic Use
IS 9873 (Part 7): 2017 Safety of Toys Part 7 Requirements and Test Methods for Finger Paints
IS 9873 (Part 9): 2017 Safety of Toys Part 9 Certain Phthalates Esters in Toys and Children’s Products
IS 15644: 2006* Safety of Electric Toys
* The latest version in the Bureau of Indian Standards is IS 9873 : Part 1 : 2019 and IS 15644 : 2006 (Reaffirmed Year : 2016).
China Recalls Summary (July 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020)
In China, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published, and this information is updated daily. The China recalls from July 20191, to February 29, 2020 are summarized below.
Fabric / Textile / Garment / Home Textile 35
Toys and Childcare Articles 32
Computer / Audio / Video / Other Electronics & Accessories 21
Home Electrical Appliances (Hair Dryer, Iron, etc.) 17
Personal Protective Equipment (excluding eye protection) 15
Other Categories^ 37
^Other Categories include Candles & Burning Items, Car Seat, Chemicals, Furniture, Homeware (Non-food Contact), Jewelry, Watches or other Fashion Accessories, Stationery with a frequency of less than 11.
Anhui 54
Other provinces 22
^Other Provinces include Hangzhou, Henan, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Shenzhen, Sichuan, Wuhan and Zhejiang with a frequency of less than 8.
Toys: ISO 8124-3:2020 for Determining Elements Migration is Published
ISO 8124-3:2020 was published in March of 2020. It is the latest standard for determining the migration of 8 elements from toys. This new standard included several changes to the previous versions. It cancels and replaces ISO 8124-3:2010 and incorporates Amendments ISO 8124-3:2010/Amd.1:2014 and ISO 8124-3:2010/Amd.2:2018.
As the latest toy safety standard in the ISO 8124 series, below are the significant changes:
Defined the classification criteria of paper (mass per unit area of 400 g/m2 or less) and paper board (mass per unit area over 400 g/m2, excluding pressed wooden fiberboards) based on the definition in ISO 8124-1:2018
Introduced two detailed dewaxing methods to replace the original one
Introduced new Annex C to lay down the detailed methods for analysis of the 8 elements by ICP-OES