ACT February 2018 Newsletter

CPSC Announces Revisions to Toy Safety Standards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently ruled to revise toy safety standards, adopting recommended changes from the new edition of ASTM F963-17 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.

The latest update is the fourth revision to the law since mandated under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008. The change primarily affects projectiles and sound-producing toys, and becomes effective February 28, 2018.

Additionally, ASTM F963-17 mandates that laboratories that were accepted for ASTM F963-16 will be automatically accepted for this new edition of the current standard. Review complete details from the CPSC in the Federal Register.

CPSC Votes to Increase Number of Banned Phthalates

In October 2017, the CPSC ruled to increase the total number of banned phthalates in children’s toys and child care articles. This rule goes into effect on April 25, 2018.

After reviewing all available toxicity data on phthalates, the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) recommended that the CPSC prohibit the following phthalate chemicals when they appear in concentrations of more than 0.1 percent in children’s toys and child care articles, in addition to the three previously banned under CPSIA 2008:

diisononyl phthalate (DINP)
di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPENP)
di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP)
dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)
diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

Previously banned under CPSIA 2008:

di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)

This ruling will have an immediate effect on companies that import toys for sale in the United States. For more details, please review additional information linked below.

CPSC News Release – summary of the ruling
Federal Register – complete ruling document

ACT Lab Attends ISO Cycles Committee Meeting in Japan

From January 29 – February 2, ACT attended the ISO meeting in Hamamatsu Japan to finalize the development and adoption of standards for EPAC’s – Electrically Power Assisted Cycles under ISO 4210-10. ACT participates with Trek Bicycles, Quality Bicycle Products, and SRAM as U.S. representative experts on the ISO Technical Committee 149/SCI, which establishes international standards in the field of cycles, their components, and accessories.

The next ISO Cycles Committee meeting will be hosted by the U.S. group in June 2018 in Bloomington, MN. Companies interested to support the upcoming meeting can reply to this email at update@act-lab.com

CBS’ The Doctors Consults with ACT LAB

When the Emmy-award winning TV show The Doctors investigated toxic toys last month, its producers reached out to ACT Lab to learn what safeguards are in place to protect children.

Producer Leslie Marcus visited our Long Beach, CA headquarters, where we explained regulations and performed many of the sharp edge, chemical, and impact tests that are required for toys sold in the United States.

Click here to watch a portion of the episode that aired in December.

Gearing Up For Hope

Gearing Up For Hope (GU4H), established in 2013, works to establish cycling communities around the world, with current projects in Tanzania, North Korea, and Haiti. GU4H provides people with the means to reach medical aid, education and work that they would not be able to reach otherwise.

ACT Lab and its clients support GU4H by delivering tested but functional bicycles, bike parts, helmets and scooters to GU4H communities. More than 742 bicycles have been delivered to date, helping people in vocational training centers, orphanages, schools, and farmers’ associations. In Haiti, the bicycles have been used to make livelihood innovations, powering a sunflower oil press, portable washing machines, cell phone chargers, and irrigation pump systems.

For more information about Gearing Up For Hope, please visit www.gearingupforhope.com.

Next Up for ACT Lab

This month, ACT Lab heads to Orlando, Florida to participate in the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) Annual Meeting and Training Symposium, a valuable conference for learning and sharing information about product safety.

The event, held February 20-23, brings together government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, risk managers, legal and consulting firms, standards developers, testing organizations, health educators, advocacy organizations, trade associations, and non-profit associations.

Complete details are located at the ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium landing page.

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