November 2024

On 25 October 2024, 16 CFR 1242 was issued as a final rule by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission to set a safety standard for nursing pillows. This safety standard, effective 23 April 2025, is intended to minimize the risk of injuries and deaths to infants resulting from normal use and reasonably foreseeable misuse or abuse of nursing pillows.

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued safety standard 16 CFR 1242 for nursing pillows. The scope of the safety standard includes ALL nursing pillows. A nursing pillow refers to any product intended, marketed, or designed to position and support an infant close to a caregiver's body while breastfeeding or bottle feeding and includes any removable covers, or slipcovers, sold on, or together with, such a product. These products rest upon, wrap around, or are worn by a caregiver in a seated or reclined position.

This safety standard primarily includes the following requirements:

• Lead in Paints: All paints and surface coatings must comply with 16 CFR Part 1303, Ban of Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint regulation.

• Small Parts: No small parts should be present before or as a result of testing.

• Hazardous Sharp Edges or Points: No hazardous sharp points or edges should be present before or after testing.

• Removal of Components: Components accessible to an infant should not present a small part, sharp point, or edge when removed from the nursing pillow.

• Permanence of Labels and Warnings: Warning labels must be permanently affixed to the product.

• Firmness: The infant support surface and the inner wall of the caregiver opening must be firm enough to prevent an infant's face from sinking in.

• Infant Containment: The caregiver opening should be designed to prevent an infant's head from getting trapped.

• Infant Restraints: Nursing pillows must not include any infant restraint systems.

• Seam Strength: Seams and points of attachment must be strong enough to prevent the creation of small parts, sharp points, or edges.

• Caregiver Attachment Strength: Caregiver attachments must withstand a specified force without failure.

• Marking and Labeling: Must be clear, permanent, and include manufacturer information, manufacturing date, etc. Warnings must be easy to read and understand, in English at a minimum,

• Instructional Literature: Must inform consumers to read all instructions before product use, to keep the instructions for future use, and to stop using the product if it is damaged or broken. They must also indicate the manufacturer's recommended maximum weight, height, age, developmental level, or combination thereof, of the infant. Products not intended to be used by a child for a particular reason ( e.g., a disability that would prevent safe use of the product), must have this limitation included in the instructions.

The effective date of this standard will be 23 April 2025.

H.R. 9864 was introduced to amend Section 301 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit food packaging containing intentionally added PFAS, and for other purposes.

H.R. 9864 may be cited as the “Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act of 2024”. Under this act, the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of food packaging containing intentionally added PFAS is prohibited.

The term ‘PFAS’ means a perfluoroalkyl substance or a polyfluoroalkyl substance that is man-made with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.

This act will become effective on 01 January 2025.

On 04 November 2024, 16 CFR 1243 was issued by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission to set a safety standard for infant support cushions. The effective date will be 05 May 2025.

A new safety standard for infant support cushions, 16 CFR 1243, was issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The final rule aims to reduce risks associated with infant support cushions, including suffocation, entrapment, and fall hazards. It includes performance requirements, testing methods, labelling, and instructional literature for these products. The rule, as issued on 04 November 2024, applies to all infant support cushions manufactured after 05 May 2025, and outlines specific compliance requirements for manufacturers, distributors, and sellers.

This safety standard outlines requirements inclusive of the following:

• Permanence of Labels and Warnings: Testing includes removal tests for paper and non-paper labels, as well as adhesion tests for warnings applied directly to the product's surface.

• Head Entrapment Test: Test method uses small and large head probes to assess all applicable openings of the product to ensure there is no risk of head entrapment.

• Maximum Incline Test: Test method utilizes a digital protractor and a newborn hinged weight gauge to ensure the product's maximum incline angle does not exceed 10 degrees.

• Firmness Test: For the occupant support surface (OSS), sidewall, and the intersection of the sidewall and OSS firmness testing, a 3-inch diameter hemispherical head probe is used, ensuring the force required exceeds 10 Newtons.

• Sidewall Angle Test: For products with a sidewall, the test method outlines utilizing a 3-inch diameter hemispherical head probe, vertically placed over the OSS, to measure the angle between the sidewall and OSS, ensuring the angle is greater than 90 degrees.

• Seam Strength Test: Testing of the product's seams requires clamps and a force gauge, ensuring they do not break under a force of 15 pounds.

• Component Removal Test: Test method outlines conducting torque and tension tests on detachable components to ensure they do not inadvertently detach during normal use.

• Marking and Labeling: Products and their retail packaging must be clearly marked with the manufacturer's, distributor's, or seller's name, place of business, and contact information, as well as the manufacture date.

• Warning Design: Warnings must be easy to read and understand, be in English at a minimum, and comply with ANSI Z535.4–2011(R2017) Standard for Product Safety Signs and Labels.

• Warning Statements: Each product must contain warning statements for products with/without tummy time features

• Instructional Literature: Literature must be provided with the product, including instructions for assembly, maintenance, cleaning, and usage, as well as additional warnings and precautions.

Manufacturers and distributors of infant support cushions should pay close attention to this new standard to ensure compliance of their products.

Approved by the California governor, SB 1266, an act to amend Sections 108940 and 108941, and to add Section 108942 to the Health and Safety Code expanded the banned scope of both bisphenols and product types. This bill will be effective on 01 January 2026.

In 2011, AB 1319, an act to ban any bottle or cup that contains bisphenol A (BPA) for consumption by children 3 years of age or younger, was approved by the California governor. This act was added as Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 108940) to Part 3 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.

Now, new Act SB 1266 amends the restrictions to the Health and Safety Code relative to bisphenols and product types and adds related definitions as below:

1. Definitions:

• “Bisphenol” means a chemical with two phenol rings connected by a single linker atom. The linker atom and phenol rings may have additional substituents.

• “Juvenile” means an individual or individuals younger than 12 years of age.

• “Juvenile’s feeding product” means any consumer product that is designed or intended by the manufacturer to be filled with any liquid, food, or beverage intended primarily for consumption from that bottle or cup by a juvenile.

• “Juvenile’s sucking or teething product” means any consumer product that is designed or intended by the manufacturer to help a juvenile with sucking or teething in order to facilitate sleep or relaxation.

2. Comparison of Restrictions (as Table 1):

Table 1:

The effective date of these amendments is 01 January 2026.

In the US, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recent Recalls on the CPSC website, which is updated daily. The US recalls from 01 October 2024 to 31 October 2024 are summarized below:

For a complete list click here

In Canada, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the Recalls and Safety Alerts Database on the Health Canada website, which is updated daily. The Canada recalls from 01 October 2024 to 31 October 2024 are summarized below:

*Other Hazards include Lead Poisoning Hazard, Risk of Allergy, Choking Hazard, Suffocation Hazard and Impact Hazard with a frequency of less than 2.

For a complete list click here

In October 2024, the EU Commission published a proposal for the restriction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in clay targets for shooting.

The European Union (EU) Commission published a proposal relative to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) on 28 October 2024, restricting their use in clay targets for shooting. PAHs are found in “coal tar pitch, high temperature” (CTPHT) and similar petroleum products which are used as a binder in the production of clay targets for shooting and are known carcinogens.

Following shooting activities with the usage of clay targets, the corresponding emission of PAHs to the environment (and eventually leading to human exposure) raise out the concern from the EU Commission.

This proposal suggests that a concentration limit of 0.005% by weight of dry mass of the clay target for the sum of 18 selected indicator PAHs species should NOT be exceeded in clay targets placed on the EU market.

A 12-month transitional period after the enforcement of the restriction is also proposed, to ensure all stakeholders have sufficient time to take appropriate measures in complying with this proposed restriction, such as renegotiating supply contracts and disposing of existing stocks.

Details of this PAHs restriction are summarized as below:

Requirements: Sum of PAHs ≤ 0.005%

(By weight of dry mass of the clay targets)

Note: 12-month transitional period after the enforcement of the restriction

On 07 November 2024, ECHA announced that one hazardous chemical - Triphenyl phosphate, has been included as a member of the SVHC candidate list.

On 01 March 2024, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) launched a 45-days public consultation on Triphenyl phosphate (CAS number: 115-86-6)], as a potential Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC).

During the consultation period, ECHA received certain substantial new information for Triphenyl phosphate which was only recently available. To ensure the new information provided for this chemical would be properly evaluated and considered in the SVHC identification process, ECHA suspended the inclusion of this chemical into the SVHC candidate list temporarily, in June 2024.

Finally, after further discussions within ECHA’s Member State Committee meeting in October 2024, it was concluded that this substance is to be added as a member of the SVHC candidate list.

Based on the above conclusion, ECHA officially added the substance to the Candidate List on 07 November 2024.

The number of SVHCs on the Candidate List is now updated to 242 entries.

Details of this new SVHC candidate list’s member - Triphenyl phosphate, are summarized as below.

Manufacturers and importers should take note of Triphenyl phosphate and its potential and current use in their processes or products to plan accordingly.

New EU Battery and Waste Battery Regulations: Labeling Requirements, Environmental Protection, and Promoting Sustainability.

On 14 June 2023, the European Parliament passed the new EU Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries. The goal of this regulation is to improve market operations, encourage fair competition, and reduce environmental impact. These regulations are now gradually being enforced. Here’s a quick reminder of the key points you need to pay attention to:

1. Labeling and Information：

• By August 2024: CE marking must be affixed before batteries are placed on the market or put into service.

• Batteries containing more than 0.002% cadmium or more than 0.004% lead must be labeled with the chemical symbols (Cd or Pb).

• All batteries must have a symbol indicating separate collection.

• By 2026: Batteries must include information about their components and recycling content, including an electronic "battery passport" and a QR code.

• Effective 2027: The QR code requirement will come into effect.

2. Removability of Portable Batteries:

• By 2027: Portable batteries integrated into devices must be removable and replaceable by the end-user.

• For light transport batteries, replacements must be done by independent professionals.

3. Fair Rules, Performance and Safety Standards:

• These new rules aim to improve battery market operations, promote fair competition, and emphasize safety, sustainability, and labeling requirements.

• The regulation introduces strict standards for performance, durability, and safety, and limits harmful substances such as mercury, cadmium, and lead.

4. Reducing Environmental and Social Impact:

• The new regulations aim to reduce the environmental and social impact of batteries throughout their lifecycle, including strict due diligence on raw material sourcing.

By implementing these new rules, the EU aims to ensure market fairness while minimizing the environmental impact of batteries and promoting the development of a circular economy. Companies involved in the production and sale of batteries must ensure their products comply with these new regulations.

Reference Link：

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32023R1542

In Europe, when hazards are identified in non-food consumer products, the products will be recalled and published in the Safety Gate system, which is updated weekly. The European recalls from 01 October 2024 to 31 October 2024 are summarized below:

*Other Hazards include Damage to Sight, Drowning Hazard, Health Risk Hazard and Suffocation Hazard with a frequency of less than 8.

*Other Categories include Sporting Goods / Equipment, Outdoor Living Items, Tools and Hardware, Home Electrical Appliances, Accessories, Computer / Audio / Video / Other Electronics & Accessories, Food Contact Material, Car Accessories, Travel Items, Household Items and Stationery with a frequency of less than 8.

*Other Countries include Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Ireland, Romania, The Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, Estonia and Malta with a frequency of less than 6.

For a complete list click here

In China, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the SAMR Defective Product Administrative Centre, which is updated daily. The China recalls from 01 October 2024 to 31 October 2024are summarized below:

*Other Hazards include Entanglement Hazard, Explosion Hazard, Choking Hazard, Puncture Hazard, Microbiological Hazard, Cut Hazard, Lead Poisoning Hazard, Risk of Allergy, Laceration Hazard, Damage to Sight and Tip-Over Hazard with a frequency of less than 4.

*Other Categories include Home Electrical Appliances, Furniture, Jewelry and Outdoor Living Items with a frequency of less than 3.

* Other Provinces include Beijing, Ningxia, Hunan and Inner Mongolia with a frequency of less than 2.

For a complete list click here

In Australia, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the Recalls and Safety Alerts Database on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission website, which is updated daily. The Australia recalls from 01 October 2024 ­to 31 October 2024are summarized below:

For a complete list click here