Eurofins | August 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Softlines & Leather

Europe

Standards Updates

Below a summary table with some recent standards updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):

(*) Date of availability: date when the definitive text in the official language versions of an approved CEN/CENELEC publication is distributed by the Central Secretariat.

(**) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

US

Standards Updates

Below a summary table with some recent ASTM standards updates:

US | Rhode Island

Rhode Island Increases Flame Retardants Levels in Upholstered Bedding and Furniture

On July 8, 2019, Rhode Island’s flame retardant Bill H 5119 (“An Act relating to health and safety- upholstered furniture and child products safety”) was signed into law by increasing the maximum amount of any non-polymeric organohalogen flame retardant chemical contained in residential upholstered bedding and furniture manufactured or sold in state from 100 ppm to 1,000 ppm.

Non-polymeric organohalogen flame retardant chemical includes any bromine or chlorine bonded to carbon chemical which is added to a plastic, foam, fabric, or textile. Following are exemptions from this rule:

• Internal electric and electronic components of residential upholstered furniture
• Bedding or residential furniture or bedding sold for use in commercial or public spaces

This act will come into force on 1^st January 2020. The prohibition of unsafe children’s products will also apply from 1^st January 2020. Products sold or in use prior to this date are not subject to this ban.

Click here for more information.

US | Vermont

Vermont Passes Children’s Products Reporting Rule Amendment

On 19^th June 2019, Vermont governor signed Bill S.55 into law which amends the existing Chemicals of High Concern (CHCC) reporting rule.

CHCC reporting rule requires manufacturers of children’s products to report to the Vermont Department of Health if their product contains CHCC above the threshold from 1 January 2017. Following points are the major amendment of Act 188:

• Manufacturers of children’s products containing a CHCC now shall provide notice to the Department of Health annually instead of biennially. The next reporting deadline will be due by 31^st August 2020
• Manufacturers of children’s products containing a CHCC now shall report the brand name, the product model, and the universal product code if the product has such a code

This amendment came into effect on 1^st July 2019.

Document (PDF): [Vermont S. 55] in English.

Click here to access Health Vermont website.

US | Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska Approves Flame Retardant Ban

Anchorage Assembly unanimously passed Assembly Ordinance 2019-15(S), an ordinance that amends the Anchorage Municipal Code to add a new Chapter 15.100 and a new section which prohibits certain consumer products containing flame retardant chemicals.

Beginning from 1^st January 2020, no person shall manufacture, sell or distribute any upholstered or reupholstered furniture and juvenile products that contain, or a constituent component of which contain banned flame retardant chemicals exceeding 1,000 parts per million within the municipality including:

• Halogenated, organophosphorus, organonitrogen, or nanoscale flame retardant chemicals
• Penta or octa mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, the deca mixture of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), or decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE)
• Antimony
• Chemical listed as 'designated chemicals' under Section 105440 of the Health and Safety Code
• Chemical covered in the Washington’s list of Chemicals of High Concern to Children

The following are not covered by this prohibition:

• Used or second-hand products
• Child restraint systems under 49 CFR 571
• Electronic products, electronic components of upholstered or reupholstered furniture or juvenile products and any associated casing for those electronic products
• Children's toys and clothing

Click here for the details.

Canada

Manitoba’s update repeal of the bedding regulation

As already announced in our Eurofins News Flash March 2019 edition, on January 2019, the Government of Manitoba approved the revocation of the Bedding and Other Upholstered or Stuffed Articles Regulation, 78/2004.

On 14^th June 2019, the Manitoba Consumer Protection Office published a letter providing more information and clarification regarding this Regulation repeal process.

Product Recalls/Alerts

Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RAPEX”) and in the US (Source “CPSC”).

Europe

RAPEX (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).

The following 16 alerts regarding textile & leather products have been reported, from week 25 until week 28 of 2019.

US

From 21^st June to 15^th July 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 4 recalls regarding textile & leather products.

Chem-MAP®

Introducing Ve-MAP Vegan Verification System from Chem-MAP®

The Ve-MAP programme can support brands and retailers in the verification of product as suitable for vegans. The Ve-MAP programme enables manufacturing facilities to create and populate a comprehensive chemical inventory with systematic identification of all chemicals being used within the facility. This Chemical Inventory Log (CIL) will then allow the Ve-MAP team to conduct a risk assessment of each chemical and its links to animal products. Any chemicals deemed as ‘high risk’ of having animal derived raw materials are then analysed for the presence of animal DNA.

For more information on Ve-MAP please visit the Chem-MAP® website. If you are looking to ensure your products are vegan and would like to discuss Ve-MAP and the certification of Vegan products, contact the Chem-MAP® team today: info@chem-map.com, +44 (0) 1604 679999.