June 2016



North America News

The reform bill H.R. 2576 TSCA Modernization Act of 2015, amending the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA), was passed in the House of Representatives on May 24, 2016 and subsequently passed by unanimous decision in the U.S. Senate on June 7, 2016. The compromise bill proposes amendments in different provisions including state law preemption. Within the last year, both the U.S. House and Senate passed bills to address the legal impediments to managing chemical risks under TSCA. A single compromise bill, H.R. 2576 - Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, was posted on the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) May 20, 2016. Key components of the compromise bill are summarized below:

Section 3 Definition:

  • Added definitions of “Conditions of use” and “Potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation”

Section 4 Testing of Chemical Substances and Mixtures:

  • Requires Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce and replace vertebrate animal testing

  • Develops alternative test methods

Section 5 Manufacturing and Processing Notices:

  • Requires EPA to make a determination and take required actions on all prioritized chemicals and Significant New Uses (SNUs)

Section 6 Prioritization, Risk Evaluation and Regulation of Chemical Substances and Mixtures:

  • Establishes requirements and deadlines for EPA chemical prioritizations and risk evaluations

Section 8 Reporting and Retention of Information:

  • Requires EPA to develop reporting requirements and limits for prioritized chemicals

Section 12 Exports:

  • Prohibits the export of certain mercury compounds effective January 1 ,2020

Section 14 Confidential Information:

  • Adopted the Senate bill system to claim, substantiate and re-substantiate, review and adjudicate claims for the protection of trade secrets.

  • Requires EPA to continue protecting submitted trade secrets for 10 years

Section 18 State-Federal Relationship:

  • Establishes scope of preemption including a general rule that is subject to other provisions protecting some state laws. With exceptions, the general rule indicates that state and local governments may not duplicate Federal information development requirements nor restrict a chemical that the EPA found does not pose an unreasonable risk.

The bill now goes to President Obama to be signed into law.

On May 27, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods to help consumers make better food choices. The final rule impacts food manufacturers, requiring changes to the Nutrition Facts Label as regulated under 21 CFR 101.

Figure 1 Original (Left) vs. New (Right) Nutrition Facts Labeling

The new Nutrition Facts label is similar in appearance to the previous label however there are revisions to the content as follows:

  1. Declaration of actual amount and Percent Daily Value is required for the following nutrients, while others are voluntary:

    1. Vitamin D

    2. Calcium

    3. Iron

    4. Potassium

  2. Updated nutrients information requirements:

    1. “Added sugars” (in grams) and Percent Daily Value is now required

    2. Vitamin A and C will no longer be required to be listed

    3. “Calories from fat” is removed

    4. Daily Values for nutrients such as sodium, dietary fiber and vitamin D are updated

  3. Footnote is changed as follows to provide better Percent Daily Value explanation: "*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice."

Labeling format has been updated:

  1. Increased type size and bold for “Calories”

  2. Increased type size and bold for “Servings size”

  3. Increased type size for “Servings per container”

Apart from labeling information, the serving sizes and requirements have been updated:

  1. Previous serving sizes were published in 1993. The serving sizes are now being updated since consumers eating and drinking habits have changed.

  2. For packages that are between one and two servings, the calories and nutrient information will be required to be labeled as one serving. As consumers typically consume these packages as a single serving.

  3. For certain products that are larger than a single serving but that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings, manufacturers will have to provide a dual column label to indicate the amount of calories and nutrients on both a per serving and per package basis.

There are two compliance stages:

  1. Manufacturers with more than $10 million in annual food sales: July 26, 2018

  2. Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales: July 26, 2019

Below is a summary of recently updated ASTM standards that may be of interest to our clients:

CPSIA / CFR Reference

ASTM Standard No.

Detail

-

ASTM F2012-16

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Stationary Activity Centers

Covers performance requirements, test methods and marking requirements to promote safe use of a stationary activity center by an occupant.

16 CFR 1112 & 16 CFR 1229 (proposed)

ASTM F2167-16

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bouncer Seats

Covers establishment of requirements, test methods, and marking requirements to promote safe use of an infant bouncer seat by an occupant and a caregiver.

16 CFR 1112 & 16 CFR 1218

ASTM F2194-16

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bassinets and Cradles

Covers performance requirements, test methods, and marking requirements to promote safe use of bassinets and cradles.

16 CFR 1226

ASTM F2236-16

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Soft Infant and Toddler Carriers

Establishes performance requirements, test methods and marking requirements to promote safe use of soft infant and toddler carriers.

-

ASTM F2400-16

Standard Specification for Helmets Used in Pole Vaulting

Covers performance requirements for helmets to be used in the activity of pole vaulting.

-

ASTM F2417-16

Standard Specification for Fire Safety for Candles

Prescribes minimum safety requirements for candles to provide a reasonable degree of safety for normal use with candles, thereby improving personal safety and reducing fires, deaths, and injuries.

16 CFR 1112, 16 CFR 1130 & 16 CFR 1232 (proposed)

ASTM F2613-16

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Children's Chairs and Stools

Establishes testing requirements for structural integrity and performance requirements for children’s chairs and stools. It also provides requirements for labeling.

On May 11, 2015, bisphenol A (BPA) was added to the Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause reproductive toxicity based on the reproductive toxicity endpoint. The warning requirement for BPA begins one year after the listing of BPA. Starting May 11, 2016, a warning is required for products, such as those containing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, that contain BPA exceeding the Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL), which is 3 micrograms/day (See Regulatory Recap: Issue 2, May 2015).

On May 20, 2016, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added 3 pesticides to the Proposition 65 List. They are tetrachlorvinphos, parathion and malathion. The added pesticide chemicals meet the requirements for listing as known to the state of California to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65. The chemical details are summarized below:

Chemical

Chemical Abstracts Service Number (CAS No.)

Endpoint

Tetrachlorvinphos

22248-79-9

Cancer

Parathion

56-38-2

Cancer

Malathion

121-75-5

Cancer

OEHHA also states that a decision concerning another proposed pesticide, glyphosate, will be published at a later date and the safe harbor level (No Significant Risk Level, NSRL) for malathion will be proposed before the effective date of warning requirement, May 20, 2017.

On May 18, 2016, The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) published a new proposed version of its regulations governing Proposition 65 Warnings. The proposal amends the previous version based on the comments received. A new comment period ended on June 6, 2016. The key changes in the new proposal are summarized below:

  • Amendment is made to exclude company name and location of manufacture in the definition of “Consumer Information”.

  • In the method of providing warning, it is revised that if there is non-English consumer information on a consumer product sign, label or shelf tag, the warning must also be provided in that language in addition to English.

  • For the safe harbor warning content, a new section is added to allow businesses to provide warning for a single chemical exposure without using wording “chemicals including”.

  • Other wordings are added to ensure consistency in the format, structure and requirements for warnings.

On May 5, 2016, New York proposed bill A5612A was passed the state Assembly. The bill was then delivered to Senate as Bill S7507 on the same day. The bill proposes reporting rules and sale prohibition on children’s products containing certain priority chemicals. No later than 12 months after a priority chemical appears on the list, manufacturers of children’s products are required to report any priority chemicals above the practical quantification limits (PQL). The report shall minimally provide the following information:

  1. Category of children’s product

  2. Priority chemicals above PQL

  3. Any chemicals contained in the product

  4. Intended purpose of the priority chemicals

  5. Information of potential for harm to human health and the environment

  6. Amount of priority chemicals

  7. Information on the likelihood that the chemical will be released from the product into the environment during life cycle of the product

  8. Information on the extent to which the chemical is present in the environment or human body

Current list of priority chemicals:

Chemical

Chemical Abstracts Service Number (CAS No.)

Tris (1, 3 dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate

13674-87-8

Benzene

71-43-2

Lead and its compounds (inorganic)

7439-92-1

Mercury and its compounds, including methyl mercury

7439-97-6

Antimony and its compounds

7440-36-0

Formaldehyde

50-00-0

Asbestos

1332-21-4

Arsenic and its compounds including arsenic trioxide and dimethyl arsenic

7440-38-2

Cadmium

7440-43-9

Cobalt and its compounds

7440-48-4

Apart from reporting, starting from January 1, 2019, no person shall sell or distribute children’s products containing above listed priority chemicals. For any newly identified priority chemicals, the prohibition of such chemicals will start 3 years after their identification.

On May 2, 2016, the New York Assembly Introduced Bill A9959 and its Senate version bill is S7230. The bill proposed warning requirements on certain lithium batteries and products containing such batteries. If the bill is passed into law, it will impact manufacturers, distributors and retailers of toys or children’s products that contain small lithium batteries.

There are two warning requirements proposed in the bills. First, for any lithium batteries with less than one inch diameter, either sold in New York state or used in product sold in New York, the batteries shall be printed with a warning statement as follows: “WARNING: This is a lithium battery which if swallowed has been known to cause death.

Second, any product containing lithium batteries (as a power source) with less than one inch diameter shall contain a warning statement on its packaging. The warning shall be as follows: “WARNING: This product is powered by a lithium battery. Due to their small size, lithium batteries can easily be swallowed by children. Ingestion of such batteries has been known to cause death.

On July 1, 2016, the Toxic Free Toys Act of Albany County in the State of New York becomes effective, restricting the presence of 7 chemicals of concern in children’s products. The law restricts the concentration of antimony, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, cobalt, lead and mercury in children’s products, unless preempted by a Federal standard. The law applies to children’s products including apparel but excludes certain products or components of products such as batteries, consumer electronics or electronic components, paper products, or a drug, biologic, medical device, food, or food additive regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. (See Regulatory Recap: February 2016).

On April 19, 2016, Mexico Official Journal of the Federation (DOF) published a draft standard, NOM-203-SCFI-2015, to establish the maximum permissible emission limit and content limit for formaldehyde in wood particle board and wood fiberboard.

In NOM-203-SCFI-2015, the limits established are summarized below:

Wood Particle Board

Wood Fiberboard

(greater than 8mm thick)

Wood Fiberboard

(less than or equal to 8 mm thick)

Emission (ppm)

Content (mg/100g)

Emission (ppm)

Content (mg/100g)

Emission (ppm)

Content (mg/100g)

0.18

9.08

0.21

10.64

0.22

11.15

The draft standard also suggests evaluation methods to demonstrate the compliance to the above limit. For formaldehyde emission, it is evaluated by Mexican Standard NMX-C-462 ONNCCE (Chapter 7.8). For formaldehyde content, it is evaluated by Mexican Standard NMX-C-462 ONNCCE (Chapter 7.9).

Europe News

On April 23, 2015, Regulation (EU) 2015/628 was published to expand the scope of lead restriction under Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (REACH). The expanded part applies to product placed on the market after June 1, 2016. The scope of lead restriction was expanded to include articles or accessible parts of articles supplied to the general public, if it may be placed in the mouth by children during normal or foreseeable conditions of use. The lead content limit is 0.05 % by weight (See Regulatory Recap: Issue 2, May 2015).

In Europe, when hazards are identified in consumer products, the products will be recalled and published in the Rapid Alert System, which is updated weekly. The European recalls in May 2016 are summarized below:

Hazard

Frequency

Chemical Hazard

38

Choking Hazard

28

Electric shock Hazard

15

Injury Hazard

12

Other Hazards*

19

* Other Hazards include Asphyxiation Hazard, Burn Hazard, Drowning Hazard, Environmental Hazard, Fire Hazard, Hearing Hazard, Microbiological Hazard, Strangulation Hazard and Suffocation Hazard with frequency less than 5.

Product Categories

Frequency

Toys

37

Electric Appliances

14

Apparel

12

Footwear

6

Other Categories^

35

^ Other Categories include Bedding, Child Care Articles, Consumer Chemicals, Decorative Products, Gas Detectors, Garden Supplies, Household Appliances, Jewelry, Kitchen Merchandise, Personal Care, Personal Accessories, Sports Equipment and Tools with frequency less than 5.

Recalls Summary - Europe (Last Update Date: May 31, 2016)

Reference Number

Notifying Country

Product

Product Category

Hazard(s)

Product Image

A11/0042/16

Germany

Fast

Consumer Chemicals

Chemical Hazard

A11/0043/16

Germany

Trumpet Care Kit

Consumer Chemicals

Chemical Hazard

A11/0044/16

Germany

Valve Oil

Consumer Chemicals

Chemical Hazard

A11/0045/16

The Netherlands

Lanterne Volante ('Flying lantern')

Garden Supplies

Fire Hazard

A11/0046/16

The Netherlands

Himmelslaterne (Sky lantern)

Garden Supplies

Fire Hazard

A11/0047/16

The Netherlands

Happiness Balloon

Garden Supplies

Fire Hazard

A11/0048/16

Hungary

Lead Acid Charger

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A11/0050/16

France

Devil Inside

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0522/16

Spain

Boys' Swimming Shorts

Apparel

Injury Hazard

A12/0523/16

Spain

Ladies' Sandals

Footwear

Chemical Hazard

A12/0525/16

Spain

Ladies' Sandals

Footwear

Chemical Hazard

A12/0526/16

Slovakia

Flying a Kite and White Cloud

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0527/16

Germany

Gürtel - Belt

Personal Accessories

Chemical Hazard

A12/0530/16

Spain

Playme

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0532/16

Spain

Babies' Dungarees

Apparel

Choking Hazard

A12/0533/16

Spain

Men's Sandals

Footwear

Chemical Hazard

A12/0534/16

Spain

Soft Bullet Gun

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0535/16

Spain

Angry Birds

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0536/16

Spain

Pull-along Toy

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0537/16

Czech Republic

Yong

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0538/16

Spain

Kitchen Play Set / Play at Home

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0541/16

Spain

Bubble Stick

Toys

Microbiological Hazard

A12/0542/16

France

'Confort' Range

Child Care Articles

Injury Hazard

A12/0544/16

Spain

Enrollable Manguera

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0545/16

Spain

Beauty - My Vogue Girl

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0546/16

Spain

Soft Toy

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0547/16

Spain

Girls' Dress

Apparel

Choking Hazard

A12/0548/16

Germany

Women's Sandals

Footwear

Chemical Hazard

A12/0549/16

Spain

'Debbie' - Beautiful girl

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0550/16

Spain

Doctor Set

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0552/16

Spain

Baby Clothing Set

Apparel

Choking Hazard

A12/0553/16

Spain

Heated Towel Rail

Household Appliances

Burn Hazard

A12/0556/16

Germany

Charms

Jewelry

Chemical Hazard

A12/0557/16

Germany

Permanent Powder Hair Colour

Personal Care

Chemical Hazard

A12/0562/16

Italy

Food Jar

Kitchen Merchandise

Chemical Hazard

A12/0563/16

Italy

Vacuum Flask

Kitchen Merchandise

Chemical Hazard

A12/0564/16

Italy

Food Jar

Kitchen Merchandise

Chemical Hazard

A12/0568/16

Spain

Reality Shoes

Footwear

Chemical Hazard

A12/0570/16

Spain

Push-along Toys

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0571/16

Spain

Adaptador Europeo

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0572/16

Spain

Beaut

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0573/16

Spain

Children's Shoes

Footwear

Chemical Hazard

A12/0576/16

Hungary

Children’s Sweatshirt

Apparel

Strangulation Hazard

A12/0577/16

Hungary

Children’s Sweatshirt

Apparel

Strangulation Hazard

A12/0580/16

Bulgaria

Children's Outfit

Apparel

Injury Hazard, Strangulation Hazard

A12/0581/16

Hungary

Rechargeable Working Headlight Helmets / Led Headlight

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard, Fire Hazard

A12/0582/16

Hungary

ПЕРЕЗАРЯЖАЕМЫЙ АККУМУЛЯТОРНЫЙ СВЕТИЛЬНИК (Rechargeable Lamp)

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard, Fire Hazard

A12/0583/16

Finland

Small Naughty Love Bath

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0584/16

United Kingdom

High Lumen LED Spot

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0585/16

United Kingdom

LED Flood Light

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0586/16

Sweden

SafeTmade

Tools

Drowning Hazard

A12/0587/16

France

Bijoux En Ambre Pour Bebe (amber jewellery for babies)

Child Care Articles

Choking Hazard

A12/0588/16

Bulgaria

Onyx

Child Care Articles

Injury Hazard

A12/0589/16

Germany

Die Lieben Sieben

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0590/16

Slovakia

Lay egg - swan toys

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0591/16

Slovakia

3-Way Socket with Sugre Protection

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0592/16

Slovakia

Baby Toys

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0593/16

Austria

Easy Rider and Iron Cruiser

Sports Equipment

Injury Hazard

A12/0594/16

Austria

Index

Sports Equipment

Injury Hazard

A12/0595/16

Austria

Camalots and Camalot Ultralights

Sports Equipment

Injury Hazard

A12/0597/16

Hungary

LED Flood Light

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0598/16

Sweden

Pumpkin

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0601/16

Estonia

Baby Rattle - Baby Love Play Set

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0604/16

Hungary

Vintage Night Lamp Porcelain

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0607/16

Hungary

USB Power Adapter

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0608/16

Hungary

TRAVEL Mosquito Plug

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0610/16

France

Children's Fancy Dress/Pyjamas with Hat

Apparel

Chemical Hazard

A12/0611/16

United Kingdom

Hair Auto Straightener

Personal Care

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0612/16

Estonia

Discovery Cubes with Animal Puzzle

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0615/16

France

Grappe Raisin PVC (PVC Bunch of Grapes)

Decorative Products

Choking Hazard

A12/0616/16

Estonia

Winter Princess

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0618/16

Estonia

Cloetta Spelletta Beautiful Fashion

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0623/16

Denmark

4 FLØJTER - 4 Whistles

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0624/16

Slovakia

Beautiful Children

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0625/16

Finland

LED Panel Light

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0626/16

Finland

Cotton Printed Bed Sheet Double

Bedding

Chemical Hazard

A12/0627/16

Finland

High Intensity LED Flashlight

Electric Appliances

Electric shock Hazard

A12/0628/16

Germany

Lederhose Madl

Apparel

Chemical Hazard

A12/0629/16

Finland

City Police Soft Bullets Gun

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0630/16

Poland

Pull-along toy telephone

Toys

Choking Hazard, Strangulation Hazard, Suffocation Hazard

A12/0631/16

The Netherlands

3.8MTelescoop Ladder

Tools

Injury Hazard

A12/0633/16

Latvia

Kids Tri Scooter

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0634/16

Finland

Treenihanskat Multistrap Musta Traningshandskar

Sports Equipment

Environmental Hazard

A12/0635/16

Slovakia

Eva Puzzle Mats

Toys

Choking Hazard

A12/0636/16

Hungary

Children’s Clothing Set

Apparel

Strangulation Hazard

A12/0637/16

Hungary

Beautiful Pram

Toys

Injury Hazard

A12/0638/16

France

Amber Necklace

Jewelry

Choking Hazard, Injury Hazard

A12/0639/16

Czech Republic

My Baby

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0640/16

Czech Republic

Dreams The Music of My Dreams

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0641/16

Spain

1) Dinosaur Egg - Growing Pet; 2) Growing Pet; 3) Dinosaur Egg - Growing Pet

Toys

Choking Hazard, Injury Hazard

A12/0642/16

Germany

Tirolerhose

Apparel

Chemical Hazard

A12/0643/16

Germany

Soft rubber ball

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0644/16

Germany

Koru - Tribal Black

Consumer Chemicals

Chemical Hazard

A12/0647/16

Italy

Plastic Grapes

Decorative Products

Choking Hazard

A12/0649/16

Hungary

Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas Detector

Gas Detectors

Asphyxiation Hazard

A12/0650/16

Hungary

LCD Carbon-Monoxide Detector

Gas Detectors

Asphyxiation Hazard

A12/0651/16

Hungary

Gázérzékelő és Riasztó (Gas Detector and Alarm)

Gas Detectors

Asphyxiation Hazard

A12/0654/16

Czech Republic

Plastic toy

Toys

Chemical Hazard

A12/0655/16

Hungary

Purse

Personal Accessories

Chemical Hazard

A12/0656/16

Hungary

bőr-cérna karkötő (Leather-Thread Wristband)

Jewelry

Chemical Hazard

A12/0658/16

Bulgaria

Children’s Clothing Set

Apparel

Choking Hazard

A12/0659/16

Hungary

Monster Cars

Jewelry

Chemical Hazard

A12/0660/16

Germany

Spirit Motors Chopper III Handschuh

Sports Equipment

Chemical Hazard

A12/0661/16

Finland

Super Cap Gun .357 Magnum

Toys

Hearing Hazard

Asia News

In January 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MIIT) issued China RoHS 2 (See test). Prior to the July 1, 2016 effective date, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to the implementation of China RoHS 2 was published.

The FAQ provides clarification of the China RoHS 2 regulation as summarized below:

  1. The regulation applies to both imported and domestic electrical and electronic products which are manufactured after July 1, 2016

  2. Standards indicated in the regulation include:

    1. SJ/T 11364-2014 Marking Requirements for Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products

    2. GB/T 26572-2011 Requirements of Concentration Limits for Certain Restricted Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products

    3. GB/T 26125-2011, IDT IEC 62321:2008 Electrical and Electronic Products - Determination of Six Regulated Substances (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers)

    4. GB/T 29783-2013 Determination of Chromium(VI) in Electrical and Electronic Products - Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

    5. SJ/Z 11388-2009 General Guidelines of Environment-Friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products

  3. Electronic and electrical products excluded from the scope of regulation are:

    1. Electricity generation, transmission and distribution equipment, such as power plants

    2. Military use equipment

    3. Equipment used in special environments or extreme environments

    4. Exported products

    5. Temporary imported product (not for sale)

    6. Equipment for scientific research and development or testing purpose

    7. Product for exhibition (not for sale)

    8. Second hand products

After mandating the Indonesia National Standards (NSI) and EN 71 part 5 for toy’s safety, the Minister of Industry appointed domestic accredited laboratories to perform testing. The minister also appointed non-Indonesian laboratories to perform testing for not more than 2 years.

On April 16, 2016, the period allowing non-Indonesian laboratories to test toys expired and now toys imported to Indonesia must be tested by approved laboratory in Indonesia according to the amendment Decree No. 55/M-IND/PER/11/2013. Unless laboratories have been registered in the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in APLAC / ILAC, toys manufactured outside Indonesia must be tested by approved Indonesia laboratories.

On April 18, 2016, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) published Notice 1041304938 to establish additional labeling requirements for food utensils, containers or packaging. The additional requirements will enter into force on July 1, 2017.

The requirements are established according to the articles 26 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and they are summarized below:

  1. All food utensils, containers or packaging shall be marked with “For food contact applications” or equivalent wordings.

  2. All food utensils, containers or packaging containing plastic food contacting components shall be marked its availability to re-use or single use.

  3. All food utensils, containers or packaging containing PVC or PVDC food contacting components shall be marked with warning that the product should not direct contact with high temperature and fat food

Australia/New Zealand News

On May 11, 2016, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published a notice to extend the interim ban on the supply of unsafe self-balancing scooters by 30 days. The original 60-Day interim ban was expected to end on May 18, 2016. However, an extension notice was issued before the end date. The new interim ban end date is now on June 16, 2016. (See test).

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