SafeGuardS – Regulatory Updates

France issues Order challenging brands to use more sustainable processes, display environmental labels and integrate recycled materials into their collections. It also gives new requirements to eco-organizations associated with the clothing, linen and footwear (TLC) sectors.

The European Chemicals Agency has added nine substances to the Candidate List. There are legal obligations placed on industry once a substance has been placed on this list.

Canada’s Department of Health and Department of Environment is proposing amendments to its regulations governing products containing mercury. If accepted, they will lower limits for certain fluorescent lamps and end exemptions for most other mercury-containing lamps and catalysts used to make polyurethane.

Multiple settlements have been reached for a range of consumer products containing Prop 65 List chemicals. Many of these agreements allow a Prop 65 warning as an alternative.

Brazil has informed the WTO of its intention to revise its Resolution on food contact packaging, coatings, utensils, lids and metallic equipment. Comments are accepted until March 6, 2023.

Turkey has published two Communiqués on import product safety and inspection requirements for toys and a variety of consumer products. These became effective on January 1, 2023.

On December 23, 2022, the United States enacted the Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act when President Biden signed it into law as part of the $1.7 trillion fiscal 2023 omnibus spending bill.

Ukraine has published a new piece of legislation on chemical safety and the management of chemical products. The new law will apply from June 29, 2024.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has determined that there is an unreasonable risk of injury and death, particularly to children, associated with clothing storage units (CSUs) tipping over. This rule requires CSUs to be tested for stability, exceed minimum stability requirements, bear labels containing safety and identification information, and display a hang tag providing performance and technical data about the stability of the CSU.

GB/T 43293-2022 Shoe size was released on October 12, 2022 and officially implemented on May 1, 2023.