Press Releases from SGS Consumer Testing Services (203 total)
SGS Turkey Opens New Hi-tech Textile Testing Laboratory in Istanbul
On November 24, 2011, with numerous business partners and SGS executives participating in the event, SGS, celebrating an eighth anniversary in its Istanbul laboratory, announced the expansion and service enhancement of its textile laboratory.
The opening ceremony symbolized a brand new chapter for SGS Turkey since its beginning in 1933. The SGS Turkey Business Manager Mehmet Cem Ozen, speaking at the opening ceremony for the new laboratory, emphasized the company’s commitment…
Indonesian Draft Decree Sets out Standards for Babies and Children’s Clothing
Children’s and babies clothing products distributed in Indonesia that originated domestically or are imported must meet the requirements in SNI 7617:2010 - the Indonesian National Standard. These requirements are designed to increase the overall quality of clothing produced whilst providing consumers with rigorous safety protections and establishing fair trade in competition.
The Product Certification Body (LSPro) tasked with issuing an SNI product certificate will be appointed by the Indonesian Ministry of…
SGS Brazil Acquires Inmetro Certification Body Accreditation for Toys and Juveni …
The Brazilian government has been working intensively to tighten the regulation for consumer products manufactured in or imported into Brazil. All toys placed on the market must be certified by an accredited body recognized by the Brazilian Regulatory Agency Inmetro. Moreover, the regulation requires foreign manufacturers to assign a local representative, who will have not only technical responsibility for the certification process but also legal and criminal responsibility for the…
Functional Safety Training ISO 26262 in New Delhi, India Hosted by SGS
To offer attendees an in-depth understanding of the new ISO 26262 global automotive functional safety standard, SGS India is hosting a 5-day training program 4-8 June, 2012 in New Delhi with the assistance of experts within the SGS Group from SGS-TUV Saar, Germany. The ISO 26262 functional safety training will help attendees understand the various safety processes as well as legal responsibilities and what is involved to achieve compliance.
SGS is…
SGS Egypt is Accredited as 3rd Party Inspection Company by GEOIC
SGS is accredited by the GEOIC and the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC) as a third-party inspection company for this purpose, a mandate extended to very few companies. SGS can assess the conformity of your non-food products against all Egyptian and international standards, as applicable.
Towards the end of 2011, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry (MFTI) issued two ministerial decrees requiring an inspection certificate for every shipment of textiles and…
Continuance of Germany’s Stricter Chemical Limits in Toys Permitted by EC
Germany wishes to retain its existing and stricter national limits for substances that may be released from toys for five heavy metals, namely antimony, arsenic, barium, lead and mercury, in addition to nitrosamines and nitrosatable substances after July 21, 2013, when the chemical limits under ANNEX II, Part III, the Toy Safety Directive come into force. For this reason Germany applied for an exception to continue using its existing limits…
SGS helps Guinness® Set New World Record, Making St Patrick’s Day ‘The Frie …
As one of the most iconic and ubiquitous beer brands in the world, Guinness is instantly recognizable around the globe as a “little piece of Ireland.” The global branding team for Guinness decided to attempt to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for “The Friendliest Day of the Year” on St Patrick’s Day March 2012. This was a record of truly global proportions, incorporating 26 countries across 4 continents. However,…
New ASTM F2907-12 Safety Standard for Infant Slings is Published
The new voluntary standard results from a 2010 working group of the ASTM technical subcommittee F15.21, comprising representatives from the industry, government, testing labs and consumer groups to agree a consensus that is then adopted voluntarily by manufacturers. Intended to minimize the risk of injury to an infant occupant, ASTM F2097-12 defines a sling carrier as: “a product of fabric or sewn fabric construction, which is designed to contain a…
Increase of Foodborne Illnesses from US Imports
The Food Safety Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement on March 14, 2012 that an analysis of their Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System data for 2005-2010 showed 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses resulted from imported food. Of the 39 outbreaks, 17 occurred between 2009 and 2010 and 17 were associated with fish while 6 were due to spices (5 of these from fresh…
ECHA Provides Information about SVHC Use in Consumer Articles
The aim of the ECHA in publishing this information is to increase awareness of SVHC uses in the applications listed. The ECHA warns that not all articles similar to those listed will contain SVHC and vice versa that if an article is omitted from the list it may still contain an SVHC. It is hoped this list of SVHC applications may contribute to a better knowledge about existence of applications…
Final Rule for Portable Bed Rails Safety Standards Approved by the CPSC
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has promulgated the Final Rule regarding safety standards for portable bed rails, to be effected from August 29th, 2012. The publication of 16 CFR Part 1224, as found in the federal register, will require all products imported or manufactured on or after the aforementioned date to adhere to the amended safety standards The CPSC announced publication of the Final Rule on February 29th 2012.
Prior…
CPSC Amends Consumer Registration Regulations for Durable Infant Products
With publication of a Final Rule in the Federal Register by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on February 17, 2012 amending the 16 CFR 1130 requirements for consumer registration of durable infant or toddler products, to clarify and correct some of the requirements and respond to consumer feedback on registration. The rule becomes effective on February 18, 2013.
The amendment addresses Title 16 (commercial practices) of the United States…
SGS provides Assistance for REACH Authorization Application
The European Commission (EC) has published a second amendment to the REACH Authorization List. In response to the initial recommendation of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), the EC has officially added the eight extra Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) that the agency recommended for the Authorization List (Annex XIV) in REACH Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006). Annex XIV now has a total of 14 SVHC and no new exemptions were…
Guidance on REACH for Toy Manufacturers, Importers and Retailers
Complex chemical testing is required of all toys manufactured, imported or sold within the EU, where consumer protection is of paramount concern. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are severally responsible for ensuring REACH compliance of the goods in their supply chains.
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals is the full title of the highly apt acronym REACH – a European Union regulation that places the responsibility squarely on industry for managing…
New EU Framework Targets Uniform Product Safety Regulatory Environment
To simplify regulations surrounding the marketing of products, the EU’s New Legislative Framework (NLF) was enacted in 2008 as part of a ‘Goods Package’ to counter claims the existing legislation is difficult to apply. With the objective of strengthening and completing the existing rules, it is intended to improve their practical application and enforcement by establishing a common legal framework. Two instruments determine the framework: Regulation (EC) No. 765/2008 dealing…
South Africa Introduces New Regulation for Food Labeling
Delayed for one year to allow the industry extra time to revise their product labels in preparation, South Africa has now established new labeling regulations (R146) that applies to food manufacturers both nationally and internationally and is effective from March 1, 2012. The purpose of the legislation is to inform consumers about their purchasing decisions of food and to prevent the use of misleading or ambiguous food labels.
Recognizing from the…
Mexico Modifies Requirements for Labels on Textile and Apparel
The Mexican Ministry of Economy issued a resolution on December 23, 2011, to amend the labeling requirements of the official Mexican Standard NOM-004-SCFI 2006 for textiles and apparel – that sets out the labeling of textile products, garments, accessories and household linen, and was originally published in the Official Journal of the Mexican Federation on June 21, 2006. The new requirements became effective on February 23, 2012.
The amended requirements apply…
Update to Toys and Juvenile Product Safety for Hong Kong
Effective from April 1, 2012, Hong Kong has recently updated two toy safety standards and realigns the standards to reflect changes to European, Australia/New Zealand and United States standards for eight children’s product categories.
The government of Hong Kong published the Toys and Children’s Product Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Notice 2011 in its gazette on December 30, 2011 as. This notice updates two safety standards for…
New European Safety Barriers Standard (EN 1930:2011)
A revised European standard EN 1930:2011 was published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) in December 2011. It concerns the domestic indoor use of child safety barriers across door openings and replaces the current standard EN1930: 2000 and its amendment A1: 2005. European National Standard Organizations bound to CEN/CENELEC have to publish this new document until June 30, 2012.
Safety barriers used in the home are intended to guard crawling…
US FDA Demands New Requirements of Records Access
To bring legislation in line with provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act 2010 (FSMA) the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an interim final rule and draft guidance for record access requirements on February 23, 2012. The FDA has also updated a question and answer section to the guidance and the interim final rule became effective on March 1, 2012.
The regulations apply to importers, manufacturers, processors, packers, transporters,…
Revised U.S. Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963-11 Gains CPSC Approval
In an effort to safeguard children by proactively upgrading toy safety standards, ASTM International published and released F963-11 on December 15, 2011, which updates and replaces the 2008 version of the Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Toy Safety. Following unanimous approval by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the updates were published in the U.S. Federal Register on February 22, 2012 and will become a mandatory toy safety standard effective…
SGS provides Efficacy-Testing and Claim-Support for Skin Care Cosmetics
Scientific substantiation of efficacy claims of cosmetic products is required by national and international authorities. SGS recently launched a laboratory in Germany dedicated to measuring important parameters associated with skin-care products, such as skin moisturizing (Corneometer®), skin barrier integrity (Tewameter®), wrinkle-reduction (PRIMOS®) and deodorant efficiency (sniff-test). In addition, dermatology studies form a part of the new SGS laboratory testing portfolio.
Worldwide, consumer organizations and the cosmetics industry make sure that their…
SGS Hong Kong Accredited As a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB)
SGS is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, the International Electrical Certification Center Ltd. (IECC), has been accredited as a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, established by the Communications Act of 1934. It is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers 50 states,…
Canada and United States Tighten Chemical Safety Legislation for Footwear and Ap …
As consumer product health and safety concerns are increasingly reflected in the practices of global brands, the United States, Canada and Mexico are making a concerted effort to eliminate the use of toxic materials in the footwear and apparel industries. The three countries have thus reached an understanding on actions needed to strengthen their trilateral cooperation for the safety of consumers.
The California law, Proposition 65, has been around since…
Changes to USA Toy Safety Enforcement Schedule for CPSIA Legislation
SGS assists toy manufacturers manage ongoing changes to the implementation timetable of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act 2008 (CPSIA) and oversight by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Delays in the enforcement of specific provisions have complicated the CPSIA implementation timetable ever since becoming law. Various deadlines have been postponed while the CPSC handles industry concerns, resolves technical challenges and addresses practical considerations.
Summary of recent enforcement changes:
Lead…
California Green Chemistry Initiative Looks to Change Industry’s Production Pr …
The Green Chemistry Initiative has been pioneered in California as a means to change how industry thinks and deals with toxic chemicals in its production processes. Although not currently in effect, the initiative’s idea is to eliminate or reduce toxic materials at the beginning of production rather than at the end.
What is Green Chemistry?
Across the United States, green chemistry is taking root, with implementation varying from voluntary requirements to mandatory…
Approval of Daimler India and IEC ISO 17025 Accredition for SGS Lab in Chakan, P …
A recently opened SGS testing center in India has already gained two important accolades. German vehicle manufacturer Daimler has granted its official approval to SGS lab as per its internal assessment of the center. The SGS laboratory has also gained IEC/ISO 17025 accreditation for chemical and physical testing.
The SGS Testing Center near Pune, India has succeeded in gaining the official approval of Daimler India, the result of Daimler’s own assessment…
Automotive Wisdom: Prevention is Better than Recall
The pace of technical advance and increasingly sophisticated driver expectations has demanded cutting-edge engineering solutions from the automotive industry. The pressures for time and cost acting in combination on the more complex technology mean greater risks of failure. When components that affect safety are affected, and the company resorts to a recall campaign, it not only translates to higher costs, it can also damage the reputation of the manufacturer and…
SGS provides Assistance for REACH Authorization Application
The European Commission (EC) has published a second amendment to the REACH Authorization List. In response to the initial recommendation of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), the EC has officially added the eight extra Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) that the agency recommended for the Authorization List (Annex XIV) in REACH Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006). Annex XIV now has a total of 14 SVHC and no new exemptions were…
SGS provides Assistance for REACH Authorization Application
The European Commission (EC) has published a second amendment to the REACH Authorization List. In response to the initial recommendation of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), the EC has officially added the eight extra Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) that the agency recommended for the Authorization List (Annex XIV) in REACH Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006). Annex XIV now has a total of 14 SVHC and no new exemptions were…
Exemptions to EU ROHS II Directive Undergoing Stakeholder Consultation
The Öko-Institut and Fraunhofer IZM will provide assistance to the European Commission with a technical review of the requests for exemption from substance restrictions of the RoHS II Directive 2011/65/EU that have been posted by Electrical and Electronics industry. The consultation of stakeholders is scheduled from January 24 to March 20, 2012 and will cover the 18 exemption requests that have not been eliminated, and evaluate them against the Directive’s…
Meat Contaminated with Clenbuterol in China, Mexico and Spain
Clenbuterol is a controversial and widely banned fat-burning drug that is added to the feed for pigs and other livestock to enhance muscle growth. Recently it has been in the news with a new ban in China, an outbreak in Mexico, and the possible contamination of meat purchased in Spain, reportedly leading to the temporary suspension of a world-champion cyclist who tested positive for doping.
Intended to result in leaner meat…
SGS Announces Global Product Mark Program for Carbon Footprint
SGS introduces a new and unique program of three product marks for environmental impact, progressing towards the ultimate tier of greenhouse gas neutrality, to help companies transparently demonstrate their ongoing environmental commitment.
SGS Consumer Testing Services announced today the first Product Carbon Footprint program to offer marks that can be applied to manufactured products that are sold on international markets. As leading providers of sustainability solutions, SGS’s new product marks…
New Online Training Tool for REACH Compliance by SGS
The EU’s REACH legislation places the responsibility squarely on manufacturers and importers to ensure the chemical composition of their products does not endanger human health. Keeping track of the data and making it available on demand poses a number of challenges for compliance.
The principle REACH is based on is that it is the responsibility of industry participants to ensure that only chemicals are introduced into the market (directly as chemicals…
New EU Regulations for Nanomaterials in Preparation
With the EU publishing an official definition of nanomaterials, changes to consumer product regulations are now expected to follow. Future legislation is likely to introduce new demands for indicating them e.g. on product labels or eventually calling for testing and risk controls. The new definition of nanomaterials provides consistency across a whole raft of areas of potential European legislation.
On October 18, 2011 the European Commission (EC) adopted recommendation 2011/696/EU, which…
Canada Delays Phase Out of Incandescent Light Bulbs for 2 Years
All developed markets worldwide are committed to implementing energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, and this includes the US, the EU, Australia and Canada. The energy efficiency standard for light bulbs was introduced in 2007 with the stated aim of improving incandescent bulbs or replacing them with more efficient technologies, notably with compact fluorescent and LED bulbs. The underlying aim of energy saving is to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas…
Amendment of EU WEEE Directive is Agreed
EU Directive 2002/96/EC came into force in 2003 to regulate the handling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The goals of the Directive are to reduce environmental impact from the disposal of electrical and electronics (E&E) products and promote special collection and recycling of these materials. Producers placing E&E products on the market are required by the Directive to protect the environment by funding their safe disposal.
After nine years…
SGS Hosts McDonald’s Food Safety Collaboration Panel at Global Food Safety Con …
Session Will Address the Role of Collaboration in the Food Supply Chain; Registration Required
SGS Food Services is hosting “McDonald’s: Collaboration in Food Safety & Brand Protection,” a breakfast session at the 11th Global Food Safety Conference in Orlando, Florida, from 7:45-8:45 am on Friday, February 17. Panelists from McDonald’s Corporation, global and local suppliers, a scheme owner and a certification body will provide real-world examples and insights on the role…
Zero tolerance policy extended by USDA to six further E.Coli serogroups
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on 13 September 2011 they are taking extra steps to fight E. coli in the food supply. Under the new ruling, should E. coli serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 be found in raw ground beef or the meat used to make raw ground beef, such products will be prohibited from being sold as…
3rd Recommendation for REACH Authorization List
Chemicals listed in Annex XIV are marked with a sunset date (phase-out date) based on a number of month from its inclusion in Annex XIV, which varies by chemical from 36 to 42 months. The new recommended chemicals include: trichloroethylene, chromium trioxide, the acids derived from chromium trioxide and their oligomers, sodium chromate and dichromate, ammonium dichromate, potassium chromate and dichromate, cobalt dichloride, cobalt (II) sulfate, carbonate, dinitrate and diacetate.…
New EU regulations define maximum nitrate levels for foodstuffs
Nitrates occur naturally in plants and they can transform into nitrites and then react with amines and amides to produce N-nitroso compounds. Such compounds have been linked to possible causes of gastric, esophageal, nasopharyngeal, and bladder cancers. Vegetables that are green and leafy, such as lettuce, spinach, and arugula contain higher levels of nitrates than are typical. The nitrogen fertilizers and light intensity used in their cultivation are the main…
FDA defines Maximum Level of DEHP for Bottled Water
Various studies have concluded through exposure assessment analyses that the primary pathway for public exposure to the chemical DEHP is food and drinks. Phthlalates are used in the manufacture of plastics and trace amounts can transfer from contact with a plastic container. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the long-term and chronic exposure to DEHP above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.006 mg/L has the potential to cause…
FDA Steps Up DNA Testing for Fish Species Verification
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the American seafood industry that federal and state regulatory personnel will sample and test premium-priced species of fish, to verify the correct labeling of their products by comparing the DNA sequences of the fish they contain.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the US domestic seafood industry that agency and state regulators will be sampling and testing 100 high…
GMO Update Affects EU Member State Rights
Codex Alimentarius, the international food safety advisory body, defines GMOs as: “genetically engineered/modified organisms and products thereof, produced through techniques in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination”. Consumer groups, the organic food industry and other interest groups have pointed out that the long-term health and environmental effects of GMOs are unknown and potentially irreversible.
Labeling of GMO…
US Food Safety Hazard: Cantaloupe Caused Listeria Food Poisoning
On October 19, 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the presence of strains of listeria in cantaloupe samples taken from Jensen Farms. Currently, there are 33 additional illnesses and 29 deaths reported to be linked to the ongoing outbreak of listeria food poisoning from Colorado-grown cantaloupes.
The bacterium that causes listeriosis, L. monocytogenes, produces varying symptoms depending on a person’s risk factors. Listeriosis normally starts with diarrhea…
SGS Serbia opens New Furniture Capabilities
The global leader in chemical testing and certification services SGS has opened a new furniture laboratory in Serbia in light of increased demand for furniture testing services. The new laboratory opened in Beograd in June 2011.
SGS offers customized solutions to assist manufacturers in ensuring global furniture safety throughout the supply chain from the conceptual design to the delivery of the product in the store.
SGS Serbia has achieved accreditation for tests…
SGS Toy Testing Lab Opens in Indonesia
With the new mandatory toy safety standard (SNI) coming into force in Indonesia in 2012, and increasing market demand for safe toys in Europe and the Americas, SGS Indonesia has opened a new toy testing laboratory for toys.
SGS Indonesia is pleased to announce that it has opened a new testing laboratory for toys with a marketing age range of up to 14+ years. With the regulatory landscape constantly changing, SGS…
New Juvenile Products Lab opened by SGS in Aix En Provence, France
The new facility in France is expected to cater for a wide spectrum of testing requirements within the juvenile products industry, with testing services available so that manufacturers, retailers and importers can meet the quality standards required for trade within the EU. The new SGS laboratory will be able to test high chairs, beds, cradles, playpens and changing tables as per the standards set by EN 14988, EN 716, EN…
SGS helps the Juvenile Products Industry to Protect the Smallest Consumers
The testing of juvenile products is nothing new, but the number and scope of the standards is certainly on the increase. As consumers, children are especially vulnerable. That is why parents and consumer watchdogs want to be confident that all goods purchased are designed and built with young people in mind. As a result, countries around the world have implemented strict product testing standards and guidelines.
In recent years, children’s products…
SGS Suggests to Play it Safe with a Risk Assessment of Toy Products
Costly product returns, recalls and other problems that often occur once a product has already been released on the market can be prevented through careful product design analysis and risk assessment a the earliest stages of product development and throughout the product’s life cycle.
Before lots of time and money is spent developing and manufacturing a toy, it is prudent to carry out a risk assessment to identify potential concerns,…
