Press Releases from SGS (486 total)
EU Restricts PFOA and Related Substances under REACH
The European Union (EU) has published measures to regulate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and related substances. This new law, published on June 14, 2017…
Australia Introduces New Standard for Dummies and Dummy Chains
Australia has introduced new requirements for babies’ dummies/soothers and dummy/soother chains. The new regulations were published on May 8, 2017, as the Australian Consumer Goods…
Turkey Issues Proposals to Regulate Food Contact Materials and Articles
Turkey has announced its intention to regulate food contact materials and articles. As part of this plan, it will establish 17 categories of food contact…
U.S. CPSC Issues Proposals to Create a New Safety Standard for Booster Seats
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued proposals to establish a safety standard for booster seats. In addition, the CPSC has opened a…
Algeria Announces New Regulations on Food Contact Materials and Articles
Algeria has published regulations for fourteen categories of food contact materials and articles. These are described in Article 8 of the Executive Decree as:
1. Adhesives
2. Ceramics
3. Elastomers and…
Hong Kong Updates List of Safety Standards for Toys and Children’s Products
Hong Kong has published an updated list of safety standards for some categories of toys and children’s products under the scope of the Toys and…
Why the Modern Artworld Needs Independent Condition Reporting: a Speech to Deleg …
Yan Walther, SGS’s art expert, spoke to attendees at the opening of China’s biggest cultural fair – the ICIF. Taking place at the Artron Art…
New European Restrictions on BPA Migration Limits in Certain Toys
The European Union (EU) has published new restrictions on the permissible migration limits of bisphenol A (BPA) in toys intended for children under the age…
Harmonization of Product Standards in Brazil
Published in May 2016, Ordinance 252 complements Brazil’s main regulation for ‘General Requirements for Product Certification’ - Ordinance 118. First published in 2011, these regulations…
China Amends Quality Standard for Knitted Sweater Workmanship
The People’s Republic of China has amended its standard for knitted sweater workmanship – FZ/T 73010-2016. Approved and issued by the Ministry of Industry and…
Algeria Introduces New Regulations for Childcare Articles
Algeria’s new technical regulations for childcare articles came into effect on May 27, 2017. Originally published in November 2016 as Interministerial Order of July 11,…
Australia Updates Standards for Children’s Nightwear
Australia has made several changes to the standards relating to children’s nightwear. Announced by the Minister for Small Business, in April 2017, they have:
• Updated the…
Europe Updates Standard for Identifying Aromatic Amines Derived from Azo Coloran …
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has published updates for the methods used to determine the presence of restricted aromatic amines derived from azo colorants…
China Turns GB 28011 – Shanks for Footwear – into Voluntary Standard
China’s State Council has re-designated National Standard GB 28011-2011 – Shanks for Footwear – as a voluntary standard, having previously been mandatory. Following this change,…
Malaysia Updates Regulations for Food Contact Ceramics
The Government of Malaysia introduced several changes to the regulations controlling food contact ceramics in April 2017.
On April 3, 2017, Malaysia published Food (Amendment)…
SGS Expertize Helps to Minimize Import Refusals
Every day, in most countries of the world, food products are refused entry - often because of paperwork, food safety and adulteration issues. These refusals…
EU Alters Requirements for Cosmetic Dyes Used on Hair and Eyelashes
The European Commission (EC) has amended Annex III to Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, altering the regulations relating to cosmetic dyes for hair and eyelashes. The EC…
Further Restrictions on Benzophenone-3 Levels in Cosmetic Products for EU Countr …
The European Commission (EC) has reduced the permissible limits for 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone/Oxybenzone, commonly known as Benzophenone-3, in cosmetic sunscreen products.
From September 3, 2017, cosmetic sunscreen…
SGS Sponsors the Longwall USA 2017 Conference
SGS will sponsor the Longwall USA conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 13-15, 2017. This biennial event – the brainchild of mining and mineral processing…
SGS Exhibits at AAMI Healthcare Technology Conference 2017
SGS will be exhibiting at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) conference in Austin, Texas, USA on June 9-12, 2017. Robert Burek,…
Compliance in Healthcare Technology at SGS’s Second Annual Compliance Symposiu …
SGS has announced a list of impressive guest speakers and informative sessions for its 2017 Compliance Symposium in Georgia, USA. Entitled ‘Building Trust and Improving…
Japan Amends Regulations on Labeling for Some Textile Products
The Government of Japan has recently published revisions to the enforcement regulations contained within the Household Goods Quality Labeling Act. These include:
• Washing care labeling for…
Deca-BDE and HBCD/HBCDD Added to Priority Chemicals List in US state of Maine
The US state of Maine has adopted proposals, originally issued in October 2016, to designate two new flame retardants as Priority Chemicals (PCs).
The two substances…
New Standards Added to Malaysia Toy Safety Regulations
In October 2016, Malaysia updated its Toy Safety Regulations to include some editorial changes to Schedule 2, designed to clarify terminology, and expand the list…
EU Adds Nickel to Restricted List and Strengthens Chemical Safety Under Food Con …
The European Union (EU) has published several changes to the ‘Food Contact Plastics’ Regulation. Issued on April 29, 2017, Regulation (EU) 2017/752 adds:
• A completely new…
Phenol Restricted Under European Toy Safety Directive
The European Union (EU) has published new restrictions on the use of phenol (CAS 108-95-2) in toys falling under Appendix C of Annex II in…
China Introduces Measures to Evaluate Compliance with Labor Laws
From January 1, 2017, all employers in China are subject to a new set of measures designed to evaluate their compliance with the laws, regulations…
Industrial Monitoring and Control Instruments in Scope of the RoHS Directive fro …
For industrial monitoring and control instruments, the transition period for compliance with Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU, ends on July 22, 2017. RoHS…
Canada Begins Mandatory Survey of 1500 substances for 2017 Inventory Update
As part of the 2017 Inventory Update (IU), the Government of Canada has issued a Notice under Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,…
EU Tightens Restrictions on Lead in Toys
The European Union (EU) has tightened restrictions on lead migration for all three of the toy material categories by a factor of approximately seven.…
Priscille Galceran, global furniture expert at SGS, delivered a speech promoting …
Priscille Galceran, global furniture expert at SGS, spoke at the Vietnam Wood & Furniture Summit 2017 (VFIS 2017), in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her…
SGS Helps Companies Avoid Non-Compliant Labeling In USA
Correct labeling allows manufacturers and importers to legally sell their products in the USA and/or internationally. For importers it can also avoid delays at the…
China Proposes General Restrictions on Hazardous Chemicals in Consumer Products
The Chinese National Consumer Product Safety Standardization Technical Commission has recently concluded a 19-day public consultation on a proposal including 103 chemical restrictions in a…
IEC Publishes Test Standards for Hexavalent Chromium and Phthalates in Polymers …
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has published two new test standards for hazardous substances in electrical and electronic (EE) equipment.
Published on March 28, 2017,…
California Prop 65 Settlement Requires Strict Reformulation for Cadmium in Neckl …
A new California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) settlement agreement has been reached concerning the use of cadmium in necklaces. Agreed in March 2017, the settlement…
MOST Approves SGS Laboratory for Vietnam’s Toy Safety Certification
SGS’s ISO 17025 accredited laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City has been approved to conduct safety certification on toys destined for the Vietnamese market. Already…
Turkey Amends Toy Safety Regulations and Introduces Restrictions on Certain Chem …
Turkey has amended its Toy Safety Regulations to allow the use of nickel in certain toy applications, add restrictions on several additional substances, and recognize…
EU RAPEX Annual Report Highlights Dangerous Products Sold Online
The European Commission (EC) has released the 2016 edition of the Rapid Alert System (RAPEX) Annual Report. The latest version draws attention to the problem…
SGS Ensures Composite Wood Products Comply With New Formaldehyde Emission Standa …
With new standards regarding formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products coming into force in the US and Europe, manufacturers are turning to SGS to help…
U.S. CPSC Proposes Safety Standard for Infant Inclined Sleep Products
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a proposal for a new federal regulation: 16 CFR 1236 Safety Standard for Infant Inclined Sleep…
SGS Launches Service to Analyze Microfiber Release from Synthetic Garments
SGS has announced the introduction of a new testing service to assess the amount of microfibers released by garments during normal domestic laundering. Developed by…
SGS Acquisition of IPS Expands Services For Personal Care Manufacturers
The SGS acquisition of IPS means that the company can now support personal care manufacturers in product development and quality control. The lab’s expertise in…
SGS Offers Guidance On Revised US Toy Safety Standard (ASTM F963-16)
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has published a revision to US toy safety standard ASTM F963. Now known as ASTM F963-16, it…
US CPSC Approves Final Rule for Infant Bath Tubs Safety Standard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved its final rule for an Infant Bath Tubs safety standard with a unanimous vote of 5-0.…
Prop 65 Settlements Reached on DINP in Consumer Products
Several California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) settlements have recently been agreed on a variety of consumer products. These agreements require the reformulation of diisononyl phthalate…
Gulf Countries Introduce Mandatory Conformity Tracking Symbol for Electronic and …
On April 1, 2017, the Gulf Conformity Tracking Symbol (GCTS) became mandatory for electronic and electrical (EE) products being marketed in the Gulf region. Manufacturers…
Minnesota Proposes Regulation to Report Priority Chemicals in Children’s Produ …
The US State of Minnesota has introduced a proposal requiring the disclosure of priority chemicals (PCs) in children’s products.
Currently, Minnesota has no regulatory power…
New Restricted Substances List Published by AAFA
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), has released the eighteenth edition of its Restricted Substances List (RSL). The list covers twelve categories and more…
US States Introduce Bills to Restrict Flame Retardants in Consumer Products
Since the beginning of 2017, several US states have introduced bills pertaining to the restriction of flame retardants in textiles, children’s products and upholstered furniture.…
ECHA Proposes Restriction to Lead in PVC Under REACH
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is calling for a restriction on lead compounds in articles containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). If the proposal is accepted, it…
