Laws and Regulations

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 5-0 on July 20 to approve new third party testing requirements, through a notice of requirements, to ensure the safety of children's toys.

Being a distributor in today's business environment is challenging. But the sales cycle has become even more complex due to the variety of compliance expectations from end-buyer customers.

If passed, The Button Cell Battery Safety Act of 2011, intended "to protect children and other consumers against hazards associated with the accidental ingestion of button cell batteries," could cause manufacturing and product costs to increase.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted in favor of lowering lead limits in children's products to 100 parts-per-million (ppm) on July 13.

With lawmakers still debating the deficit and whether to raise the nation's debt ceiling past $14.29 trillion, the only government sponsored online product safety database is near its end.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) online database, SaferProducts.gov, just launched in March, but the House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill late last month decreasing the Commission's budget and eliminating funding for its online database. The bill, which needs approval of the House and Senate, could be on the House floor as early as the middle of next week, according to Jennifer Hing, communications director of the House Appropriations Committee.

Although the Sunshine Act requires disclosures for grants and other funding of medical research, the majority of payment categories are focused on promotional engagements. A new report from Cutting Edge Information finds that drug manufacturers are feeling the burden of tracking promotional engagements, such as dinner meetings, across their global operations.

"The difference between paying a thought leader for a promotional versus a clinical engagement is that the promotional activities come with greater disclosure requirements," said Elio Evangelista, director of research at Cutting Edge Information.

While the concept behind indemnification agreements is understandable, they fail to address one crucial question: How do indemnification agreements protect the end buyer's brand?

The FDA announced new labeling and testing regulations for sunscreen last week. Leashables by OraLabs and SnugZ USA break down what the new rules mean for distributors and detail how to remain compliant.

The dust hasn't settled on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and its implications for consumer products in the U.S., but there's another consumer product regulation about to take force. Companies who also manufacture, sell or distribute products in Canada will soon need to add the Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) to their compliance considerations.

Taking effect on June 20, 2011, the CCPSA in many ways mirrors the goals and provisions of the CPSIA. But it is not identical. This article highlights a few key differences between the two laws and offers some strategies for companies facing product issues.

Congress may soon change the law that is compelling Facebook to go public in early 2012.

Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Jim Himes (D-CT) are among those who plan to introduce a bill that would amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.