Laws and Regulations

As the government tries to close the tax gap, which is the difference between taxes owed and taxes actually paid, small businesses are being disproportionately targeted with audits and increasingly onerous information reporting requirements.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) thinks Consumers Union would be a fitting replacement for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Paul has attached an amendment to an unrelated bill that would eliminate all funding for the CPSC and six other independent federal agencies.

The Small Business Administration is now receiving public comments on its review of agency regulations and whether to expand, remove or streamline existing rules. U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe wants you to chime in.

Eastman Chemical Co. will no longer manufacture and supply two of its ortho-phthalate plasticizers after a federal ban on six types of phthalates in toys and child-care products went into effect in February 2009.

A proposed rule published Wednesday for comment in The Federal Register by the U.S. Small Business Administration would adjust the size definition of small businesses in professional, scientific and technical services and other services sectors.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is holding a webinar, "Understanding California Proposition 65," on Monday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

PPAI announced its Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.), March 30-31, 2011 in Washington, D.C., where PPAI and its members will share with legislators the merits of promotional products.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is set to launch its database of hazardous products, SaferProducts.gov, on Friday, March 11.

The CPSC has created an award program to identify and honor people and organizations that have made significant contributions to consumer product safety. Who in our industry would you nominate?

Law firm Jones Day answers common questions from manufacturers about the CPSC and the new product database, www.saferproducts.gov.