Consumer Products Safety Council

In the USA, the toy industry has decided not to disclose what chemicals are used in its products - a move which is against the hopes of Environmental Defense of New York, a group who believes that companies should disclose this information so that the public can make informed choices. Details of the debate are recorded here. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE TOY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION US,CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION US,ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY MATTEL INC. HASBRO INC. LEGO SYSTEMS INC. AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL US,GOVERNMENT TOY MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA INC. 

The EU Risk Assessment ( Council Regulation [EEC] 793/93 of 23 March 1993 )39 is well recognized as being the leading independent, transparent, and science-based system for assessing chemicals and substances in everyday use.40 The Consumer Products Safety Quality (CPS Q) Unit, formerly known as European Chemicals Bureau (ECB), is part of the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP), which is one of the seven scientific institutes in the European Commission s Joint Research Center (JRC).41 The CPS Q is responsible for managing the risk assessment process. As will be discussed in further detail in Section 22.2.2.4.4, the EU Risk Assessment process was revoked on June 1, 2008 and replaced by the REACH Directive. 

Quantitative risk assessments have been performed on a variety of flame-retardants used both in upholstered furniture fabric and foam. The National Research Council performed a quantitative risk assessment on 16 chemicals (or chemical classes) identified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The results were published in 2000.88 The 16 flame-retardants included in this NRC study were HBCD, deca-BDE, alumina trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, zinc borate, calcium and zinc molybdates, antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide and sodium antimonate, ammonium polyphosphates, phosphonic acid, (3- [hydroxymethyl]amino -3-oxopropyl)-dimethylester, organic phosphonates, tris (monochloropropyl) phosphate, tris (l,3-dichloropropyl-2) phosphate, aromatic phosphate plasticisers, tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) hydronium salts, and chlorinated paraffins. The conclusions of the assessment was that the following flame-retardants can be used on residential furniture with minimal risk, even under worst-case assumptions ... 

NAS/NRC. 1980. Formaldehyde An assessment of its health effects. Committee on Toxicology, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC. AD A 087 854, NAS/ACT/P-881A. 

Council of State Science Supervisors (1984) School Science Laboratories A Guide to Some Hazardous Substances, US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Available at http //www.p2pays.org/ref/26/25699.pdf. 

Note Abbreviations of enforcing agencies EPA, Environmental Protection Agency CEQ, Council fa-Environmental Quality (now Office of Environmental Policy) OSHA, Occupational Safely and Health Administration FDA, Food and Drug Administeation CPSC, Consumer Product Safety Commission DOT, Department of Transportation. 

UL s consumer advisory council was formed to advise LJL in establishing levels of safety for consumer products to provide UL with additional user field experience and failure information in the field of product safety, and to aid in educating the general public in the limitations and safe use of specific consumer products. 

European Council directive 88/378/EEC, general directive for EU toy sales current regulations include the EN 71-3 toy safety directive for Pb in painted surfaces Directive 2002/95/ EC is for a limit in electronic toys and consumer products 1988 to recent amendments Pb in paints on surfaces of toys is held to a minimum of 90 ppm as Pb for paint on toys and 100 ppm in electronic toys... 

It also appears that traditional forms of food processing may not be as safe as expected. The example of the formation of acrylamide in different heat-processed foods may be cited (see Chapter 13 of this volume). However, there are no incontrovertible answers to the questions is acrylamide in food harmful for consumers , and what is the average intake The American Council on Science and Health states that there is no credible evidence that acrylamide in foods poses human cancer risk. New Zealand food safety experts, using a no observable adverse effect level for acrylamide of 0.1 mg per kg bodyweight, also estimate that people eating fried potatos and crisps (products suspected to contain the largest amounts of acrylamide) are a very low risk of cancer from this source. European Union experts decided that the risk of exposure to polyacrylamide in food remains undetermined (Sharp, 2003). 

In view of these findings, FDA has placed no restriction on the commercial use of milk and meat from cows treated with rBST. In contrast, the European Union has opposed the use of this hormone, thus complicating the trade of dairy products with the United States. Council Decision 94/936/EC states that rBST is an issue that gives rise to considerable interest among consumers, agricultural, and industry interests. In this context, concerns have been expressed about the safety to humans, animals, and the environment the quality of milk the economic and social consequences in agriculture the climate for research and development, industrial competitiveness, and trade implications. 

The provisions may be related to concentration limits for the substance in a preparation or a product (e.g. emission limit for nickel in jewellery). There are also requirements for specific labelling and other safety measures (e.g. asbestos). A special mechanism for risk reduction in the Directive, that links the directive with Council Directive 67/548/EEC is provid by the 14th amendment in 1994. This Mlows substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (category 1 and 2) to be banned for consumer use. 

Council Directive 93/35/EEC of June H, 1993 is the 6 amendment of the Cosmetics Directive which has been issued in an updated version as of August 1993. The 6 " amendment is designed to protect consumer health from adverse effects of cosmetic substances or preparations. It demands for product information by listing and labeling of ingredients and product function and for dossiers regarding composition, manufacturing process, claimes efficacy and safety. 

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