4 September, 2018, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) notified WTO a plan to ban bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7), dibutyl phthalate (DBP, CAS 84-74-2), and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, CAS 85-68-7) in food contact materials (FCMs) intended for infants and young children. This ban, which aims to protect the environment and human health from animal/plant pest or disease, protect food safety and applies to infant and children products, including food utensils, containers and packages. The ban will come into effect in January 2020 and is currently open for public comment until 3 November, 2018. ...

5 September 2018, ECHA proposed the Commission to include 18 substances in the Authorization List (Annex XIV to REACH). Comments can be given until 5 December 2018. The 18 substances to be included in the authorization list are as follows: 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A; BPA),2-ethylhexyl 10-ethyl-4,4-dioctyl-7-oxo-8-oxa-3,5-dithia-4-stannatetradecanoate (DOTE),Dioxobis(stearato)trilead,Fatty acids, C16-18, lead salts,Trilead dioxide phosphonate,etc. ...

4 September 2018, ECHA published a public consultation on the inclusion of six substances in the list of SVHC with a review deadline of 19 October 2018. The six substances are:2,2-bis(4'-hydroxy phenyl)-4-methylpentane,Benzo[k]fluoranthene,Fluoranthene,Phenanthrene,Pyrene,and Undecafluorohexanoic acid and its ammonium salt. ...

16 August, 2018, the Netherlands RIVM proposed a restriction on the concentration limit of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in granules and mulches used in synthetic turf pitches, or in loose forms at playgrounds and other sports facilities.This regulation is aiming to lower the human health risk for professional football players (including goalkeepers), children playing on the pitches and on playgrounds, as well as workers installing and maintaining the pitches and playgrounds. The proposal suggests a combined concentration limit for the eight PAHs of 17 mg/kg (0.0017 % by weight). ...

29 August，2018，California's legislature has passed a bill AB 2998, banning the use of flame retardants in juvenile products, upholstered furniture and mattresses. Flame retardant has the properties of carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity and endocrine interference. This bill stipulates that from January 1, 2020, manufacturers shall not sell or distribute in commerce in this state any new, not previously owned juvenile products, mattresses, or upholstered furniture that contains covered flame retardant chemicals at levels above 1000 parts per million (1000 ppm). ...

In the beginning of August 2018, San Francisco approved Ordinance No. 201-18 which amends the city’s existing Environmental Code on single-use food ware plastics, toxic chemicals, and litter reduction. This regulation is meant to ban single-use food service ware containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2018. According to the new regulation, single-use articles such as bowls, plates, trays, cups, lids, straws, and utensils, demanding they be "fluorinated chemical free". ...

10 August 2018, Argentina Department of Production and Trade issues a regulation 465/2018 on “Technical regulations applicable to label requirements for all types of footwear”. This regulation shall enter into force on the 180th day following that of its publication in the Argentina Gazette. According to this regulation, the Footwear Labeling should include the following informations: -manufacture country. - Country/import manufacturer name/company name, and unique tax identification code(CUIT). ...

1 August, 2018, European Committee for Standardization (CEN) issues three new standards: EN 16779-1:2018 for children's cot duvets, EN 16780:2018 for children's cot bumpers and EN 16781:2018 for children's sleep bags. 1.EN 16779-1:2018: Textile child care articles - Safety requirements and test methods for children's cot duvets - Part 1: Duvet (excluding duvet covers).2.EN 16780:2018: Textile child care articles - Safety requirements and test methods for children's cot bumpers.3.EN 16781:2018: Textile child care articles - Safety requirements and test methods for children's sleep bags for use in a cot ...

24 July 2018, New York issues a bill to ban BPA substitution chemicals in children's products. This bill has been submitted to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. It will expand existing legislation to ban the sale of bisphenol-containing child care products. The new bill shall take into effect on 31 December, 2019. The draft amendment expands the ban on bisphenol alternatives, including bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol Z (BPZ), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol AP (BPAP) and bisphenol B (BPB). Studies shows that all these six bisphenol alternatives are mimic estrogen in breast cancer cells, and three of them are more so than BPA itself. ...

13 June 2018， CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation) releases a revised standard of the Safety of toys - Part 3: Migration of certain elements- EN 71-3:2013 + A3:2018.This standard is expected to take effect on 31 December 2018. This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for the migration of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium (III), chromium (VI), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organic tin and zinc from toy materials and from parts of toys. ...