CONSUMER COMPACT THE CONSUMER PRODUCT PUBLICATION THAT KEEPS YOU INFORMED

FOOD SAFETY IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON

ENSURE SAFE LEARNING WITH ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC TOY TESTING

ENJOY THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH PROPERLY TESTED CONSUMER ITEMS

A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT CLOTHING AND APPAREL FOR THE HOLIDAYS

OCTOBER 2015

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS SAFE FOR THE HOLIDAYS?

DEAR READER,

PAGE 2EDITORIAL

Happy customers are returning customers. Your brand reputation is never at stake as much as during the holidays season. If your product is intended as a gift and proves to be of low quality or even a safety risk for the gift recipient, you are damaging not only your reputation, but also that of the retailer and of the consumer that purchased your product as a gift. Ultimately, it is the manufacturer who bears the blame for a faulty product and therefore, it is critical for that manufacturers re-evaluate and improve their product safety processes before the holiday season rush.

The newest Consumer Compact focuses on the importance of a continuous commitment to product safety, especially when it comes to products destined to bring joy in consumer’s lives at a special time of the year. Find out how to improve the safety and performance of products typically sold during the holiday season and see why it’s important to increase vigilance and hygiene during the production of foodstuffs destined for festive meals. Don’t miss out on further safety tips for cosmetics, toys and electronics and be sure to take a quick look inside the SGS product safety labs in Turkey.

For the complete range of SGS services and support visit: www.sgs.com/cgnr.

The SGS Consumer Goods and Retail Marketing Team

IN THIS ISSUE

INDUSTRY NEWSSOFTLINESJourney Through Product Safety - A Behind the Scenes Look at Clothing and Apparel for the Holidays - read article Page 3

FOODFood Safety in the Holiday Season - read article Page 6

HARDGOODSEnjoy the Festive Season with Properly Tested Consumer Items - read article Page 8

TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTSAsbestos in Children’s Products Increases Calls for Legislation in the USA - read article Page 10Ensure Safe Learning with Electrical and Electronic Toy Testing - read article Page 12

COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLDBuild Consumer Trust in Truly Natural and Organic Cosmetics with NATRUE Certification - read article Page 14

ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICSThe Power of Wearable Technology - read article Page 16Improving Road Safety with Safe Variable Message Signs - read article Page 18Make It Right the First Time and Consistent Every Time - read article Page 20

CONSUMER GOODSSeasonal Products and The Risk of Exploitation - read article Page 23

SGS IN THE NEWS, SGS EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONSFocus on SGS Labs - a close look at SGS state-of-the-art testing facilities Page 24

SGS In The News & Product Recalls - new services, accreditations, updates Page 25

Trade Shows and White Papers - meet the SGS experts Page 26

SafeGuards - information on new standards, regulations and test methods Page 27

Publications & Subscriptions - stay on top of all new market developments Page 28

CONNECT WITH SGS Page 29

JOURNEY THROUGH PRODUCT SAFETY - A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT CLOTHING AND APPAREL FOR THE HOLIDAYS

PAGE 3INDUSTRY NEWS - SOFTLINES

It’s that time of the year when many of us choose to take our annual holidays. Some will choose to spend their time relaxing by a pool or on the beach whilst others may opt to participate in more active pursuits. Whether it’s a new carry-on bag or a suitcase for that special trip abroad or just new flip-flops for the time by the pool, a holiday is often the only excuse needed to indulge in retail therapy. How many of us give thought to the considerations made to ensure that the products are fit for purpose and safe for the consumer to use? In this article we are going to consider a few of the safety aspects of some main leather and footwear articles that we come into contact with during an imaginary holiday.

THE PREPARATION

Before we get to our holiday destination, much preparation will go into deciding what to take and ensuring all the items will fit in our luggage. Most airlines have very strict weight limits for both carry on and checked luggage. Budget airlines, especially, have limited weight allowances with passengers having to pay a premium for taking overweight luggage. As a result, many passengers are opting to maximise how much they place in hand luggage. This may place high levels of strain on critical parts of the bag.

One safety critical test recommended for all bags is handle attachment strength. Whilst small bags may often be only tested to approximately 10kg of weight, medium and larger bags should have been tested to 15kg and 20kg respectively which should be sufficient for all but the most extreme of hand luggage limits.

In addition, stuffing the hand luggage full of items places stresses and strains on other parts of the bag, especially closure systems such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners and press studs as well as many functional seams within the bag. For these reasons, performance specifications have specific tests which ensure the bag will withstand extensive usage.

THE DEPARTURE

Once the bags have been filled with items we think we will need for the holiday, we are ready to leave for the airport. Even before we’ve arrived at the holiday destination, there are many touch points where leather safety is critical. Leather seats in your car, the airport and especially on the plane have all gone through extensive product testing and assessments to ensure safety.

In addition to the high level physical testing required for car seats to last 10 years, they have to have sufficient grip to ensure that a driver or a passenger does not suffer from ‘submarining’ (sliding excessively forward and underneath the view of the windscreen) during rapid braking. This grip has to be balanced with sufficient ability for the user to move comfortably on the seat during transport.

PAGE 4INDUSTRY NEWS - SOFTLINES

At the airport, seating materials were tested for high level flammability resistance. In public seating areas, it is critical that seats can resist rapid flame spread to enable timely escape from the area of fire and for the emergency services to deal with the issue.

As you move to the plane you may notice that leather is a popular choice for airlines. Leather has been shown to have a lower cost of ownership than corresponding fabric upholstery. In the closed environment of a plane cabin, these materials must have the highest levels of flammability resistance to give passengers the highest opportunity to escape. In fact, the test is so extreme that burning liquid kerosene is sprayed

onto a test seat to assess the level of burning and flame spread. Leather panels on sidewalls and vertical panels also must resist the development of high levels of smoke and heat generation during burning. All of these considerations will have been included in the risk analysis of leather seating for different applications.

THE ARRIVAL

Once we’ve arrived at our destination, it is likely that we visit the pool or beach first and start to relax. For most of us the footwear choice are casual beach footwear or flip-flops / pool slides as these are convenient and are designed for extreme wet conditions.

Irrespective of the low price point for flip flops, much safety and risk assessment will have gone into ensuring that they can be safely worn. A principle safety test for all footwear and especially for those worn in slippery environments such as wet areas around swimming pools, is the so called slip resistance test.

This test is designed to mimic the action of walking and measures the level of grip between the sole of the footwear and the ground. As holiday environments will often have wet flooring, the test also assesses grip on both dry and wet surfaces such as clay tiles and assesses grip in the heel and toe area of the footwear.

With the simple strap or toe post on flip flops, it is vital that the flip flop does

PAGE 5INDUSTRY NEWS - SOFTLINES

not break during wear and thereby cause injury. Depending on the style of footwear, both of these characteristics can be assessed to ensure suitability.

These examples serve to show how a risk analysis must be done and how the product will be exposed. In addition to these safety issues, the product technologist should also have assessed the risk of extreme environments such as sea water and chlorinated pool water on the colour fastness of the product. Consumers expect even low priced point products to perform and not prematurely age.

THE NIGHT OUT

After a relaxing day by the pool thoughts usually turn to the evening meal and perhaps a night out. Holidays often represent a great opportunity to dress up.

For women’s footwear, the presence of medium to high heels brings its own level of safety concerns to the product design. The stability of the heel, their resistance to repeated knocking and strength of attachment are all aspects that must be rigorously assessed before the shoe can be sold. The heel must be

able to carry the weight of the user and be able to withstand walking and even vigorous dancing. Any damage or heel breakage is likely to result in serious injury to the wearer.

POST HOLIDAY AND BACK TO SCHOOL

After returning from holiday many parents will be preparing for the children returning to school. In addition to the safety critical performance of footwear including slip resistance and strength of embellishment attachment, many children’s footwear include design elements such as in-built lighting systems, for example, areas of the footwear which light up during wear.

This relatively simple addition to the footwear results in additional performance requirements and the need to conform to certain directives.

SUMMARY

This walk through an imaginary holiday serves to highlight just some of the many considerations that must be given to any item of footwear or bags before they can be sold. It is the role of the technologist to ensure that reasonable consideration is given and that the product performs appropriately.

SGS has specific and extensive knowledge in all areas of consumer products and is able to offer expert advice and support on leather products and footwear. Contact your local SGS account manager for further information.

Andrew HudsonGlobal Technical Manager (Leather and Footwear)SGS United Kingdom Limitedandrew.hudson@sgs.comt: +44 7841 566777

SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 6INDUSTRY NEWS - FOOD

FOOD SAFETY IN THE HOLIDAY SEASONAs 2015 draws to a close, religious festivals and celebrations abound. From Halloween and Thanksgiving, to Christmas and New Year, the scope for food safety failures increases significantly.

Hot, cold, pre-cooked and unpasteurised foods all present a potential risk to consumers, especially the elderly,

children under five and pregnant women.

TUCKING IN TO TURKEY

Families at both Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations will often tuck

in to a special dinner including roast turkey. Campylobacter and salmonella pathogens are commonly found on raw poultry. At this time of year, food poisoning cases typically increase as consumers cooking at home, and even commercial restaurants are unfamiliar with best practice and cooking times for this large bird with dense meat.

In the UK, campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning. Out of an average 280,000 cases of food poisoning each year, it is responsible for 72,000 of them1. In the USA, this festive season sees an increase in salmonella poisoning, a pathogen that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates as the cause of 1.2 million cases of food poisoning annually, including some 450 deaths2.

Food processors and manufacturers in the USA need to ensure they comply with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) standard for salmonella and campylobacter pathogen reduction3. Retail and hospitality outlets need to ensure compliance to the latest addition of the Food Code along with local, county and state specific requirements.

MILK AND CHEESES

Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a serious disease for pregnant women, newborns, and adults with a weakened immune system. This type of listeria is a life-threatening bacterium commonly found in raw animal products such as milk, eggnog and unpasteurised cheeses such as brie and roquefort.

E. Coli, estimated to cause 73,000 cases of food poisoning annually, is found in a variety of raw and unpasteurised beverages, such as eggnog and apple cider, as well as raw milk and unpasteurised juices.

During the holiday season, consumption of these raw foods soar, presenting an increased risk to consumers whether they are dining out, attending parties or eating at home.

1 Food Standards Agency - Campylobacter2 CDC - What is Salmonellosis?3 CDC - Pathogen Reduction – Salmonella and Campylobacter Performance Standards Verification Testing

PAGE 7INDUSTRY NEWS - FOOD

SHELLFISH AND SEAFOOD

Particular attention should be paid to the preparation of seafood and shellfish products. Often served raw or lightly preserved (oysters, carpaccio, gravlax, sashimi) there is limited scope for the consumer to mitigate or reduce the risk of food poisoning caused by pathogens. Processors and operators must implement rigorous food safety standards and optimise food-testing programmes to identify risk before products reach the end-retailer.

Seafood is particularly prone to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes and Vibrio vulnificus – neither is pleasant for victims and both are potentially very dangerous to vulnerable consumers.

ANIMAL PROTEINS

At any time of year, food derived from animal proteins has the potential to cause debilitating food poisoning. Deaths are thankfully rare, but there are plenty of examples of poor food hygiene and preparation, resulting in mass outbreaks of food poisoning, damaging the businesses and brands who supplied the products, and ruining the holiday season for consumers unlucky enough to fall ill.

FOOD SAFETY FAILURE

In the UK, on Christmas Day 2012, 128 diners enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner at a public house. 33 diners fell ill and 1 died as a direct result of the presence of Clostridium perfringens bacteria. In January 2015, following investigation and prosecution, the venue chef and manager were jailed for 12 and 18

months respectively, for their part in the falsification of food safety records following the incident4.

Avoid the pitfalls of the holiday season, both personally and in business. Ensure your food safety strategies, plans and systems are rigorously implemented – if they’re found to be lacking, the business is still culpable, so instigate a programme of continuous monitoring and improvement to ensure any gaps are identified and rectified promptly.

For more information, please visit: www.sgs.com/foodsafety.

Jim CookFood Scientific and Regulatory Affairs ManagerSGS North America, Inc.james.cook@sgs.comt +1 973 461 1493

4 BBC News - Pub Christmas dinner death: Chef and manager jailed

SGS Agriculture & Food

PAGE 8INDUSTRY NEWS - HARDLINES

ENJOY THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH PROPERLY TESTED CONSUMER ITEMSDon’t let consumer safety issues spoil the festive season. Increased consumer spending means more sales, but also increased pressure to deliver attractive, affordable products in a very short space of time. Effective product testing (safety, quality, reliability) helps to ensure consumer safety and minimise your risk of product failure, or recall. We look at some popular categories.

FOOD CONTACT RELATED PARTY ITEMS

As the holiday season approaches, we are reaching the time of year when people have gatherings with their friends and family. Party items such as disposable cutlery, cups and plates that will come into contact with food must comply with specific US regulations and standards in order to be labelled safe for use.

In the US, different food contact materials need to comply with specific requirements from the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), as set out in 21 CFR, parts 175 to 179. Some of these requirements include testing for residual styrene monomers if the item is made out of Polystyrene

(PS). Another example is the testing of Polyethylene (PE), to determine the extractable fraction in n-Lexane and the soluble fraction in Xylene, for compliance with the FDA regulations, before a food contact item can be sold in the US.

SUNGLASSES: MORE THAN JUST A FASHION STATEMENT

Sunglasses have been around since the days of ancient China and Rome. However, it is only as recently as the early twentieth century that protection from the sun’s rays rather than from just glare gained significance.

During the summer season, outdoor activities generally increase your eyes’ exposure to the sun. Without proper protection, over-exposure can cause damage to the eye’s lens and retina, decreasing visual sharpness as well as substantially increasing the risk of cataract formation. Similarly, in winter sunshine on snowy surfaces can create an increase in UV radiation exposure that may cause damage to the eyes.

Technological advances have allowed designers and manufacturers to be creative and produce different types of frames and lenses to suit many styles

PAGE 9INDUSTRY NEWS - HARDLINES

and purposes. However, manufacturers must ensure that their products comply with all relevant national regulations imposed by individual governing bodies. For the US market, ANZI Z80.3 and 21 CFR 801.410 are the applicable safety standards that must be considered. Correct labelling for appropriate intended must also be verified before glasses may be placed on the market, so that the end-user is fully aware of when and where not to use the sunglasses. Typically, this refers to sunglasses with tinted lenses that are appropriate for driving, or not.

WATCHES, FASHION, OR CONTEMPORARY

USE: MORE THAN TIME KEEPING

The wristwatches that we now use have come a long way since their introduction in the late 19th and early 20th century, from mechanical to electronic movements and analogue to digital displays.

Wristwatches are often appreciated as jewellery, or as collectible works, rather than just timepieces. Hence the functionality of watches has expanded. No longer is a watch limited to telling the time. Today, a watch can double as an alarm clock, a stopwatch (chronograph), or even a calculator. More recently, technology has lead to the development of the smartphone watch.

With state-of-the-art equipment, SGS can conduct various tests on new and current wristwatches to ensure the accuracy of time keeping and quality of manufacture, as well as performance testing to confirm overall product quality.

More details of SGS capabilities are detailed in the table above

For enquiries, kindly contact:hk.hg.enquiry@sgs.com

* SGS Hong Kong Limited is HOKLAS accredited** Performance testing

TESTS STANDARD FOR US MARKET

Sharp Points and Edges* 16 CFR 1500.48 16 CFR 1500.49 (MOD)

Lead in Substrate

Reference to ASTM F2999 Nickel Release

Cadmium

Corrosion Test** ASTM B117 (MOD)

Cross-Cut Adhesion Test** ASTM D3359 Method B

Water Resistance** ISO 22810

Abrasion Test** ISO 23160

SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 10INDUSTRY NEWS - TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS

ASBESTOS IN CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS INCREASES CALLS FOR LEGISLATION IN THE USAReport calls for asbestos regulation in consumer goods after its fibres were found in crayons and toy crime lab kits in the USA. Learn about the issues, regulations and solutions relating to asbestos in children’s products.

The issue of asbestos in children’s products has come to the forefront in recent weeks following the release of a report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Action Fund announcing the presence of this carcinogenic chemical in a number of crayons and toy crime lab kits bought from retail chains in the United States, or through online retailers.

Samples tested by a government-certified laboratory and found to contain asbestos were subsequently verified by a second government-certified laboratory. These findings come 15 years after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was alerted to the presence of asbestos in crayons, and

some 8 years after asbestos was found in the fingerprint powder of a crime scene kit. In response to the findings in 2000, the CPSC conducted its own tests but did not enact legislation.

According to the EWG report, the crayons and toy crime lab kits that contained asbestos were manufactured in China before importation to the US. It was unclear whether the US companies were responsible for manufacturing the products, or whether the use of their trademarks was licensed. The asbestos found in the tested products was most likely a contaminant in talc, used as a binding agent in the crayons and the powders in the crime scene fingerprint kits.

The EWG report calls for US federal agencies to set rules for asbestos in consumer products:

The CPSC – to ban talc in children’s products, including crayons, chalk and fingerprint kits. These measures should be modelled on rules for lead in children’s products where toys are to be tested and certified to demonstrate compliance

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – to set clear limits on the use of asbestos in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and other products that contain talc

PAGE 11INDUSTRY NEWS - TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND

LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

EUROPEAN UNION Annex XVII, REACH – asbestos is

prohibited

European Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD) – asbestos is a carcinogenic, category 1A substance under Regulation 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulation) and is prohibited in toys

US FEDERAL: CONGRESS

In March 2015, Senate Bill S.700 (companion bill H.R. 2030) ‘Reducing Exposure to Asbestos Database Act of 2015’ (READ ACT) was introduced to amend the Asbestos Information Act of 1988. The bill would establish a public database for products containing asbestos and to require public disclosure of these products.

US STATE: CONNECTICUTKnown as the ‘State Child Protection Act’, the law prohibits asbestos in toys or other articles for children under the age of 16.

US STATE: CALIFORNIAProposition 65, better known as Prop 65, is the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’. Since February 1988, businesses have been required to provide a clear and reasonable warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to asbestos. Since this enforcement, there have been documented settlements for asbestos in crayons.

METHODS FOR ANALYZING ASBESTOS

The following methods quantify the amount of asbestos in an item:

ISO 22262-1 or NYS ELAP 198.6: uses the polarised light microscopy (PLM) and dispersion staining techniques

NIOSH 9000: uses the X-ray powder diffraction technique

NYS ELAP 198.4/Chatfield: performed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) utilising selective area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA)

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring mineral fibres and is often found in mines alongside talc deposits. Classified as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), its individual fibres are invisible to the naked eye.

When materials containing asbestos are damaged or disturbed, fibres are released into the atmosphere. When asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can accumulate and may become trapped in lungs. If swallowed, they can become embedded in the digestive system.

Over time, ingested asbestos fibres can cause lung and other forms of cancer.

ASBESTOS: PROPERTIES AND HAZARDS

SGS TESTING SOLUTIONS

SGS has a full range of services to assist you, whether you need to check products against legislative standards, retailer requests, or for your own peace of mind and brand protection.

Our asbestos testing solutions can be customised to suit your needs and budget. We will help you to understand the options that best meet your requirements, and provide a range of services to ensure your products are safe for your chosen markets.

For more information on asbestos solutions contact your local SGS representative or email our global team consumer.products@sgs.com.

Fred Mills-WinklerTechnical Director, ToysSGS North America, Inc.fred.millswinkler@sgs.comt +1 973 575 5252 ext. 22038 SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

EMC DIRECTIVE 2004/108/EC

The Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2004/108/EC has been revised and superseded by the new EMC Directive 2014/30/EU. The new directive applies to all new products, including electronic toys, manufactured and sold within the EU, as well as new and old products manufactured outside the EU, but marketed within it.

All electronic toys must be designed and constructed to ensure that:

Electromagnetic disturbance does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended

They have a level of immunity to electromagnetic disturbances to enable them to operate without unacceptable degradation in the context of the intended use

The standards that apply to toys are EN 55014-1, EN 55014-2 and their amendments.

PAGE 12INDUSTRY NEWS - TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS

ENSURE SAFE LEARNING WITH ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TOY TESTINGElectrical and electronic (EE) toys provide hours of fun for children. Improperly used or badly designed though, they can rapidly turn from a source of fun into a serious hazard.

From early learning to gaming and computing, electrical and electronic toys (EE toys) help children to develop their imagination, language skills and more. Their use should be simple and safe, however, they can become dangerous if not used properly, used without adequate supervision, or if they have faults in their design and/or construction.

Standards and mandatory regulations have been established in major toy markets to reduce the risk of injury from EE toys. In addition to general toy safety, additional regulations address the major electrical, mechanical and thermal hazards of electric toys.

In Europe, toys fall within the scope of multiple standards and directives, even more so for battery and/or mains powered electronic toys (e.g. model railway, electric ride-on toys, computer toys, radio controlled toys, laser LED toys with flashing lights, electronic musical toys).

EU TOY SAFETY DIRECTIVE 2009/48/EC

All toys distributed and marketed in the EU must comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive, which defines the minimum safety requirements for all toys. Annex II, Section IV deals directly with electrical properties, including electrical safety, prevention of electrical hazards and protection against fire hazards, as well as risks arising from electromagnetic compatibility and radiation.

EN 62115: ELECTRIC TOYS – SAFETY

The EN 62115 standard applies a hazard-based approach to toy safety. Covering all aspects of electrical safety in toys EN 62115 has been updated to include requirements for LEDs and lasers in toys, as well as amendment A12, covering risks associated with electromagnetic fields.

To achieve EN 62115 compliance, electric toys must also comply with EN 71-1 (physical and mechanical requirements), EN 71-2 (flammability) and EN 71-3 (migration of certain elements).

PAGE 13INDUSTRY NEWS - TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS

R&TTE DIRECTIVE 2014/53/EU

All radio equipment, and equipment intended to be connected to public telecommunications networks within the EU, falls within the scope of the R&TTE Directive. It establishes a regulatory framework for the marketing and use of radio equipment within the EU.

The R&TTE Directive will be repealed and replaced by the Radio Equipment (RED) Directive 2014/53/EU by 12 June 2016.

ROHS2 DIRECTIVE 2011/65/EU

All toys with an EE function fall within the scope of RoHS2, which restricts the use of hazardous substances. Manufacturers must demonstrate a product’s compliance by creating technical documentation in accordance with both standard EN 50581 and Annex II, Module A of Decision 768/2008/EC.

WEEE DIRECTIVE 2012/19/EU

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive sets out measures to protect the environment and human health and applies to all manufacturers and producers of EE equipment distributed within the EU. Standard EN 50419 details the marking requirements needed to ensure WEEE compliance.

BATTERY DIRECTIVE 2006/66/EC

With a few exceptions, all batteries and accumulators fall within the scope of the Battery Directive, which is intended to minimise the negative impacts of batteries and accumulators, and their waste. It prohibits the marketing of batteries containing some hazardous substances, and sets collection and recycling targets.

SGS SERVICES

We provide a full suite of safety testing, inspection and certification solutions for electrical and electronic toys that help to ensure that your toys meet legal requirements. Our global network of labs means we have the expertise and experience to conduct EE toy testing wherever you, or your manufacturing operations, are based.

For further information visit www.sgs.com/eutoydirective, contact your local SGS office, or email us at consumer.products@sgs.com.

Serge MilonSenior Toy ExpertSGS CTS Franceserge.milon@sgs.comt +33 4 42 61 64 50 SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 14INDUSTRY NEWS - COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD

BUILD CONSUMER TRUST IN TRULY NATURAL AND ORGANIC COSMETICS WITH NATRUE CERTIFICATIONWith its strict criteria, 13 product categories and clearly defined procedures, NATRUE offers industry and consumers a valuable and transparent way to differentiate truly natural and organic cosmetic products from those which only pretend to be so.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF NATRUE TO YOUR CONSUMERS?

NATRUE aims to help consumers identify products that have undergone effective and thorough assessment of their natural/organic status. Unlike its competitors, NATRUE splits cosmetics into 13 very specific categories. To display the NATRUE logo on a range of cosmetic products, at least 75% of all individual products must be NATRUE certified.

Certification of individual products is not allowed in order to avoid greenwashing. This means that consumers can trust that a NATRUE certified product is truly natural/organic and it is not a claim based on just one product in a series.

WHAT DOES NATRUE CONSIDER AN ALLOWABLE INGREDIENT?

Dependent on the type of product and the level of certification, NATRUE clearly defines minimum amounts of natural ingredients and a maximum of derived-natural components in order to obtain a NATRUE license. The NATRUE standard differentiates the following types of ingredients:

NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Unmodified, obtainable only by physical processes or fermentation.

DERIVED NATURAL INGREDIENTS: These may be the result of permitted biotechnological processes or chemical reactions such as hydrolysis, saponification, neutralisation or esterification on exclusively natural ingredients.

NATURE-IDENTICAL INGREDIENTS: The use of nature-identical ingredients, that occur in nature but have been reproduced in a laboratory, is strictly limited to ingredients such as preservatives and pigments that are listed in Annex 2 of the NATRUE criteria.

WHAT ABOUT WATER?

Perhaps surprisingly, water does not fall into any of the above categories. In a scheme designed to focus on the veracity of natural/organic claims the inclusion of water would significantly inflate the proportion of natural content. For that reason it is not included.

THREE CERTIFICATION LEVELS

There are three levels of NATRUE certification:

NATURAL COSMETICS: Natural cosmetics certification, NATRUE’s foundation standard, defines which ingredients are permitted in a product, and how they may be processed. Per product type, there is a guaranteed threshold for natural ingredients and a cut-off level for derived natural substances. Products certified to this level may also contain organic ingredients.

NATURAL COSMETICS WITH AN ORGANIC PORTION: Products in this category must meet natural cosmetics certification requirements. In addition, at least 70% of ingredients must originate from controlled organic production and /or controlled wild collection. This certification standard requires each product to contain higher levels of wholly natural ingredients and correspondingly lower levels of derived natural ingredients.

ORGANIC COSMETICS: In addition to meeting the requirements of both of the above categories, to achieve certification, organic cosmetics must be composed of at least 95% ingredients that originate from controlled organic production and/or controlled wild collection. Compared to the second level, higher levels of natural ingredients and levels of derived natural ingredients are required.

WHAT IS THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS?

NATRUE has a two-phase certification process. Applicants may choose their certification body from NATRUE’s list of Approved Certifiers, of which SGS is one.

The certifier verifies your product formulation’s compliance with the criteria on the basis of documentation provided by the applicant, this must include, amongst other documentation:

Product and brand name

Information about the production site

Quantitative formulation

Raw material documentation including proof of origin, production process, confirmation of no irradiation and non-GMO confirmation

Envisaged export countries

A certifier’s audit, at the production site, must be completed within three months after finalising the document check. It will verify the certified products’ compliance and the complete traceability of the raw materials. Within one year of the audit date, additional products may be certified, without a new production audit.

Certification is valid for two years, after which recertification (following the above

process) is required.

PAGE 15INDUSTRY NEWS - COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD

NATRUE CERTIFICATION SERVICES

SGS is NATRUE’s approved certifier and can help obtain the NATRUE label. SGS can offer product safety testing and ensure compliance to market specific requirements, such as the EU Cosmetics Regulation, US FD&C Act and ASEAN Cosmetics Directive, enabling you to reach wider markets and new customers.

For more information contact your local SGS representative, or our global team consumer.products@sgs.com and visit www.sgs.com/cosmetics.

Dr. Katja TischlerProject Leader Personal & HomecareSGS INSTITUT FRESENIUS Austria GmbHkatja.tischler@sgs.comt +43 5332 77203 19

NATRUE certification is private certification standard. All cosmetics products, NATRUE certified or not, must comply with EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, or other applicable legislation depending on the market where they are placed, ensuring they are safe, effective and efficient without exception.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

PHASE 1: VERIFYING YOUR DOCUMENTATION

PHASE 2: PRODUCTION AUDIT

SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 16INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

THE POWER OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYGo ahead, count how many battery-powered devices are around you right now. We live in a world where we are not only surrounded by electronic devices - they are attached to us, and we are attached to them. We even bundle ourselves up in technology, wearing a heated jacket on a chilly day or when hiking away on our holiday in the mountains. Such wearables are strapped to us, sometimes 24/7, monitoring our heart rate during a walk on the beach, tracking how many calories we have consumed at the all-inclusive buffet, or displaying our latest messages and calls.

Devices can make life easier, and to do so, they need a power source. Lithium-based batteries are the main power source for wearable technology today. Wearable batteries come in different shapes and sizes: clothing with LED lights is usually powered by lithium coin cells that are not rechargeable, while fitness tracking devices use small, rechargeable lithium-ion pouch cells. In contrast, a heated winter jacket requires a larger power source, similar to a laptop battery, because it supplies power to a bigger device and needs to last for longer periods of time.

HOW SAFE IS WEARABLE POWER?

Batteries used in electronics such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones or medical devices are tested against rigorous standards to reduce the risk of fire and explosions, and ensure their safety for consumer use. Some of the testing procedures for batteries include overcharge, forced discharge, short circuit, mechanical durability, and abnormal heating.

Similar safety standards for batteries powering wearable technology are currently unavailable or are not enforced, which leaves the door open

for product failures, and worse - injuries to consumers. The list of potential risks that wearable technology poses to consumers is not a short one: radio frequency exposure, electric shocks, burns and cuts, chemical reactions, fire and explosion. In contrast to their batteries, wearable technology products themselves have to pass various testing procedures and performance evaluations covering product safety, EMC (electromagnetic compatibility), SAR (specific absorption rate), wireless interoperability, hazardous chemicals, sustainability, energy efficiency and privacy and security.

SAFE POWER REQUIRES SMART DESIGN

A heated jacket is a useful product that would keep its owner warm on cold days, while reducing the need to wear a multitude of layers of clothing. However, if the battery powering it should short circuit and not be equipped with relevant safety mechanisms, overheating would occur, potentially causing an explosion or a fire. Depending on the positioning of the battery within the clothing item, the consumer’s ability to notice and react to a battery fire, leak or explosion could be significantly reduced and would increase the risk of injury.

Such hazards to consumers should not be ignored by manufacturers (and retailers) of wearable technology, who need to consider all the risks associated lithium batteries, and make smart product development decisions starting from the design phase. Depending on the type of product developed various use case scenarios need to be considered. What happens if the product gets in contact with water through rain exposure or washing?

Find more info on SGS Battery Testing Services for consumer product batteries.

Jody Leber Battery and Accumulator Global Technical Manager SGS North America, Inc. jody.leber@sgs.comt +1 770.570.1838

PAGE 17INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

What if the product is dropped or is subjected to significant pressure from the human body weight? Or if the product is exposed to sunlight, excessive temperatures or chemical compounds?

The consequences of poor product performance or failure caused by battery issues could lead to the product being returned, but more importantly they could be more dramatic and harmful, such as the heated jacked catching fire while being worn by an unaware consumer. Manufacturers need to consider all these scenarios in addition to current battery standards, and adapt the designs of their wearable tech products to ensure that consumers are never at risk.

The SGS team of battery experts can help you develop a test plan that aligns with your particular product and its intended use. SGS offers cell and battery testing services and teams in Suwanee (Atlanta), GA, USA, Shenzhen, China, Shanghai, China, Munich, Germany and Taipei, Taiwan.SGS experts have extensive experience in the regulatory compliance industry and in the field of renewable energy sources. Several of our specialists are voting members and hold management positions with many different battery standards development bodies.

SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 18INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

also facilitate the VMS’ functioning status reporting capacity, diagnosis and error messaging.

It is exceptionally important for the general population that the messages being displaying are correct and well-timed, otherwise drivers and their passengers might be wrongly redirected, unnecessarily delayed or worse, accidents could occur because of unmarked construction areas or incorrect speed limits being shown.

IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY WITH SAFE VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNSYou are on the road, on your way to spend a relaxing day at the beach or in the mountains when all traffic slowly stops, and the electronic highway signage displays a message about reduced speed limits and road construction ahead. Such complex display systems are known as Variable Message Signs (VMS), and while they are extremely useful in providing information, their accuracy, and consequently their safe functioning is crucial in ensuring a safe flow of traffic, so that everyone can get to their destination safe and sound.

Variable Message Signs (VMS) are used for managing traffic and providing timely information in a variety of scenarios. They are observed from a great distance on highways where they provide lane or tunnel information, or they are implemented to assist with maintaining safe traffic conditions in urban areas. They can also be found at tollgates, customs checkpoints, or inside large parking facilities.

These complex display systems are built with high quality, high luminosity, energy efficient LEDs, which ensure their legibility from long and short distances, and in various lighting conditions such as bright, cloudy or rainy days, as well as at night time. Most VMS also have a built-in operating system which enables data exchange capabilities, and a connection to traffic management systems – this is how the signs can be controlled remotely. Operating systems can/may

PAGE 19INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

TESTING THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

In the EU, governments are ensuring that construction products like VMS systems are safe for the public, by enforcing compliance with Regulation 305/2011 (CPR). For VMS systems this is further specified in the European Standard EN 12966-1 Vertical road signs—Part 1: Variable message signs.

According to the scope of these regulations, VMS systems need to undergo rigorous testing procedures to ensure the integrity of their visual, structural and environmental performance. The process covers two ranges of tests: optical performance, which includes testing for luminance ratio, colour, uniformity; and physical to check correct functioning after exposure to water/dust ingress, vibration, impact, and temperature cycling.

Because of the high costs involved in purchasing (CAPEX), installing and maintaining such systems (OPEX), it is important that they are built with eco-design methods, and that their longevity is taken into account starting from the design phase.

To ensure that people on the road and in environments that use VMSs are safe and bankable globally, manufacturers and employers of VMS systems need to confirm that the systems themselves, data links and control centres have been thoroughly tested and functioning as intended.

INDEPENDENT EXPERTISE FOR YOUR VMS SYSTEMS

SGS’s team of experts in VMS can assist both manufacturers and VMS clients with planning and carrying out validation testing and certification for variable message signs. SGS can also offer guidance with product development to ensure VMS systems are correctly designed right from the start. For more information on VMS-related services please contact:

Jörn BrembachBusiness Development Manager S-BUILT/ E&ESGS INTRON B.V.joern.brembach@sgs.comt +31 622 497 196 SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 20INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

MAKE IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND CONSISTENT EVERY TIME FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION is one of the most important milestones in a product’s journey from concept to manufacture. It is supplementary to product qualification and certification. This inspection is to confirm that the final product, or final pilot run, matches the intended design and is consistent with that tested and/or certified earlier in the process.

NEW PRODUCT QUALIFICATION

To make sure that products meet the buyer’s quality expectations, they undergo a programme of qualification, a pre-production PROTOCOL TESTING programme. This checks whether it meets essential requirements such as safety, compliance and its own functional statement, as well as product/client specific details such as performance and reliability. From basic to top-of-the-range products, the protocol testing programme typically evaluates EE product characteristics including:

Compliance - e.g. EMC, hazardous substances, etc.

Safety - e.g. LVD, etc.

Aesthetics - e.g. defined colour, finishing, ID, etc.

Functional performance - e.g. acoustic performance testing for audio products, etc.

Reliability - e.g. durability, water/dust proof, etc.

Compatibility - e.g. works well with other devices, etc.

Usability – e.g. ease of use, etc.

Serviceability – e.g. ease of repair/upgrade, etc.

Eco-performance – e.g. eco-friendly, etc.

A new product qualification process does not need to address all these elements – the exact list will reflect a product’s positioning in the market and its brand strategy. Depending on the chosen characteristics and outcomes, this process can take just a few weeks, but may take longer if issues are identified and need to be resolved.

CHALLENGE

In reality, inconsistencies often exists, at a certain level, between the pre-production testing samples and the actual products from mass production line. These inconsistencies can be caused by, among others:

Use of non-approved materials/components due to a change in the vendor’s supply chain

Use of different methods between sample making and mass production

Variation in workmanship

Changes to manufacturing method(s)

Differences between the samples used at the product qualification stage

Inconsistencies can cause serious consequences. They can render the product qualification process, and protocol testing pointless. To ensure this does not occur, the process gap must be minimised.

FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION (FAI)

Today, First Article Inspection (FAI) is considered the most effective way to seamlessly connect the product qualification process to the production quality management process. As a result, FAI has been widely adopted by most leading EE manufacturers, especially in the ODM and OEM business model, where the product is produced by a contract manufacturer.

PAGE 21INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

HOW FAI WORKS

The FAI validates whether the actual product from the first mass production line, or the final pilot run, is consistent with the following items of the previous qualification process:

Critical components and construction parameters, as recorded in compliance and safety, reliability testing reports

Functional performance parameters measurement result, as recorded the in functional performance testing report

This validation ensures consistency of a product’s major engineering and functional performance between the approved sample and the actual product. Selected testing items can also be validated, for example, Hi-pot, earth continuity, EMC, transportation simulation, hazardous substance and energy efficiency, as variances in production may impact them.

Additional full function and appearance inspection is also recommended on the first batch of 50–100 units. This allows for evaluation of a new product’s manufacturability by assessing the defect rate and failure mode, and also helps to drive the product’s progress to maturity.

PRODUCT CONSISTENCY INSPECTION (PCI)

PCI looks beyond FAI. It addresses issues relating to assuring consistency in ongoing production. The key checking points of PCI are similar to FAI, including a focus on validation of critical components, construction parameters, functional performance measurement and selected testing items validation

+

Model 2: Focus on Product Compliance Management

PRE-PRODUCTION PROTOCOL TESTING

FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION / TESTING

PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

ONGOING PRODUCT CONSISTENCYINSPECTION / TESTING(EVERY 3-8 SHIPMENTS)

Model 1: General production Quality Management

PRODUCT CERTIFICATION / PRODUCT QUALIFICATION TESTING

FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION / TESTING

PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTIONS / (FINAL RANDOM INSPECTION)

ONGOING PRODUCT CONSISTENCYINSPECTION / TESTING(EVERY 3-8 SHIPMENTS)

related to safety, EMC, hazardous substances and energy efficiency, amongst others. The inspection frequency can be determined according to several factors, such as the historical performance of the factory, the product itself and/or and overall risk assessment of the business and product quality.

HOW ARE FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED?

Across the industry, there are three main methods to establish performance criteria:

Some leading brands establish their functional performance criteria according to the results of their research into the technology and consumer analysis

A lot of companies set criteria in accordance with their market research, the performance benchmark of existing products in the market, plus their own product and brand planning

Some companies follow the standards of specified by an industry organisation, national or international

There may be other unique approaches in the market, but these are the typical ones.

Besides helping customers with FAI, PCI, SGS’s performance labs helps customers defining criteria as per method 2 above. Wesupport them with product performance benchmarking in order to establish their own functional performance criteria.

Kent WangIntegrated Quality SolutionsConsumer Testing Servce / E&ESGS North America, Inc.kent.wang@sgs.comt +1 770 570 1807

PAGE 22INDUSTRY NEWS - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

WHY CAN’T FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION BE CONDUCTED USING THE APPROVED SAMPLE ONLY?

There are three main reasons:

The approved sample is usually approved based on partial testing, e.g. functional performance testing, compatibility and/or usability testing, so it cannot reflect all key aspects of the defined quality requirements

It is impossible to disassemble the approved sample for all critical component and construction comparison

It is not efficient for data measurement, as the inspector has to measure the approved sample first in order to have the data

As a result, the FAI needs to be completed in accordance with the record/reports of the product qualification process. However, the approved sample is still a good reference for defect judgment.

OUR INSPECTION INCLUDES A FUNCTION CHECK ALREADY. WHY IS THE FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT STILL IMPORTANT?

To answer this question, we need to clarify the difference between function and functional performance. For example, a speaker’s main function is to enable consumers to listen to music. However, the sound quality is measured by acoustic performance parameters like THD, frequency response level, and signal to noise rate. The function check validates whether a product works, or not, while functional performance checks measure how good it is, and are one of the most important pillars to support your product and brand positioning.

If you expect to make sure your product performance is consistently “good” to your defined standards (the level of “good” that you will accept), it is an effective and efficient way to measure and track the functional performance parameters regularly.

FINAL RANDOM INSPECTION FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION PRODUCT CONSISTENCY INSPECTION

Objective Detect obvious engineering change

Assess defect rate

Ensure the first article from production line is consistent with what was tested, certified and approved

Assess whether the new product is ready for mass production

Ensure no major engineering change to the latest product approval and the functional performance measurement is consistently aligning to established specification

Scope & Sample

Size

Primary engineering verification: 1-3 units

Function & appearance check: normal level of sampling planSpecial test covers limited selected items: 3-5 units

Deep engineering verification: 3-5 units

Full/selected functional performance measurement: 5-20/20-100 units

Function & appearance check: first 50-100 units

Special test covers more selected items: 3-5 units

Deep engineering verification: 3-5 units

Full or selected functional performance measurement: 3-5 units

Function & appearance check: 3-5 units

Special test covers more selected items: 3-5 units

On-site vs. in-lab

On-site Mainly on-site, some could be in-lab, if necessary

Mainly on-site, some could be in-lab, if necessary

Comparison Between Final Random Inspection, First Article Inspection and Product Consistency Inspection.

SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

it. The workshop was piloted at a farm in Lincolnshire, UK, that hires up to 150 agency workers of varying nationalities in its peak Christmas and summer seasons, and has since been rolled out nationally.

A DUTY OF TRANSPARENCY

In the meantime, transparency is increasingly required. Across many countries in the developed world, companies are being required to report on the action they take to reduce the risk of slavery in their supply chains. While these requirements cover only reporting, not specific action to be taken, it is hoped that this development will encourage companies to work together to make a positive impact in the arena of exploitation and forced labour.

SGS has developed a range of services to support companies in understanding their full supply chains and to respond to the reporting requirements. For further information please contact:

Effie MarinosSustainability ManagerSGS United Kingdom Ltd.sas@sgs.com t +44 203 008 7860

PAGE 23INDUSTRY NEWS - CONSUMER PRODUCTS

SEASONAL PRODUCTS AND THE RISK OF EXPLOITATIONAt this time of year, when families in developed countries are preparing for celebrations, how many of us think about the conditions under which seasonal products are made? The toys and gifts traditionally exchanged at this time of year are produced year-round, often in countries where labour standards come under regular scrutiny – but is this the case with production closer to home? While not usually considered a high exploitation risk, production of seasonal items and, in particular, items with short shelf lives puts great pressure on suppliers in developed countries. Temporary workers may be recruited to pluck turkeys, process vegetables for supermarkets or prepare flowers to decorate the home (not to mention harvesting and potting Christmas trees).

SEASONAL MIGRANT LABOUR IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Ever more often, these strenuous, low-paid jobs are filled by migrants who have limited employment choices because of language issues or a lack of qualifications. In addition to facing long hours on low pay, they may be exploited by employers who misrepresent their employment rights, or by agents and labour providers who prey on their desperate need for work.

Added to this is the risk of agents in overseas countries persuading individuals to pay them fees, legal in their own country, in return for the promise of work that either fails to materialise on arrival in a foreign country or is not as it seems. For example, workers may be promised 40-hour work weeks in packing departments only to find themselves picking produce on farms with weather-dependent working hours. Others have reported significantly lower wages than expected.

EXPLOITATION WITHIN THE EU

Take the example of a Bulgarian couple who worked on a farm in France, picking fruit and vegetables. Hired legally, they were nonetheless seriously exploited. They were required to pick in cold, wet conditions and, despite not having warm clothes or money to buy any, were not provided with suitable work wear by their

employer. After working for five months for 15–16 hours a day, they were paid for only six weeks. This is just one of the 217 case studies referenced by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in their 2015 report Severe labour exploitation: workers moving within or into the European Union.

GLOBAL SLAVERY

At the more critical end of the spectrum is the rising incidence of trafficked or bonded labour and other forms of modern slavery. The Global Slavery Index estimates that 35 million people are enslaved worldwide, mostly in manufacturing, construction and agriculture. The annual profits from forced labour and slavery are estimated by the ILO to be US$150 billion.

POSITIVE ACTION

These issues are increasingly being addressed though legislation, with higher fines and longer sentences, and improved rates of detection. Initiatives such as Stronger Together in the UK bring together government and enforcement agencies, charities and commercial organisations to address the problem and protect vulnerable individuals who have been unwittingly caught up in it. For example, Stronger Together has developed a workshop to raise migrant workers’ awareness of exploitation in their communities and of ways to escape

Further information

SGS Safeguards No. 136/15 - Modern Slavery Act 2015

Stronger Together - Case Study - Worker Awareness Training

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - Severe Worker Exploitation - the SELEX Project

Global Slavery Index - Improving Protection for Migrant Domestic Workers in Australia

International Labour Organization - Sustainable Development Goals 2030 SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

PAGE 24FOCUS ON SGS LABS

SGS TURKEY: STATE OF THE ART LABORATORIES

Established: 2004

Lab locations: Istanbul and Mersin

Total size of labs: 7600m2

No of employees: 560

Types of Labs: 1 Softline Lab, 1 Footwear Lab, 1 Hardline Lab, 1 Cosmetic Lab, 1 Food Contact Lab, 3 Food Labs, 1 E&E Safety Lab, 1 E&E Gas

Types of consumer products tested by our laboratories in Turkey include:

Automotive & Automotive Components

Electrical & Electronic Products

Food, Feed and Additives

Housewares & Consumer Goods

Packaging & Food Contact

Cosmetics, Personal Care & Household Care Products

Toys & Children’s Products

Textiles, Garments & Footwear

Testing

Audit, Inspection & Sampling

Technical Assistance

TS EN ISO 9001:2008

ISO 17025

ISO 17020

CPSIA

OHSAS 18001:2007

Turkish Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Livestock

GOST R ISO/IEC 17025

QC Accreditation

BSTB (Turkey) designation

SGS Turkey has the biggest Non-Food Laboratory in Turkey and the only QC accredited Food Laboratory in the country.

SGS Turkey has biggest homologation team in Turkey and the biggest Electrical and Electronics (E&E) Local Technical Representatives (LTR) team.

SGS Istanbul Lab

INTRODUCING SGS TURKEY LABS KEY TYPES OF SERVICES

ACCREDITATIONS AND APPROVALS

CONTACT SGS TURKEY LABS

SGS Supervise Gozetme Etud Kontrol Servisleri A.S.Is Istanbul Plaza E Girisi Baglar Mah. Osmanpasa Cad. No:95 34209 Bagcilar Gunesli Istanbul / Turkeyt +90 212 368 4000cts.turkey@sgs.com

Chemical Lab

Food Lab

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PAGE 25SGS IN THE NEWS & PRODUCT RECALLS

SGS IN THE NEWS CONSUMER GOODS

SGS Named Industry Leader in Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe Indices (DJSI) - read article

SGS to Host Workshop at the Sustainable Cleaning Products Summit 2015 (20-12 October, Paris, France) - read article

COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD SGS Conference At Luxe Pack Monaco, October 23 - read article

SGS at Outlook™ 2015, The World’s Premier Nonwoven Personal Care Products Conference - read article

ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS Open House Event Celebrates Opening of San Diego Wireless Laboratory - read article

SGS signed a cooperation agreement with China National Radio & TV Products Quality Supervision Test Center - read article

Singapore Notified the WTO/TBT for SG RoHS - read article

SGS is Accredited by HKTEC for OFCA Scheme - read article

FCC Certification Marking Process for Electrical and Electronic Products - read article

Focus on China Compulsory Certification (CCC) Process for Electrical and Electronic Products - read article

SOFTLINES SGS Partners with GreenEarth to Offer Environmentally Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Assessment - read article

SGS China Footwear Labs’ Extensive Coverage Serves to Boost the Chinese Domestic Market - read article

SGS Expands Southeast Asia Network to Support the Growing Apparel Industry - read article

SGS India Breaks New Grounds in Supporting the Footwear & Leather Industry - read article

TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS SGS at ABC Kids Expo 2015, October 18-21, Las Vegas, USA - read article

SGS compiles recall cases notified in the EU, US and Australia for consumer goods. They can help you minimize costly recalls by increasing your awareness of recall cases related to your business. SGS Product Recalls is now offered for no charge, and is included twice per month in the SGS SafeGuards publication.

Browse the Product Recalls library. Subscribe to Product Recalls.

PRODUCT RECALLS

PAGE 26SGS EVENTS AND WHITE PAPERS

UPCOMING SGS EVENTS

EVENT COUNTRY LOCATION DATES INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW / CONFERENCE

BOOTH NO. IF ANY

CONTACT PERSON

Sepawa Annual Congress

Germany Fulda Oct 14 - Oct 16

Cosmetics, Personal Care &

Household

Congress /Conferences

504 bianca.nerowski@sgs.com

Luxe Pack Monaco / Luxe

Formulation

Monaco Monaco Oct 21 - Oct 23

Cosmetics, Personal Care &

Household

Conference NA hubert.brundu@sgs.comcarine.dumas@sgs.com

Cosmoprof Asia

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Nov 11 - Nov 13

Cosmetics, Personal Care &

Household

Tradeshow 1E F4D queenie.tse@sgs.com

PLMA’s Annual U.S. Private Label

Trade Show

USA Chicago Nov 15 - Nov 17

Cosmetics, Personal Care &

Household

Tradeshow TBC mafalda.salvi@sgs.com

MEDICA 2015 Germany Dusseldorf Nov 16 - Nov 19

Eletrical & Electronics

Tradeshow Hall 3 silke.hilmer@sgs.com

For more events, please check the online events calendar.

INTERNATIONAL TYPE APPROVAL (ITA) FOR ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

International Type Approval (ITA) for Electrical & Electronics (E&E) Products’ advises and guides consumer goods manufacturers and importers through the numerous country specific type-approval schemes. SGS’s white paper provides insight to help manufacturers and importers rise to the challenge

of meeting the mandatory legal requirements for their target markets. ITA-related services help manufacturers demonstrate compliance and achieve certification against the relevant national and international standards.

Download your copy of: ‘International Type Approval (ITA) for Electrical and Electronic Products’.

PROLIFERATION, REGULATION ANDMITIGATION OF PERSISTENT ORGANICPOLLUTANTS (POPS) IN CONSUMERPRODUCTS AND SUPPLY CHAINS

The purpose of this white paper is to provide an overview on current thinking within the consumer goods industry for how best to manage POPs risk in consumer products and supply chains.The aim is to promote an understanding of the origins of POPs, current industry challenges due to increasing EU and

US regulations, and the principles of POPs management and compliance.This paper is aimed equally at those organisations with established POPs control and management plans as well as those considering development and implementation of POPs risk protocols.

Download your copy of: ‘Proliferation,Regulation and Mitigation of PersistentOrganic Pollutants (POPs) in ConsumerProducts and Supply Chains’.

SGS WHITE PAPERSSGS provides you with free white papers written by technical experts from various fields. These documents emphasize the importance of services that enable you to drive continuous quality improvement and excellence at every level of your organization.

PAGE 27SGS SAFEGUARDS

SAFEGUARDSSTAY ON TOP OF REGULATORY CHANGES WITHIN YOUR INDUSTRY! SafeGuards, are SGS technical bulletins concentrating on new product standards, regulations and test methods. They are written by SGS experts and dispatched on a weekly basis. Find below a selection of SafeGuards titles from the past weeks. Subscribe to SafeGuards: www.sgs.com/subscribesgBrowse the SafeGuards Library: www.sgs.com/safeguards

CONSUMER PRODUCTS EU – ECHA Opens 2015 Second SVHC Consultation on 7 Proposal - read the bulletin

CEN Publishes Amendment to EN 1811 ‘Nickel Release’ - read the bulletin

New York Rockland County Prohibits Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products - read the bulletin

COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD California Proposition 65: Benzophenone in Sunscreen Products - read the bulletin

ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS New Low Voltage Directive, 2014/35/EU - read the bulletin

Germany – Label on Minimum Service Life for E&E Products Currently in Development - read the bulletin

FOOD India: Draft Amendment on the Biotoxins Limit in Shellfish - read the bulletin

Brazil – New Regulation on Good Manufacturing Practices for Food Contact Packaging - read the bulletin

Taiwan FDA: Labeling Requirements for GMO foods - read the bulletin

HARDGOODS Update of Law Label for Bedding & Furniture Products - read the bulletin

California Proposition 65 Reformulation of Phthalates in Hearing Protection Products - read the bulletin

California Proposition 65 Reformulation of DINP in PVC / Vinyl Gloves - read the bulletin

SOFTLINES US CPSC Proposed Extension of Information Collection on Carpets and Rugs - read the bulletin

Update - Japan Azo Restriction in Textile Products - read the bulletin

US EPA Registers Nanosilver Pesticide Product - read the bulletin

TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS China Proposes to Adopt New Standard for Restricted Chemicals in Indoor Wooden Furniture - read the bulletin

EU Withdraws Certain Standards from the General Product Safety Directive - read the bulletin

US CPSC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Infant Bath Tubs - read the bulletin

PAGE 28SGS PUBLICATIONS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

IN THE KNOW & IN THE NOWWith the relaunch of the SGS website - www.sgs.com, we are now able to provide our subscribers a simpler yet comprehensive news management tool. Whether you already subscribed to various SGS publications or this is your first try, our new publications management page will help you choose the right types of newsletters, alerts or reports from our range of international and country-specific publications. Our main international publications and bulletins include:

SAFEGUARDS - a technical bulletin concentrating on new product standards, regulations and test methods. SafeGuards is usually published weekly.www.sgs.com/safeguardswww.sgs.com/subscribesg

CONSUMER COMPACT – embracing all consumer product segments it covers international and product news, industry articles and stories about our activities. It is published quarterly. www.sgs.com/consumercompactwww.sgs.com/subscribecc

MEDICAL DEVICES NEWSLETTER - an informative publication highlighting the most up-to-date global developments worldwide in the Medical Devices industry. The newsletter will be sent to you whenever major regulatory or technical developments take place, providing access to relevant information to help you sustain/achieve your competitive advantage in the industry. Subscribe here.

Selected articles from the latest issue of our MD newsletter:

Exporting Medical Devices to Russia

Optimising market access in Brazil with INMETRO

SGS Electro Medical Device Services in Atlanta, USA

WIRELESS NEWSLETTER - written by industry experts, our newsletter will keep you up to date with industry developments and updates to our capabilities. Subscribe here.

Selected articles from the latest issue of the Wireless newsletter:

SGS Expands Its Wireless Facitilites

SGS LTE Capacity Updates

SGS North America Increases Its OTA Radiated Performance Capacity

HOT SOURCE - written and researched by industry experts, our newsletter will keep you up to date with regulatory news, emerging markets, industry developments and case studies focusing on food quality, safety and sustainability. www.sgs.com/hotsourcesubscribe.

Selected articles from the latest issue of Hot Source:

Nutritional Labelling, Nutritional & Health Claims / Declarations

Olive Oil: Navigating a Complex Regulatory Landscape

The Economic Impact of Pathogens in Food Products

EVENTS AND WEBINARS - strengthen your workforce and increase your productivity. We ensure that your people have access to the very latest industry information. We work with clients, stakeholders and industry organizations to deliver industry and product specific training courses, events and webinars. Forthcoming events and webinars are listed at: www.sgs.com/events

PRODUCT RECALLS - compiles recall cases notified in the EU, US and Australia for consumer products. It can help you minimise recalls by increasing awareness of recall cases related to your business. Product Recalls are published bi-weekly. www.sgs.com/productrecalls

Keeping you up to date with the latest news, events, service developments and investments, our LinkedIn pages put all the latest announcements at your fingertips.

SGS ON LINKEDIN

SGS Consumer Goods & Retail

SGS Agriculture & Food

PAGE 29SGS CONTACTS

SUBSCRIBE TO SGS PUBLICATIONS GET THEM WHEN THEY COME OUT!

Subscribe for free to CONSUMER COMPACT, SAFEGUARDS and PRODUCT RECALLS at: www.sgs.com/subscribe.

FOR ENQUIRIES

Please contact:consumer.products@sgs.com

© 2015 SGS SA. All rights reserved. This newsletter is a publication of SGS SA. It is intended to provide general information on a particular subject or subjects and is not an exhaustive treatment of such subject(s). Accordingly, the information in this newsletter is not intended to constitute consulting or other professional advice or services. This newsletter is provided “as is” and SGS SA does not warrant that the information contained therein will be error-free or will meet any particular criteria of performance or quality. SGS SA expressly disclaims all implied warranties including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, title, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, security and accuracy. The information may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication or proceeding without the prior written consent of SGS SA.

CONNECT WITH SGS

EDITORIAL TEAM

Jennifer Buckley - FOOD; AUTOMOTIVE; HARDGOODS; CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Silke Hilmer - ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

Kris Wan - SOFTLINES

CONTACT OUR SGS EXPERTS

If you have any questions, or require more information about one of the topics presented in this issue, please contact the Consumer Compact experts.

Emilie Viengchaleune - SUSTAINABILITY

Stéphanie Pionchon - TOYS & JUVENILE PRODUCTS; COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD

Mary Lau - EDITORIAL TEAM ASSISTANT

WWW.SGS.COM/CGNR

SGS is constantly adding new and improved content to its websites, to help you find the right answers to all questions relevant to your product or industry.

MOLD FORMATIONOne of the most critical issues faced by footwear and leather supply chain is the formation of mold during storage and transition of goods.

Contact SGS and find out ways to prevent mold formation on your products.

Prevent Mold Formation with SGS

WHAT’S NEW ON SGS.COM?

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