CPSC said it will undertake a review of its voluntary standards program in reaction to a May 21 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

CPSC staff May 21 addressed the issue of the precautionary principle at a meeting on phthalates...Meanwhile, Commissioner Nancy Nord, in a May 23 guest piece on a University of Pennsylvania blog, expressed concern about use of the precautionary principle.

CPSC staff at a May 22 meeting on chemical alternatives assessment expressed interest in the role of exposure scientists in such a process.

CPSC Reports on Pool and Spa Incidents
CPSC Won’t Join App Contest; Tenenbaum Speaks at Launch
CPSC Comments on Durbin’s Furniture Query
Briefs on third party testing, bunk beds, privacy act, pools, recalls, meetings.

Following a number of incidents involving playground equipment, ASTM’s F15.29 subcommittee has decided to seek additional warning labels on specific types of playground equipment.

The number of RAPEX reports in 2012 continues to remain above the 2011 average, even after April statistics revealed a drop compared to March....Meanwhile, the EU validated 116 RAPEX reactions in April according to the DG-Sanco report published on May 20.

The EU’s May 22 Consumer Agenda, Boosting Confidence and Growth, includes a focus on product safety among its four objectives...Meanwhile, A May 6 European Commission working document accompanying the just-released Consumer Agenda, outlines initiatives undertaken by the commission in safety and health.

Briefs on toys, REACH, cosmetics, recalls, RAPEX.