Past BREAKING NEWS Releases
Annual Meeting of Members Scheduled
The Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorated Products will hold its annual meeting of members on Monday, April 19, 2010, at the Downtown Sheraton in Nashville, TN. The meeting will convene at noon just prior to the start of the annual Awards Luncheon. The new slate of officers for 2010-11 will be voted on during this meeting.
NEW NMFC change could prove costly to members
FLI Inc., shipping partner to SGCDpro, has recently learned of a change that could impact SGCD members. The National Motor Freight Classification provisions for glassware have been changed. The old item (88140) had a range of classes depending on the released value of each shipment. The new item includes a released value of $19.00 per pound with classes then determined by density of the commodity as prepared for shipment.What this means to SGCDpro members is that it will now be necessary to calculate the density, in pounds per cubic feet, on every shipment of glassware. Each bill of lading will need to reflect this change. Failure to comply will result in carrier classification changes and charges from the carriers for incorrect bill of lading information. FLI can provide members with a simple density calculator or one can be accessed on our website at www.fliinc.net.
Legislative and Regulatory Webinar
SGCDpro to host Legislative and Regulatory Webinar at 1pm EST on December 1st, 2009, hosted by Sandra Spence, SGCDpro Legislative Liaison. Cost $95 for members, $50 for corporate members, and $250 for nonmembers. CLICK HERE to download webinar registration form.
SGCDpro Members Meet with Senate Staff
SGCDpro members, Andrew Pickard Morgan of Pickard China and Todd Barson of Ferro Corporation recently met with Senate staffers to discuss pending food safety legislation in the Senate. The two were joined by SGCDpro lobbyist, Walt Sanders and Elliot Molk, Associate General Counsel for World Kitchen.
The group’s objectives were to educate Senate staff on efforts made by the industry to eliminate lead from products; oppose any efforts to include a ceramic labeling provision in the Senate version of the bill passed in the House; and to have the House labeling provision eliminated in House-Senate Conference Committee should the Senate bill pass.
The group met with staffers from the following Senate offices: Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Orin Hatch (R-UT).
The group felt that they successfully made their points to Senate staffers. SGCDpro urges you to continue to contact your Senators about this important issue. For additional information on the food safety bill, visit the legislative section of our website.
SGCDpro Alert—Prop 65
SGCDpro has learned that a number of Proposition 65 notices have been sent in relation to lead and cadmium in ceramicware. SGCDpro urges all members to make sure they are properly warning items intended for sale in the state of California. Please remember that the law applies not just to food use products but to ALL products in which lead or cadmium bearing glazes are used.
SGCDpro Group Meets with Senate Staff
On Wednesday, September 9th, SGCDpro President, Ed Weiner; Lobbyist, Walt Sanders; and a representative of Lenox China met with Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina and, separately, with other Senate staffers to discuss the pending Food Safety Bill which has already passed the House. The House bill, which passed in July, includes a provision mandating the labeling of ceramic tableware and cookware.
Senator Hagan and staffers from other Senate offices listened intently to the concerns of SGCDpro and its members. We will continue to follow this issue and will schedule follow up meetings as necessary. Meanwhile, SGCDpro urges all members to write their Senators and urge them to make sure that a lableing provision is not part of any Food Safety legislation that might be enacted.
TRI Notice to Members
SGCDpro has learned that a former member company has been fined for failing to file the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toxic waste report. At Deco ’09 in Las Vegas, Rosario Palmieri of the National Association of Manufacturers explained that the TRI short form had been eliminated by EPA and that all members who are required to report must now file the long form. A show of hands at the meeting indicated that only two members in attendance were currently filing the form with EPA. Companies with 10 or fewer employees are exempted.
Palmieri and SGCDpro Legislative Liaison, Sandy Spence, reminded members that any facility handling 10 lbs or more of lead in a calendar year must comply with the EPA reporting mandate or face fines.
Past President, Nancy Klinefelter, worked tirelessly and even testified before Congress to obtain the short form option that was recently eliminated. Efforts to reinstate the short form have been unsuccessful.
If you are unsure about the need to file this report or need assistance regarding the TRI reporting issue, contact SGCDpro headquarters at 740-588-9882.
House Passes Food Safety Act
House Bill 2470, also known as the “Food Safety Enhancement Act” was passed just prior to the August recess under revision of rules, after failing under suspension of rules. Among other things, the legislation includes a labeling provision for ceramic tableware and cookware. It is imperative that SGCDpro members contact their Senators to prevent passage of this far reaching legislation in the Senate.
CPSC Issues Policy on Labeling Children’s Products
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a Statement of Policy: Interpretation and Enforcement of Section 103(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act dealing with labeling requirements for products intended for use by children aged 12 and under. The requirements go into effect for products "made" on or after August 14, 2009. It does not apply retroactively to such products made before that date.
In addition, CPSC staff has issued FAQ’s addressing some of the questions raised earlier on labeling requirements. These FAQs were prepared by CPSC staff, have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. Some FAQs may be subject to change based on Commission action. Additional questions will be added, as submitted by concerned parties.
Due to considerable ambiguity in the official statement and the FAQs, the National Association of Manufacturers’ CPSIA Coalition, in which SGCDpro participates, plans a letter today (July 23) renewing a strong request from industry for CPSC to defer enforcement of the labeling requirements for one year.
Should you have questions about this document and its interpretations of the law, please email our legislative and regulatory liaison at sandyspence325@gmail.com. She will submit your questions anonymously to the CPSC and do her best to secure answers for you. Your questions will also better enable SGCDpro to address the decorating industry’s issues more effectively.
Some examples of the questions raised to date, with their answers include:
Will the tracking label requirement be met if premiums are labeled with a date of distribution, a production date and trademark information?
“Section 103 of the CPSIA requires that the tracking label provide, to the extent practicable, marks that will enable the ultimate purchaser to ascertain the manufacturer or private labeler, the location and date of production of the product and cohort information. A label stating only the date of distribution, a production date and trademark information would not satisfy the requirements of section 103. Such a label would lack information identifying the manufacturer or private labeler, the place of production and cohort information.”
Another FAQ suggests that “Section 103 of the CPSIA further provides that the tracking label must contain information that will enable the ultimate purchaser to ascertain the manufacturer or private labeler, location and date of production of the product, and cohort information (including the batch, run number, or other identifying characteristic.) Thus, section 103 of the CPSIA does require that the tracking label contain information sufficient for the purchaser to ascertain the manufacturer of the product.
“Watch the Commission's website for postings regarding further guidance on this issue. The Commission will seek comments from the public during this process.” For access directly to the CPSC FAQ page, go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103.html#103q8
SGCDpro Announces Member Discounts for Testing Services
SGCDpro President, Ed Weiner, is pleased to announce new discounts for members from several member test labs. Participating labs include Specialized Technology Resources (860) 749-8371, QA International (847) 949-4700, and Intertek (732) 394-5369. Click the MEMBER TEST LABS link. SGCDpro is also negotiating shipping discounts for member companies. Watch for details.
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