consumer compact - sgs s.a. · consumer compact the quarterly consumer product publication that...

DESKTOP FACTORIES

CONSUMER COMPACTTHE QUARTERLY CONSUMER PRODUCT PUBLICATION THAT KEEPS YOU INFORMEDN

NOVEMBER 2009 VOL V ISSUE 3

THE NEXT STEP IN TOY SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENTGAINS GREATER PROMINANCEGREEN INSPECTION THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE

EDITORIAL P 2

IN THIS ISSUE

Dear Readers

Since the 1960rsquos Star Trek the cult science-fi ction TV show has showcased some of the most imaginative gadgets and gizmos even if they did not exist The lsquotransporterrsquo was one of the most unbelievable devices tele-porting people and objects through space The lead article in this issue of Consumer Compact shows how science is turning fi ction into fact as we discover how 3-D printers are able to make copies of physical objects speeding up the time and reducing the cost involved in product design

The topic of sustainability continues to occupy the minds of suppliers and buyers alike We take a closer look at how smarter sustainable practices can be applied to the seafood indus-try ndash in the wild and on the farm

As consumers continue to tighten their belts the OUTDOOR Act was passed it the US The legislation intends to eliminate tariffs on im-ports of outdoor performance apparel into the US as well as fund research into sustainable manufacturing technology A special feature explores this win-win solution for the outdoor apparel industry

Finally Industry Round Up SGS in the News and summaries of the latest editions of Safe-Guards our technical bulletins completes this edition

Download Consumer Compact from the left-hand column

Yours

The Editorial Team

FOR ENQUIRIES

Achmad IrfanGlobal Marketing amp Communication Assistant

T + 62 (0)21 781 81 11 F + 62 (0)21 780 05 61achmadirfansgscom wwwsgscomConsumerSubscribe

DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATION Frankie NgEDITOR IN CHIEF Paul KanwarEDITORIAL TEAM Achmad IrfanDimas Abdul KadirBogdan Miclaus

EDITORIAL

FOOD AS DRUGS

Butter substitutes that can keep cholesterol levels in check live bacteria injected into yoghurt to help digestion infant cereals enhanced with the right micro-nutrients essential for development and so on Are we dreaming Are our staple food items now being developed in a laboratory These are ldquofunctional foodsrdquo blurring the line between foods and drugs and which hold the promise of higher margins and faster growth Food companies have taken to proclaiming the supposed health and nutritional benefi ts of their products for obvious reasons Such products appeal to both health-conscious buyers and to those who hope the additional vitamins will offset their unhealthy diets Surely if there are health benefi ts then shouldnrsquot functional foods be regulated under the same conditions as pharmaceuticals

As sales of functional foods continue to experience a healthy increase government regulators in both the EU and the US have begun to take a closer look They are concerned that some of the health claims being made may be misleading or unsupported by scientifi c evidence In late October the US FDA announced that it would strengthen the rules for nutritional claims on food labels and plans to issue new standards early next year To show that it means business the FDA recently rebuked a food manufacturer for claiming that one of its breakfast cereals was ldquoclinically proven to lower cholesterolrdquo Meanwhile in Europe the Food Safety Authority is also enforcing new laws and insisting that companies back health and nutrition claims with scientifi c studies

The industryrsquos claim that greater regulation will kill innovation is a knee-jerk reaction and off the mark Those fi rms making misleading claims will suffer while those prepared to invest in proper scientifi c studies to back up their supposed breakthroughs will benefi t As for pharmaceuticals smaller fi rms seem to be more innovative than bigger ones If food companies wish to make the sorts of claims about their products that pharmaceutical companies do then they must be prepared to submit to similar scrutiny Extra-ordinary claims after all require extra-ordinary evidence

Paul KanwarEditor in chiefpaulkanwarsgscom

CONTENTS

DESKTOP FACTORIES PAGES 3 - 5

GREEN INSPECTION PAGES 6 - 7

THE NEXT STEP IN TOY SAFETY PAGES 8 - 9RISK ASSESSMENT GAINS GREATER PROMINENCE

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD PAGES 10 - 11

FOOD CONTAMINANT SERIES - PAH PAGE 12

OUTDOOR ACT PAGE 13

INDUSTRY ROUND UP PAGES 14 - 15

SGS IN THE NEWS PAGES 16 - 17 amp 20

SAFEGUARDS PAGES 18 - 19

REGIONAL CONTACTS PAGE 21

P 3A FACTORY ON YOUR DESK

Manufacturing Producing solid objects even quite complex ones with 3-D printers is gradually becoming easier and cheaper Might such devices some day become as widespread as document printers

Has your 10-year old melted all his toy soldiers with a magnifying glass Or maybe hersquos missing that key Lego piece to fi nish his spaceship No problem just print another from your desktop Or maybe you are the kind person that ndash at the request of the police or your signifi cant other ndash often fi nds himself in handcuffs No problem just print a key

An increasing number of items from mock-ups of new consumer products to jewellery and aerospace components are being produced by machines that build objects layer by layer Itrsquos like printing in three dimensions using plastic rubber ceramic metal glass and other materials bonded together The general term the industry uses for this is ldquoadditive manufacturingrdquo but the most widely used devices are called 3-D printers some of which are small enough to sit on a desk They are making their way not just into workshops and factories but also into the offi ces of designers architects and researchers and are being embraced by entrepreneurs who are using them to invent entirely new businesses A digital picture is all you need to start with the software can do the rest

Industrial designers have been using such real-life Star Trek replicators for more than two decades Yet it is only in the last few years that companies have designed machines that are not only small enough for the home offi ce but are also cheap and fast enough for the average consumer Like the laser jet or inkjet printer it is only a short matter of time before 3-D printers are an everyday item available to rent or buy

Despite how much fun you might be able to have at home with one of

DESKTOP FACTORIES

these gadget the real excitement lies in how these machines are already revolutionizing the consumer products market especially for home electronics More and more are these products from HD TVrsquos to wireless routers are infi ltrating our homes a common enough appliance that is becoming an everyday part of the deacutecor Like the stainless steel oven itrsquos become essential that these products not only function well but look good while they blink away The Scandinavians have always been at the forefront of sleek designs but their products have also always been high-end often prohibitively expensive for your average consumer Now with 3-D printing this is all about to change

DESIGN EXCELLENCE FOR EVERYONEWith its design centre based in Denmark the famed Cisco Consumer Business Group has long required their designers to supply a prototype of their creations to engineers who can then by holding and touching it better understand what it will actually look like and how it will work It is a painstaking process of trial and error with each new design having to be handcrafted over and over again until perfect It is one of the companyrsquos biggest expenses Even automated prototyping machines are just as costly and time-consuming as separate parts need to be crafted and then attached

3-D printing however can now dramatically cut down on that time and expense passing the savings made on prototyping onto the consumers Cisco uses a 3-D printer designed by Z Corporation that allows the company to quickly and inexpensively create the design it needs allowing it to test for form and function and catch fl aws earlier in the design process Z Corporation one of the pioneers of 3-D printing is now offering such machines for about $10000 ndash the same price a laser jet cost in the early 1980s when most of us were still using dot-matrix printers

Another company Desktop Factory promotes its products with the slogan ldquoItrsquos a 3-D world print that wayrdquo The company offers 3-D printers for under $5000 with a mission to make them so affordable that elementary schools will buy them Google Inc of course is also experimenting with 3-D printing technology - and classrooms are already benefi ting Google SketchUp is easy-to-learn software that allows you to create modify and share 3-D models Several maths teachers have already begun using SketchUp with students Students use SketchUp to make scale models of their school providing a practical tool to aid learning

FEEDING THE FLOCKOutside the consumer electronics market where the 3-D printers are


designs are approved they can create the prototype overnight with minimum labour Another company Silgan Plastics also uses 3-D printers to quickly develop prototypes The packaging manufacturer now designs almost 900 bottle prototypes a year All of Silganrsquos 3-D printers can make multiple models at once allowing the company to cost-effectively produce many designs shortening the design process and the time to market

A FACTORY ON YOUR DESKThough prototyping remains the most obvious use for 3-D printers direct manufacturing is becoming more and more possible As 3-D printing techniques are perfected smaller less complex devices such as radios remote controls mobile phones and toys will be able to be manufactured without expensive and labour-intensive production on an assembly line for instance Therics a medical company is already printing pills for patients with bone diseases

3-D printers are also being used by the aerospace and car-making industries Not only can the printers make an endless number of small parts without the massive tool and traditional manufacturing costs they can also be used to build things in different ways Other companies have setup businesses where clients can upload designs choose construction materials before getting a quote to have it made The companies then print the object with a 3-D printer and send it to the buyer IKix an Indian company uses a 3-D printer to make architectural models for customers then ships them all over the world

Surgeons use them to print models of the body and the bodyrsquos ailments so they can practice before working on the real thing techniques

Researchers at the University of California of Berkeley have developed a method using 3-D printers to create and lay circuits transistors capacitors sensors and casing All these elements can be printed by one machine in one run using several different print heads spitting out each material in layers Printing a light bulb is now possible and printing trainers is not far off At least one

especially popular the food industry has also taken notice The God-like idea of producing bread or fi sh for the millions is still a futuristic dream beyond the realms of possibility However 3-D printing has managed to make its mark on food packaging All those funky bottle designs being churned out by bottled water companies are now as easy to create as a Power Point slideshow Always on the hunt for new gimmicks to entice young consumers snack food companies are ever more using 3-D printing technology to help design more outrageous packaging concepts

Flexpak Corp a contract packaging company provides package manufacturing services for the automotive cosmetic electronic food hardware medical personal care printing and toy industries In the last couple years the company has installed 3-D printers from Dimension allowing it to quickly prototype concepts at different stages of the design process Once their

A FACTORY ON YOUR DESK P 5

company RepRap is perfecting a 3-D printer that can print copies of itself

LAYER BY LAYERWhatrsquos more all this is surprisingly simple There are a handful of different printer types all modelled on a personrsquos needs What these 3-D printers have in common is that they build objects one tiny layer at a time One of the latest variations resembles an inkjet printer Layers of powder either plaster or resin are bonded by an adhesive dispensed by the inkjet print head in the shape of each cross-section as determined by a 3-D computer fi le This method is not only the fastest but also allows printing in full colour Other machines use the inkjet method to feed liquids or polymers through the print head to form each layer Each layer is hardened by a fl ood lamp mounted on the print head Fused Deposition Modelling is a technology that uses a nozzle to deposit molten polymer onto a support structure layer by layer Another approach uses a laser to sinter the materials to form a solid Finally ultra-small designs can be made using 3-D lsquomicro-fabricationrsquo where a 3-D object is traced out in a block of gel by a focused laser The gel is cured to a solid only in the places where the laser

is focused the remaining gel is washed away The tiniest designs are possible with this method as well as moving and interlocking parts

According to industry estimates the global market for ldquoadditive manufacturingrdquo was worth $12 billion in 2008 Some expect this fi gure to double by 2015 Analysts are expecting low-cost desktop 3-D printers to account for as much as 90 percent of the market in the relatively near future The future in fact has bewildering potential The New York Times has reported that Hewlett-Packard is close to unleashing a 3-D printer for a mere $1000 And everyone is chatting about the possibility of faxing 3-D objects all over the world

Having a dinner party Print a complete dining set Heading to a ball Design and print a gown Then throw it all in the recycle bin and start again Already institutions like MIT and Berkeley have devised ways of printing clothing crockery cutlery and books from recycled items Printing furniture they say is also not long off meaning that wardrobes washing machines dishwashers cupboards and bookshelves may all become

unnecessary

How about printing your meals The CandyFab 4000 3-D printer uses sugar as its building agent It simply heats successive layers of powdered sugar to melting point and then fuses it into a solid shape for your ready-to-eat desert Are other ingredients possible Researchers are working on it

Industry leaders maintain that within fi ve years and for only a few hundred dollars you will be able to design and manufacture your own product line at home and send it to consumers anywhere in the world Gizmodo the online review dedicated to gadgets gizmos and cutting-edge consumer electronics stated ldquoIt will be easier than learning Photoshoprdquo

P 6INDUSTRY NEWS - GREEN INSPECTION

GREEN INSPECTION THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE

As technological developments speed into what once seemed a distant future electrical and electronic products fi nd themselves obligated to meet a whole new set of standards ndash environmentally-friendly ones A new time-saving digital device needs to be a lot more than just fl ashy It must also carry with it the assurance that it does no harm to our bodies or to the environment at large This is no easy task All those little electronic devices that clutter our homes carry with them the potential for great

environmental harm Everything from lead to mercury to Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBrsquos) can be found deep inside the workings of everyday electrical and electronic items

Take something as seemingly harmless as an automatic ice cube dispenser The simple device used everyday by the whole family could contain lead in its power cable sockets a common occurrence in the past and still common in some parts of the world

Governments may national have passed legislation that require consumer products of all kinds to be free from harmful chemicals and be lsquogreen-friendlyrsquo Government regulations from EU RoHS End-of-Life Vehicles Directive SB2050 and HR4040 set limits on the maximum concentration at which certain hazardous substances can be found in electrical and electronic products When hazardous substances are found news of the productrsquos withdrawal from the market or ldquoproduct recallrdquo will travel fast It only takes a few hours for the name of a faulty product its manufacturer and those who sell it to be listed on the websites of market monitoring and consumer associates around the world So how would say an importer of ice cube dispensers protect themselves from a brand-destroying recall the humiliation of government fi nes not to mention public outrage

THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCEHazardous substances in such products can often act subtly and over long periods of time Lead found in electronic products comes back to affect humans and the environment when the product becomes waste At this late stage in its life cycle it doesnrsquot only affect one person but larger groups and even entire communities Such e-waste can release harmful toxins in the environment which are then absorbed into the soil and groundwater possibly ending up in our food This is just one of the many reasons why manufacturers and importers must make sure they know what hazardous substances are found in their products and components

Eco-regulations and programs such as green inspections protect consumers from coming in contact with substances that may pose a serious threat to their health Hazardous materials such as lead cadmium mercury chromium and


bromine can all be easily detected using green inspection procedures such as screening with portable XRF scanners

Green inspections make sure businesses donrsquot show up in the news - at least not for the wrong reasons They are also essential for the consumers The process of a green inspection represents one of the last chances to check and identify products containing hazardous substances before they enter the market

Green inspection is often the last line of defence for importers and retailers It is a fast and economical service that helps confi rm a productrsquos suitability for a market and controls the risks related to restricted substances

Why do we still see so many recalls of products that have already received the relevant test reports Is it because testing samples are different from the mass production goods Product testing in the product development phase is not a fool-proof guarantee of compliance

POSSIBLE CHEMICALS USED IN EampE PRODUCTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH SUBSTANCE

Lead

Mercury

Cadmium

Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)

PBB amp PBDE

Headache dizziness constipation tiredness anemia metal smell in mouth discharge weakness high blood pressure insomnia poor memory arthralgia dyspepsia

Headache cool stomach fever weakness discharge acute gastroenteritis cardiovascular disease kidney disease Mercury is also non-biodegradable and is highly pollutant

Liver and kidney diseases emphysema bronchitis imbalance secretions lack of appetite insomnia Cadmium also infl uences the function of other useful elements and causes imbalance of Cd and Zn

Carcinogenic causes bowel pain

Immunity system failures goiter loss of memory stiff arthrosis

with restricted substance regulations Green inspection provides the means to decrease the risk of product recalls before placing products on a market keeping brand names and reputations safely away from the infamous recalls lists Green inspection if shows supply chains are secure or not

News about product recalls due to haz-ardous substances travels fast Here are some of the websites with embedded hyperlinks where you can keep track

bull EU ndash RAPEX

bull UKndashNWML

bull USA ndash CPSC

bull Canada - Healthy Canadians

bull Korea - MER

bull FinlandndashTUKES

bull Sweden ndash KEMI

For further information please contact richardzhengsgscom

P 8INDUSTRY NEWS - THE NEXT STEP IN TOY SAFETY

THE NEXT STEP IN TOY SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT GAINS GREATER PROMINENCENow that you have started to comply with the initial hurdles of the Consumer Prod-uct Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) the next big thing in toy safety is a voluntary but potentially important addition to your safety testing regime Risk Assessment

lsquoRisk assessmentrsquo is a hazard and risk analysis typically completed in the early engineering stages of a new toy design to pick up any problems before the product starts rolling off the line For years it has been used in other product areas as a means of measuring the threat of harm to the consumer Now it is emerging as a hot topic of discussion in the toy industry because of two new initiativesmdashone in the US the other in Europe

In the US risk assessment is one of the pillar requirements of the new Toy Safety Certifi cation Program (TSCP) developed by the Toy Industry Association and the American National Standards Institute Inspired by a need to restore public confi dence in the safety of the toys on the market the program will enable toys that undergo a successful risk assessment factory process control audit and production sample testing to carry a special safety mark indicating that they have passed rigorous safety screening

In Europe risk assessment is a requirement of the recently updated European Toy Safety Directive that is expected to go into effect in 2012 It says that manufacturers or private labellers must use a risk assessment process to identify and resolve potential hazards in a given toy before it is put on the EU market

An ounce of preventionA comprehensive risk assessment for toys involves taking an in-depth


look at a productrsquos design to identify potential safety hazards andor design fl aws that could lead to injury The assessment team must look not only for potential violations of mandated safety standards but other potential design dangers that would be missed if the toy were evaluated only against existing regulations

A risk assessment is best performed by a team consisting of in-house andor third-party individuals with design engineering quality assurance and safety expertise with a trained risk assessment professional overseeing the process Toys should be evaluated using ISOIEC Guide 50 andor 51 the Handbook for Manufacturing Safer Consumer Products (CPSC July 2006)

Risk Assessment Guidelines for Non-Food Consumer Products from the European Commission or other similar standards Accident and injury data from the online Consumer Product Safety Commission database should also be considered not only for the product at hand but for the particular hazards that the team identifi es as being possible or likely

Finally you may fi nd valuable information in the customer complaints you may have received from product returns on similar items or on toys with dangers comparable to those the team may be anticipating As discussed in lsquoReturning the Favourrsquo our previous article on toy safety which appeared in the July edition of Consumer Compact toy returns

can serve as a kind of litmus test for manufacturing fl aws safety concerns and toy usabilityThe fringe benefitsIf this sounds like just another safety burden there are also a number of key benefi ts First of course a risk assessment is a crucial step to get the TSCP safety mark or eventually to sell your goods in Europe Second it can help you to focus in on problems that may lead to injuries or recalls to allow redesign or corrective action before disaster strikes

Finally if your risk assessment is performed when a toy is still just a drawing on paper it can save substantial sums of money You wonrsquot incur costs for tooling that needs to be changed or remade due to a later risk assessment requiring design changes Nor will you spend money producing inventory that turns out to be unusable pay regulatory fi nes associated with safety troubles that could have been avoided or incur expenses from the actual recall of products

In that light and when you consider that some studies estimate that 50 to 70 percent of all toy recalls involve design problems that are not covered by industry or federal safety regulations the question becomes not ldquoWhy should I do risk assessments rdquo but ldquoWhy shouldnrsquot I rdquo

Malcolm Denniss is Technical Director of USTC SGS based in Fairfi eld NJ He is a veteran toy safety expert with over 30 years in the industry malcolmdennisssgscom

P 10INDUSTRY NEWS - SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD

SCHOOLS OF FISH SUSTAINABLY MANAGING SEAFOOD STOCKS

In September 2009 the European Commission announced that it will be backing a proposal by NGOrsquos to suspend international trade in endangered bluefi n tuna due to concerns about the dwindling stocks of Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefi n tuna The EC may co-sponsor the proposal to list bluefi n tuna on Appendix 1 of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) temporarily banning international trade to give bluefi n stocks time to recover However as 6 out of 21 EU states have rejected the proposal it is still not confi rmed whether the ban will proceed

In the media spotlight the plight of bluefi n tuna has meant food processors retailers and those in the food service and restaurant sectors are under pressure to switch to more sustainable sources Many of these companies are turning to internationally recognised standards to improve the sustainability of their seafood supply chain and to demonstrate commitment to customers For example the Netherlands offi ce of the food service company Sodexo recently received the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the global head offi ce has also made a commitment to pursue MSC certifi cation worldwide

MSC is an internationally-recognised certifi cation system for wild-caught fi sh

which guarantees that the fi sh species originates from a sustainable source MSC is the worldrsquos fastest growing lsquosustainability labelrsquo for wild caught fi sh The strength of participation and commitment by multiple stakeholders means that MSC is also the most solid label In the last few years the number of participating fi sheries has grown explosively allowing consumers the opportunity to make sustainable choices more often

To join the scheme fi sheries are audited against the requirements of the MSC which are in turn based on the FAO guidelines for sustainable fi sheries Since the inception of the MSC SGS has been involved in both the fi shery and the chain of custody certifi cation standards

The Fishery certifi cation covers 3 key areasbull Sustainability of the stockbull Environmental impactbull Fishery management

The Chain of Custody certifi cation ensures the consumer that the actual fi sh they buy is the one originating from the certifi ed sustainable fi shery

Seafood from farm or aquacultural sources feeds a greater proportion than wild caught fi sh To be an effective source it also need to sustainable

Developed in partnership with both private amp public stakeholders SGSrsquos succesful On Farm Programme is aimed at empowering farmers The programme

INDUSTRY NEWS - SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD P 11

facilitated Vietnamese catfi sh farmers to gain market access through a code of practices incorporating product safety criteria and which addresses social and environmental issues The scheme is now being rolled out to shrimp farmers in Indonesia

New certifi cation standards are also being developed for the aquaculture sector The ldquoAquaculture Dialoguesrdquo are a series of species-specifi c roundtables initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to develop standards for responsible aquaculture that will be accredited by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or ASC According to WWF once fi nalised the standards will minimise the environmental and social impacts responsible for 70 to 80 percent of the problems caused by aquaculture The standards will be used as the basis for a new international aquaculture eco-label

In addition to the primary impacts on ecology and biodiversity of wild-caught fi sh the assessment of other environmental (and social) impacts within the seafood supply chain can help to determine the most sustainable options Environmental life cycle assessment of fi sheries identifi es ecosystem impacts as being the most signifi cant environmental impact in the fi shing sector but these do not

fi t in easily with conventional life cycle assessment methodologies Many studies have identifi ed the fuel consumed during the catching phase as being the most signifi cant impact besides ecological impact which is considered in life cycle assessment

During the harvesting of wild fi sh different fi shermen use a vast array of fi shing methods According to WWF traditional methods such as hand-lining setting traps and lsquodiver caughtrsquo are better options because they tend to be less intensive have a lesser impact on marine habitats and they tend to catch fewer juveniles and non-commercial species Bottom trawling on the other hand can cause serious damage to reefs and the seabed and in some areas may have long-term environmental impacts The fi shing methods which are less damaging to marine ecosystems can also have a less signifi cant impact on climate change than the more industrial methods For example long-line caught cod from Iceland has a lower greenhouse gas emission profi le than cod caught by trawlers in Russia during the primary fi shing phase of the product life cycle (Source Seafi sh in the UK) However the issue is not black and white as Icelandic cod is usually freshly delivered to the market fresh by air freight the transportation impacts will be greater than cod from Russia which is

then processed in China and transported by ship despite the impact of the process of freezing the Russian cod

SGS global sustainability services works with its food and retail customers to assess the environmental impacts (including carbon footprints) of products throughout the life cycle The impact assessment is used to identify opportunities to reduce the impacts based on agricultural raw materials used and to reduce the energy inputs and emission outputs through the life cycle Product level research can be used to reveal comparisons between products and product ranges Following environmental assessment solutions can then be implemented to reduce impacts and market the more environmentally-friendly products through eco-labels

In order to better understand the supply chain impacts of fi sh and shellfi sh products in 2007 an environmental impact analysis of fi sh and shellfi sh production and consumption was commissioned by Defra the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs This identifi ed all the impacts from each phase of the product lifecycle from catching through to processing transport and retail to consumer use Research includes comparison of the environmental impacts of production of wild fi sh with the production of farmed fi sh through aquaculture methods Comparing the environmental impacts of wild fi sh versus farmed is very complex but because of the huge increase in demand for fi sh and seafood aquaculture will by necessity play a signifi cant role in providing for the increased market It is hoped that in the same way that MSC has helped to increase sustainability of some wild caught fi sh stocks the new ASC standard will help to ensure the increased sustainability of the aquaculture sector

For learn more about how SGS can help improve the sustainability of your seafood operations contact sanderbuijssgscom

FOOD CONTAMINANTS PAH P 12

CONTAMINANTS IN FOOD POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHrsquoS) IN FOODPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHrsquos) are a group of toxic substances several of which can cause cancer in humans The most infamous is benzo-a-pyrene (BAP) a compound that the body can metabolise to a carcinogenic form Other PAHrsquos include anthracene pyrene benz-a-anthracene PAHrsquos in food are analysed by means of HPLC which separates and quantifi es the 19 most important polycy-clic aromatics

PAHrsquos originate from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials such as wood fossil fuels and tobacco (up to 100μgm3) In nature they can occur as a result of volcanic activity and during forest fi res In industrial processes (aluminium industry oil refi neries coal fi red power stations (up to 1000μgm3) PAHrsquos are also emitted PAHrsquos can also be produced as a result of vehicle emissions waste treatment processes and agriculture As food is a carbon-containing material food products can become contaminated with PAHrsquos during production or in preparation such as when barbequing meat fi sh is smoked or during grilling

PAHrsquos are chemically inert as they are made up of several benzene rings and sometimes in combination with a fi ve carbon ring As a result of this chemical structure they are virtually insoluble in water but very soluble in body fat They also easily stick to organic particles (soot) and as such are easily spread through the air where they can contaminate leafy vegetables PAHrsquos are not particularly reactive but under the infl uence of light they react with chlorine bromine and oxygen to form about 260 different chemical compounds In nature the half life of PAHrsquos varies from a few days to months hence they are rather stable Microbial metabolism is the major process for

degradation for PAHs in the soilKnowledge of the ways in which PAHs are produced gives an indication of the routes of entry into humans These includebull Inhalation of contaminated air containing particles or absorption through the skinbull Drinking of waterbull Consuming food contaminated with PAHrsquosOf course one should not overlook cigarette smoke as an important source of contamination by PAHrsquos

From a toxicological point of view a lot of attention has been paid to PAHrsquos as they are widespread and exhibit carcinogenic characteristics People who have been exposed over a long time to PAHrsquos can show increased incidents of cancer One should bear in mind that these people could have also been exposed to other toxic substances at the same time and thus appearance of cancer from PAHrsquos can only be taken as indicative Also on the basis of epidemiological research indications of PAH causing cancer are inferred

Due to the fact that a lot of food was found to contain PAHrsquos the Scientifi c Committee on Food of the EU advised in Dec 2004 to reduce the intake of PAHrsquos to a minimum BAP as the most carcinogenic substance was taken as the reference and was normalized in Commission Regulation (EC) No 18812006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs

INDUSTRY NEWS - US OUTDOOR ACT P 13

US OUTDOOR ACT TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH IN THE OUTDOOR APPAREL INDUSTRY On July 10 2009 the ldquoUnited States Optimal Use of Trade to Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Actrdquo HR 3168 and S 1439 the ldquoUS OUTDOOR ACTrdquo was introduced for review by the US Senate The bill is the successful result of two years of development and consultation between the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) manufacturers of outdoor apparel the US textile industry and Congress

As currently proposed the bill has three main elements(1) The creation of new classifi cations

in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule specifi c to lsquoRecreational Performance Outerwearrsquo Recreational Performance Outerwear as defi ned by the Act includes special designs technologies and functions to facilitate outdoor activities including skiing snowboarding mountaineering etc It does not include occupational outerwear or garments

(2) The elimination of disproportionately high tariffs on imported recreational performance outdoor products that can average 17 (compared to average tariffs of around 2) while sustaining the competitiveness and benefi ts of US-based manufacturing business

(3) Support for the creation of jobs in the active outdoor recreation industry and funding for new technologies to develop eco-friendly and sustainable textile and apparel supply chains and products

As part of the Act companies that benefi t from the reduced tariffs will be required to deposit a portion of their savings to a fund program called lsquoSustainable Textile and Apparel Research Fundrsquo to be known as the

STAR Fund This fund will award competitive grants to non-profi t organisations to initiate research and development projects that enhance the competitiveness of the outdoor apparel business in the United States The establishment of this fund encourages the implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices through effective supply chain management minimizing the use of natural resources reducing the use of toxins reducing climate change emissions and other sustainability goals

The bill provides a win-win for both the outdoor industry and consumers Consumers would see reductions in the cost of products and brands would realize enhanced product quality while the availability of funding will help to make sustainability improvements throughout the supply chain

The legislation would use market-based mechanisms to encourage the development of technologies to propel the domestic outdoor apparel industry into the future of environmentally-friendly design and practice at the same time making outdoor apparel more affordable for Americans The enactment of this important legislation would encourage healthy and active lifestyles and the enhancement protection and conservation of our planet

Since SGSrsquos became a shareholder of bluesign technologies AG in July 2008 the effort by both companies has realized a joint synergy and can provide innovative reliable and practical solutions for the outdoor apparel sector Using bluesignrsquos expertise in the manufacturing of all types of apparel and SGSrsquos history as a trusted third party we are well positioned to assist US companies in pursuing more sustainable production methods and effi ciencies throughout the supply chainFor further information please contact kriswansgscom

P 14INDUSTRY ROUND UP

PRECIOUS METAL

Nylon may be nasty to wear but it scrubs up well inside a washing ma-chine

The ability of synthetic fi bres to attract and retain dirt and stains has being exploited by Xeros a laundry machine company from the University of Leeds UK to developed a new laundry system which uses no more than a cup of water to wash each load of fabrics and uses much less energy than conventional devices

This new laundry system uses thousands of tiny nylon beads each measuring a few millimetres across These are placed inside the smaller of two concentric drums along with the dirty laundry a squirt of detergent and a little water As the drums rotate the water wets the clothes and the

WASHING WITHOUT WATER

Forget peaking oil prices sky-rocketing lithium prices could create the next commodity spike If the current hype for electric vehicles (EV) turns into reality then huge quantities of this metallic

detergent gets to work loosening the dirt Then the nylon beads mop it up

The crystalline structure of the beads endows the surface of each with an electrical charge that attracts dirt When the beads are heated in humid conditions to the temperature at which they switch from a crystalline to an amorphous structure the dirt is drawn into the core of the bead where it remains locked in place

The inner drum containing the clothes and the beads has a small slot in it At the end of the washing cycle the outer drum is halted and the beads fall through the slot some 9995 of them are collected

Because so little water is used and the warm beads help dry the laundry less tumble drying is needed Thru

environmental tests Xeros reckoned its carbon footprint was 40 smaller than the most effi cient existing systems for washing and drying laundry

element are going to be needed But with consumer electronics already devouring known lithium reserves will there be enough lithium to meet increasing demand

Just as lithium batteries now dominate most portable consumer electronic items such as laptops and mobile phones lithium ion batteries look set to take over from the nickel metal hydride chemistries that are currently used in most hybrid and electric vehicles This is because lithium is not toxic and has a high specifi c energy content For the moment it is also cheap and readily available

But concerns have already arisen about the sustainability and availability of lithium A detailed study was recently conducted by the French consultancy Meridian International Research One of the key fi ndings was that if demand

from the portable electronics sector continues to grow at 25 per annum as it has done in recent years by 2015 there will only be 30000 tonnes of high-purity lithium left for the automotive industry This it says would be suffi cient for less than 15 million EVs worldwide

It remains to be seen to what extent lithium will be in short supply in the future but it would be surprising if some kind of battle did not ensue between the automotive and consumer electronic industries as each looks to secure its future needs While an EV battery needs 3000 times as much lithium as a mobile phone battery there will be hundreds of millions more phones sold globally than EVs The price of lithium is already on the rise ndash as of mid-2009 it was around $6600 a tonne compared to $2500 at the start of the decade

ORGANIC IS NOT HEALTHIER

BRIGHTER IDEA FOR BENDY DISPLAYS

INDUSTRY ROUND UP P 15

Apart from the price according to the most comprehensive study into the nutritional content of organic food scientists found no signifi cant difference and extra health benefi ts in vitamins and minerals between organic and conven-tionally grown farm produce

Organic food is grown on farms that do not use chemicals such as artifi cial fertilisers and pesticides and is usually more expensive For example an organic chicken can cost three times as much as a conventionally reared bird The billion-pound industry is already struggling in the downturn as shoppers shun the pricier goods and the study is likely to be a further blow

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) which commissioned the research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine concluded there was

A new technique of using inorganic LEDs attaches tiny light-emitting diodes to materials such as glass or rubber allowing them to light up sources like brakelights curved surfaces and other places that were once diffi cult to light up

no reason to buy organic food for purely nutritional reasons

Advocates of organic food said the studies failed to take into account the health impact of the ldquococktail of chemicalsrdquo left on conventional food and the environmental benefi ts of growing organic food on wildlife-friendly farms

Gill Fine from the FSA said ldquoThe study does not mean that people should not eat organic food What it shows is there is little if any nutritional difference between organic and conventionally produced foodrdquo

However the study did not look at pesticide residues or the environmental implications of organic food because those subjects were beyond the specialism of the scientists involved

Lord Melchett the policy director of The Soil Association argued that the small differences in minerals and vitamins found in the study did benefi t health

Anthony Worrall Thompson the chef said an organic diet had made him healthier and the study failed to look at the health benefi ts of having no pesticide residues and the environmental benefi ts of organic farms

There are two types of light-emitting diode (LED) technologies inorganic and organic The vast majority of consumer electronics use the inorganic version which is 400 times brighter than the organic one

Professor John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his colleagues have now devised a method that in theory comprises the best of both worlds - bright robust inorganic LEDs that can be processed en masse

The company makes thin inorganic LEDs that can be diced into high quantities in a bath of strong acid The separated elements can then be picked up with a ldquostamprdquo with holes cut precisely to size for the elements and then placed on a wide array of surfaces from glass to plastic to rubber

The devices can be placed far enough

apart that a bright layer of them is practically transparent ldquoBecause you can get away with very low coverage by area it opens up the possibility of making something thatrsquos see-throughrdquo Professor Rogers explained

In the sorf term applications for the approach will be in general lighting or in the illumination of instrument panels but the group is working toward perfecting the application ldquoDisplays remain the ultimate goal - we donrsquot need a new law of physics to enable it itrsquos just more of an engineering questionrdquo he said

P 16SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS RUSSIA NEW LAB

SGS INDONESIA LABORATORY RECEIVES IECISO 17025 ACCREDITATIONOn September 9th 2009 PT SGS Indo-nesia achieved accreditation to IECISO 17025 from the National Accreditation Body of Indonesia (KAN) for its state-of-art laboratory facilities in Cilandak South Jakarta

Speaking in front of the press amp guests SGS President Director Guy Escarfail is pleased to announce SGS Indonesia lab capability to provide a broad spectrum of chemical microbiological and physical testing methods for raw or processed food commodities and products destined for export or domestic consumption

The lab provides one of the highest levels of technical profi ciency in Indonesia considerably raising the benchmark by which other service providers are measured

By this accreditation the SGS Cilandak laboratory has demonstrated its ability to meet the rigorous standards set by ISO and administered by KAN These standards have carefully evaluated test

SGS Vostok Ltd the Russian subsidiary of SGS Group now has a new Food Testing Laboratory (Center) in Moscow It is accredited by the Federal Technical Regulation and Metrology Agency for technical competence and independence (Accreditation certifi cate RU 0001 2127 dated July 28 2009)

The scope of accreditation includes food products and raw materials (meat dairy fi shing bread and baking oil and fat confectionery sugar winemaking and starch industries food concentrates apiculture products etc) and products from perfume

methodologies operational practices and the technical ability of laboratories all over the world

In recognition of the confi dence in our technical capabilities the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Republic of Indonesia (Departemen Kelautan dan Perikanan or DKP) has approved the Cilandak laboratory as an offi cial subcontractor for the testing of fi sh products for export markets in early 2009

In relation to this technical distinction the SGS Indonesia laboratory and certifi cation teams hosted the US FDA in August 2009 for the Pilot Program for Third Party Certifi cation of Aquaculture Shrimp Processors and related testing laboratories By demonstrating the British Retail Consortium (BRC) audit scheme in complement to the technical expertise of its laboratory SGS Indonesia has achieved an elite status in the global supply chain for participation in the quality assurance of shrimp

exports to the US market

The laboratory is also capable of servicing the needs of importers of fresh produce and meat products who according to the recent Decree 27 of the Director General of Quarantine must demonstrate that their products are pesticide free in order to gain market access in Indonesia For further information please contact mardianasgscom

The laboratory is capable of organoleptic and physicochemical analyses (mycotoxins pesticides toxic substances radionuclids nitrosamines antibiotics and others) as well as microbiological and radiation safety of products The facilities are equipped

with state-of-the-art techniques for gas chromatography highly effective liquid chromatography atomic absorption spectroscopy with fl ame and electrothermal ionizations and enzyme-immunoassay

Supported by highly qualifi ed personnel with broad experience in their respective fi elds the application of the latest testing techniques and testing programs guarantees the highest possible accuracy in results For further information please contact grigorybelenkysgscom

P 17SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS CHILE LAUNCHES INTEGRAL SERVICESFOCUSED TO DETERMINE SMOLT QUALITY

SGS EXPANDS GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES TO US MARKET

Over the last 15 years Chilean entrepre-neurs have been developing the Salmon Cluster and as a result currently Chile has become the worldrsquos second-larg-est exporter of salmon and trout after

The SGS Group is now accredited by ANSI as one of the fi rst in the industry to become a Certifi cation Body under the TSCP program

The Toy Safety Certifi cation Program (TSCP) was developed by The US Toy Industry Association (TIA) While many association members are aware of this program it is important that all toy industry stakeholders gain a clear understanding of why this Programis being developed who it will affect and what it entails for all aspects of the industry With many other industry stakeholders SGS has been a leading participant in this process from the beginning and brings you up to date information on all aspects of the program

TIA announced on October 1st that the TSCP was open for business and applicants could start applying for

Norway with salmon exports of a record $24 billion in 2008 as reported in wall-streetjournalcom

However to have the best quality on production of Salmon in an aquaculture system it begins with the Salmon juvenile life stages (smolt) a condition where a young salmon is at the stage intermediate between the parr and the grilse when it becomes covered with silvery scales and fi rst migrates from fresh water to the sea The shared learning process within the salmon farming system has occurred primarily by developing advantages found in Chilersquos southern regions (climate geography and water quality)To giving a competitive edge to the local

salmon producers amp increase the Salmon Smolt quality in fi sh export international market SGS Chile has developed and launched an Integral Services which provide clients with information for productive decision making in freshwater stage as well as an effective evaluation of salmon pre-enter into seaThe stages of integral services encompass of serial testing evaluation and monitoring of the salmon smolt behaviour adaptation dietetic and the sea environment to collect information as much as possible that focus to increase smolt quality For further information please contact felipebanadossgscom

product certifi cation

Upon successful completion of applicable requirements SGS as a Certifi cation Body can certify toys providing clients with advantages such as meeting and providing CPSIA GCC

and COCrsquos availability of tracking label information on line and being able to display the TIA certifi cation mark on the product or packaging For more information please contact stephaniepionchonsgscom

P 18SAFEGUARDS

SOFTLINESAFTER 15 SVHCS WHATrsquoS NEXTIn June 2009 the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) released an intention list comprised of 14 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) that are being considered for inclusion in the candidate list by the end of 2009 The Intention List is expected to be expanded and more SVHCs will be added and incorporated into the candidate list on a regular basis For articles with concentrations of any SVHC above 01 (ww) European Union manufacturers and importers are obliged to provide safe use information for their articles to their recipients The SVHC candidate list(s) to be used depends on the date of supply of articles Suppliers are therefore recommended to prepare for the upcoming SVHC list in addition to the current candidate list Download publication

CONSUMER PRODUCTS

EampEWIRELESS TELECOM - UNIVERSAL CHARGING SOLUTION (UCS) IN EUROPE IN 2010The highly publicized mobile phone Universal Charging Solution (UCS) will be available on the European markets as early as 2010 Though this UCS version will initially be compatible only with European data-enabled phones other countries are expected to adopt similar standards really soon Download publication

MODIFICATION OF EMC EMISSION REQUIREMENTS IN EUROPEThe international standardisation body IECCISPR has modifi ed the requirements of CISPR 14-1 Edition 50 (2005-11) for household appliances electrical tools and similar apparatus in 2008 These modifi cations have been published by CISPR in CISPR 14-1 Edition 50 Amendment 1 (2008-11)1 Download publication

DEREGULATION OF PACKAGE SIZES FOR MOST PRE-PACKED GOODS (IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE 200745EC)These Regulations repeal all specifi ed or prescribed quantities (the fi xed sizes certain products must be sold in) for all pre-packaged goods except wines and spirits and amend the prescribed quantities for prepackaged wines and spirits by reducing the ranges that are covered and adding new sizes Download publication

CPSIA 28On August 26 2009 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a fi nal rule on materials that do not exceed the lead content limits under section 101 (a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA)sup1 Download publication

P 19SAFEGUARDS

HARDLINES

A NEW EUROPEAN STANDARD FOR OUTDOOR FURNITUREEN 581-22009 Outdoor Furniture - Outdoor furniture - Seating and tables for camping domestic and contract use - Part 2 Mechanical safety requirements and test methods for seating has been prepared by Technical Committee CENTC 207 ldquoFurniturerdquo and published This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement at the latest by October 2009 and confl icting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by October 2009 Download publication

ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA FOR AWARDING EU ECO-LABEL TO BED MATTRESSESThe ecological criteria for the award of the eco-label to bed mattresses have recently been published In order to be awarded the Community eco-label under Regulation (EC) No 19802000 specifi c criteria are set for a variety of materials and articles Download publication

US BPA UPDATESThe New York State Counties of Albany and Schenectady recently approved measures to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and beverage containers Download publication

FOODNICOTINE IN WILD MUSHROOMSRecently the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) received a request from the European Commission for information regarding the risks to human health due to the presence of nicotine in wild mushrooms The concern was the elevated levels which had been detected at concentrations up to 05mgkg The Commission had been informed that dried wild mushrooms (mainly the Boletus edulis variety and truffl es) possibly contained levels of nicotine higher than the default MRLsup1 of 001 mgkg on a fresh weight basis It was further stated that 99 of samples tested from 2008 production did not comply with the current MRL this was irrespective of the product origin although most came from China Download publication

REVISED STANDARDS FOR FIRE SAFETY FOR CANDLES AND CANDLE ACCESSORIESASTM has announced the release of newly revised standards ASTM F2417 ldquoStandard Specifi cation for Fire Safety for Candlesrdquo and ASTM F2601 ldquoStandard Specifi cation for Fire Safety for Candle Accessoriesrdquo Download publication

P 20SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS-CSTC COOPERATED WITH NLFRM FORIMPROVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESEFLAMMABILITY TECHNOLOGY

SGS EXPANDS GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

With the development of macromolecule materials industry plastics rubber and fi bre have been widely used in the fi eld of construction chemistry army and traffi c But in recent years the frequen-cy of fi re disaster has been increased a lot by the deathful fl ammabilityfeature of macromolecule materials

Concern on this issue SGS-CSTC has signing strategy cooperation contract with National Lab of Fire Resistance Materials (NLFRM) in fi eld of studying fl ammability technology development on last 31 August Through this cooperation both will utilize each otherrsquos resources and strength to enhance the fl ammability development in China pushing fl ammability technology to be updated for improving product safety and quality

SGS Consumer Testing Services recently has announced the expansion of its global sustainability services to the US market with a new sustainability program designed to assist companies in evaluating the environmental impact of their products and operations lsquogreeningrsquo their supply chains validating environmental labeling claims and otherwise supporting corporate sustainability initiatives

Services range from product lifecycle analysis to carbon foot printing restricted substances testing and social responsibility risk assessment The SGS US team will interface with SGS offi ces in Europe and Asia to assist in providing sustainability servicesacross global supply chains

We will lead the development of Chinese fl ammability technology development by combining practice and theory with national most authoritative technology constitution NLFRMrdquo SGS-CSTC HL director Jeffery saidldquo The other focus of the cooperation is that we will develop the superior technology talented people for Chinese fl ammability industry

NLFRM director professor Yang Rong Jie saidldquoChinese fl ammability industry has big development potential but its technology level needs to be improved Recently with increasing requirement on products testing and certifi cation we should grasp the chance of cooperating with SGS-CSTC to strengthen the technology communication and studying in the fi eld of fl ammability industry

through SGSrsquos huge network resource and its authoritative testing and certifi cation in different industries We will learn advance fl ammability technology standard rules and international accepted testing method to push nurturing talented people in the fi eld of national fl ammability and update the fl ammability technologyrdquo

This cooperation has brought both advantages where SGS not only study the latest international requirement amp development on fl ammability but also offer national manufacturer the relative training and professional solution for meeting the standard to assist them learning detail of fl ammability requirement home and abroad For further information please contact janejiangsgscom

Spearheaded by Jennifer McDonnell the Business Development Manager Global Sustainability Services she is a sustainability expert with international experience in creating strategic waste reduction and recycling programs developing eco-friendly productand packaging criteria managing renewable energy installations and energy effi ciency upgrades and related activities ldquoCompanies are increasingly being evaluated for their performance in the areas of environmental social and economic sustainability In the environmental arena in particular they need guidance in making product-focused decisions such as choosing the most effi cient effective and ecological packaging option or developing best

practices for eco-responsible materials sourcingrdquo McDonnell said ldquoSGS brings rigor and clarity to this often-complex process by providing quantitative metrics and scenario modeling for informed decision-making Our tools can help companies make concrete progress toward improving their performance and ensuring transparencyrdquo

The SGS consumer products sustainability services complement and enhance other company services including corporate socialresponsibility compliance audits materials and performance testing quality inspections systems compliance and emissions verifi cationFor further information please contactjennifermcdonnellsgscom

copy 2009 SGS SA All rights reserved This newsletter is a publication of SGS SA although certain contents have been submitted by third parties or have otherwise been licensed for use by SGS SA and all copyrights in such third party contents remain vested in such third parties Contents identifi ed as being from third parties refl ect solely the positions of such third parties and SGS SA neither endorses nor disapproves of said contents This newsletter 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 ldquoas isrdquo 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 The information may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication or proceeding without the prior written consent of SGS SA

AMERICAS SGS US TESTING SERVICES291 Fairfi eld Ave Fairfi eld New Jersey 07004Tel +1 973 575 5252 Fax +1 973 575 1193E-mail MarketingCTSUSsgscom

ASIA HONG KONG SGS HONG KONG LTD5-8F amp 28F Metropole Square On Yiu Street Siu Lek YuenShatin NT Hong Kong SARTel +852 2334 4481 Fax +852 21447001E-mail mktghksgscom

EUROPE SGS SA SGS UNITED KINGDOM LTD7th Floor Westgate Hanger LaneLondon W5 1YYTel +44 (0) 20 8991 3410 Fax +44 (0) 20 8991 3417E-mail gbctssalessgscom

GET THEM WHEN THEY COME OUTDid you know that you can subscribe to ldquoConsumer Compactrdquo ldquoIntrordquo and ldquoSafeGuardsrdquo

To subscribe click here wwwsgscomConsumerSubscribe

SUBSCRIPTIONS

REGIONAL CONTACTS

MIDDLE EAST SGS SGEKS AS ABIDE-I Hurriyet Cad GecitSk No10 Sisli Istanbul TurkeyTel +90 212 368 40 00 Fax +90 212 296 47 8283E-mail sgsturkeysgscom

AUSTRALIASGS AUSTRALIA PTYLTDSuite 1 Enterprise Unit 3 de LaeterWay Technology Park BENTLEY WA 6102Locked Bag 10 Bentley Deliver Center Tel +61 (0) 3 97903418 Fax +61 (0) 3 9701 0988E-mail auctssgscom

P 21REGIONAL CONTACTS

WWWSGSCOMCTS

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EDITORIAL P 2

IN THIS ISSUE

Dear Readers

Since the 1960rsquos Star Trek the cult science-fi ction TV show has showcased some of the most imaginative gadgets and gizmos even if they did not exist The lsquotransporterrsquo was one of the most unbelievable devices tele-porting people and objects through space The lead article in this issue of Consumer Compact shows how science is turning fi ction into fact as we discover how 3-D printers are able to make copies of physical objects speeding up the time and reducing the cost involved in product design

The topic of sustainability continues to occupy the minds of suppliers and buyers alike We take a closer look at how smarter sustainable practices can be applied to the seafood indus-try ndash in the wild and on the farm

As consumers continue to tighten their belts the OUTDOOR Act was passed it the US The legislation intends to eliminate tariffs on im-ports of outdoor performance apparel into the US as well as fund research into sustainable manufacturing technology A special feature explores this win-win solution for the outdoor apparel industry

Finally Industry Round Up SGS in the News and summaries of the latest editions of Safe-Guards our technical bulletins completes this edition

Download Consumer Compact from the left-hand column

Yours

The Editorial Team

FOR ENQUIRIES

Achmad IrfanGlobal Marketing amp Communication Assistant

T + 62 (0)21 781 81 11 F + 62 (0)21 780 05 61achmadirfansgscom wwwsgscomConsumerSubscribe

DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATION Frankie NgEDITOR IN CHIEF Paul KanwarEDITORIAL TEAM Achmad IrfanDimas Abdul KadirBogdan Miclaus

EDITORIAL

FOOD AS DRUGS

Butter substitutes that can keep cholesterol levels in check live bacteria injected into yoghurt to help digestion infant cereals enhanced with the right micro-nutrients essential for development and so on Are we dreaming Are our staple food items now being developed in a laboratory These are ldquofunctional foodsrdquo blurring the line between foods and drugs and which hold the promise of higher margins and faster growth Food companies have taken to proclaiming the supposed health and nutritional benefi ts of their products for obvious reasons Such products appeal to both health-conscious buyers and to those who hope the additional vitamins will offset their unhealthy diets Surely if there are health benefi ts then shouldnrsquot functional foods be regulated under the same conditions as pharmaceuticals

As sales of functional foods continue to experience a healthy increase government regulators in both the EU and the US have begun to take a closer look They are concerned that some of the health claims being made may be misleading or unsupported by scientifi c evidence In late October the US FDA announced that it would strengthen the rules for nutritional claims on food labels and plans to issue new standards early next year To show that it means business the FDA recently rebuked a food manufacturer for claiming that one of its breakfast cereals was ldquoclinically proven to lower cholesterolrdquo Meanwhile in Europe the Food Safety Authority is also enforcing new laws and insisting that companies back health and nutrition claims with scientifi c studies

The industryrsquos claim that greater regulation will kill innovation is a knee-jerk reaction and off the mark Those fi rms making misleading claims will suffer while those prepared to invest in proper scientifi c studies to back up their supposed breakthroughs will benefi t As for pharmaceuticals smaller fi rms seem to be more innovative than bigger ones If food companies wish to make the sorts of claims about their products that pharmaceutical companies do then they must be prepared to submit to similar scrutiny Extra-ordinary claims after all require extra-ordinary evidence

Paul KanwarEditor in chiefpaulkanwarsgscom

CONTENTS

DESKTOP FACTORIES PAGES 3 - 5

GREEN INSPECTION PAGES 6 - 7

THE NEXT STEP IN TOY SAFETY PAGES 8 - 9RISK ASSESSMENT GAINS GREATER PROMINENCE

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD PAGES 10 - 11

FOOD CONTAMINANT SERIES - PAH PAGE 12

OUTDOOR ACT PAGE 13

INDUSTRY ROUND UP PAGES 14 - 15

SGS IN THE NEWS PAGES 16 - 17 amp 20

SAFEGUARDS PAGES 18 - 19

REGIONAL CONTACTS PAGE 21







DESKTOP FACTORIES




















unnecessary


















Lead

Mercury

Cadmium


PBB amp PBDE








bull EU ndash RAPEX

bull UKndashNWML

bull USA ndash CPSC


bull Korea - MER



























































PRECIOUS METAL



































P 16SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS RUSSIA NEW LAB















P 17SGS IN THE NEWS













P 18SAFEGUARDS


CONSUMER PRODUCTS





P 19SAFEGUARDS

HARDLINES






P 20SGS IN THE NEWS




















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DESKTOP FACTORIES




















unnecessary


















Lead

Mercury

Cadmium


PBB amp PBDE








bull EU ndash RAPEX

bull UKndashNWML

bull USA ndash CPSC


bull Korea - MER



























































PRECIOUS METAL



































P 16SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS RUSSIA NEW LAB















P 17SGS IN THE NEWS













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CONSUMER PRODUCTS





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HARDLINES






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SUBSCRIPTIONS

REGIONAL CONTACTS




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unnecessary


















Lead

Mercury

Cadmium


PBB amp PBDE








bull EU ndash RAPEX

bull UKndashNWML

bull USA ndash CPSC


bull Korea - MER



























































PRECIOUS METAL



































P 16SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS RUSSIA NEW LAB















P 17SGS IN THE NEWS













P 18SAFEGUARDS


CONSUMER PRODUCTS





P 19SAFEGUARDS

HARDLINES






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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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WWWSGSCOMCTS

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009

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Lead

Mercury

Cadmium


PBB amp PBDE








bull EU ndash RAPEX

bull UKndashNWML

bull USA ndash CPSC


bull Korea - MER



























































PRECIOUS METAL



































P 16SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS RUSSIA NEW LAB















P 17SGS IN THE NEWS













P 18SAFEGUARDS


CONSUMER PRODUCTS





P 19SAFEGUARDS

HARDLINES






P 20SGS IN THE NEWS




















SUBSCRIPTIONS

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WWWSGSCOMCTS

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PRECIOUS METAL



































P 16SGS IN THE NEWS

SGS RUSSIA NEW LAB















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CONSUMER PRODUCTS





P 19SAFEGUARDS

HARDLINES






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SUBSCRIPTIONS

REGIONAL CONTACTS




WWWSGSCOMCTS

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CONSUMER PRODUCTS





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HARDLINES






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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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CONSUMER PRODUCTS





P 19SAFEGUARDS

HARDLINES






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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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WWWSGSCOMCTS

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HARDLINES






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SUBSCRIPTIONS

REGIONAL CONTACTS




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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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consumer compact - sgs s.a. · consumer compact the quarterly consumer product publication that...

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