March 2009
40 posts
Senators Seek Interim Ban on Chinese Drywall -... →
Two U.S. Senators have filed a bill seeking a recall and temporary ban of certain Chinese-made drywall, the latest effort to address problems with Chinese-made drywall believed to be emitting unpleasant, sulfurous odors and causing unusual air-conditioner problems in homes from Florida to Louisiana.
China Becoming the World's Malware Factory - PC... →
With China’s economy cooling down, some of the country’s IT professionals are turning to cybercrime, according to a Beijing-based security expert.
Probes into Chinese drywall mount, but yield few... →
The Chinese drywall controversy is snowballing: Investigators from the Consumer Product Safety Commission were in West Florida on Thursday testing homes with the suspect plasterboard. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is testing to determine whether the material can safely be tossed into landfills. And the Florida attorney general’s office has launched an investigation into...
Chinese drywall attracts federal scrutiny -... →
LAKEWOOD RANCH - A Washington, D.C., team of investigators with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was in Southwest Florida on Thursday inspecting the electrical and air-conditioning systems of four homes as part of its growing inquiry into defective Chinese drywall.
Feature: As China grapples with food safety,... →
No single agency or ministry in China is solely responsible for food safety, and it’s often difficult for the shopper to know what’s allowed, what’s banned, and what’s safe. Labels sometimes contain correct but obscure chemical descriptions, which are confusing to the ordinary consumer. Packaging isn’t always safe, either.
“I am wondering what’s in this flour. Are there additives, and are they...”
– Wang Jinghua as she shopped in an outlet of Walmart in southwest Beijing
China Blamed For Homeowners' Nightmare - CBS News →
(CBS) George and Brenda Brincku spent their life savings to building their dream home in 2004.
But before long their castle was crumbling, reports CBS Evening News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.
Safety norms attached to Chinese toys... →
New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) China labelled as discriminatory the conditions imposed by India for importing toys made there and said New Delhi should apply the same ‘safety standards’ criteria for goods shipped in from other nations.
BBC NEWS - China milk scandal penalty upheld →
One of the men convicted over a milk contamination scandal in China has lost his appeal against the death sentence.
AFP: China court accepts first milk scandal... →
BEIJING (AFP) — A Chinese court has officially accepted the first lawsuit seeking compensation for last year’s tainted milk scandal, state media said Wednesday, opening up the possibility of a flood of court actions.
GAO Study Links Duty Circumvention with Evasion of... →
Since June 2007, Chinese shrimp have been subject to a food safety “Import Alert” issued by FDA and antidumping orders issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce. However, by transshipping or improperly labeling products, Chinese shrimp have been able to enter the United States despite the Alert while companies are simultaneously avoiding payment of antidumping duties. In September...
Florida: Drywall has material that can emit... →
(CNN) — Strontium sulfide, a material that can emit corrosive gases in moist air, was found at trace levels in testing of Chinese-made drywall, the Florida Department of Health said.
The Associated Press: 2 China officials fired over... →
BEIJING (AP) — Two Chinese health officials have been fired for mismanagement in the reporting of hand, foot and mouth disease and investigators are looking into a possible cover-up, state media said Monday.
China Fires 8 Top Regulators Over Milk Scandal -... →
HANGHAI — China said Friday that eight senior regulators were fired last week for “slack supervision” in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six children and sickened over 300,000 last year.
Congressional Chicken Run - WSJ.com →
Beijing announced last week that it will file a case against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization over Washington’s effective ban on imports of cooked chicken from China. Which means a bout of food-safety-inspired protectionism is coming home to roost.
Consumerism hasn't caught on yet in China -... →
BEIJING — Wang Zhibo runs a successful business, has plenty of money in the bank and would love to buy a house and trade in his humble second-hand car for a $14,600 Volkswagen Santana 3000.
“We have a series of very critical food safety issues in China that need to be...”
– U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro
Influential U.S. lawmaker blasts China food safety... →
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has “serious issues” with food imports from China and needs to do more to ensure contaminated products don’t enter the U.S. food supply, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro told the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit on Wednesday.
“More than free trade, though, I believe in fair trade. That means we must...”
– Gary Locke, Obama commerce pick, vows strict trade enforcement
Nordstrom recalls some China-made girls' shoes |... →
NEW YORK, March 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Tuesday a voluntary recall of some Chinese-made girls’ shoes sold at upscale department store chain Nordstrom Inc (JWN.N), citing a lead hazard.
Drywall from China blamed for problems in homes -... →
Real estate agent Felix Martinez thought he’d found his dream house when he bought the 3,500-square-foot beauty in Homestead, Fla., two years ago.
The White House - Press Office - Weekly Address:... →
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced the appointments of Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as the Principal Deputy Commissioner, as well as the creation of a new Food Safety Working Group. This Food Safety Working Group will be chaired by the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Department...
China investigates 76,500 fake food cases in 2008... →
BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) — Industrial and commercial authorities across China investigated about 76,500 fake food cases in 2008, which involved 274 million yuan (about 40.3 million U.S. dollars) in value, according to a high-level meeting on consumption held Saturday.
WatchA new device is designed to help people stop smoking, but the FDA may ban the device. CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
FDA hazy on e-cigarettes' safety - CNN.com →
(CNN) — At first glance, it looks like the real thing. It’s white, with a brown filter. When the tip glows red, a smoke-like puff follows. But this is not a typical cigarette — it’s an “e-cig.” A what? An electronic cigarette.
Ryobi recalls corded circular saws due to hazard →
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
China protests U.S. poultry rule at WTO meeting |... →
GENEVA (Reuters) - China complained about a U.S. law blocking imports of Chinese poultry products at a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on Thursday.
Can High Quality, Affordable EVs Be Made in China?... →
I clearly remember a very interesting debate I was involved in while at Tesla. The debate was about the manufacturing strategy for the WhiteStar (now known as the Model S) sedan.
Governments in China urged to thoroughly enforce... →
BEIJING, March 12 — China’s Cabinet on Tuesday ordered all governments in China to get ready for a new food safety law, brought in in the wake of the tainted milk powder scandal last year.
Despite new law, some children's products contain... →
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — New product safety laws targeting lead and other child hazards that took effect last month are designed to protect young consumers.
“People’s concern on food safety rises with each passing day”
– Yan Huiying, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
Overlapping administration, lax supervision blamed... →
BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) — A political advisor on Sunday blamed overlapping administration among different government departments and lax supervision as “major ills” for the repeated food safety scandals in China.
Top legislator: Milk scandal prompts Chinese... →
BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) — China’s parliament put the draft food safety law high on its agenda last year after a milk contamination scandal caused widespread panic and public grumbles, top legislator Wu Bangguo said Monday.
China's Food Safety Comes Vice-Premier: State... →
BEIJING, March 9 (Bernama) - China’s battered food safety will come under the eye of the top leadership under a vice-premier, state media reported Monday.
The Associated Press: Chinese courts begin to... →
BEIJING (AP) — Hundreds of families with children sickened in last year’s tainted milk scandal are planning to file lawsuits against the dairy companies involved after a top justice official said courts will accept the cases, an organizer of victims’ families said Wednesday.
“At present, China’s food security situation remains grim with high risks...”
– China Health Ministry (Bernama.com)
Some skeptical of China's new food safety law -... →
BEIJING — Following recent tainted milk and pet food scandals that damaged the “Made in China” brand worldwide, some Chinese experts and consumers are worried that the country’s first food safety law may not be enough to prevent a repeat.