On 6 June, the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation announced that it has prepared implementation specifications for quality supervision and random inspections of 132 types of products in accordance with the Administrative Regulations of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Product Quality, the Interim Measures on Administration of Product Quality Supervision and Random Inspection and other regulations, and in alignment with revisions to relevant product standards.
CBP is reclassifying training pants as sanitary pads under HTSUS 9619.00.61 (10.8 percent duty), 9619.00.64 (14.9 percent duty) or 9619.00.74 (16 percent duty) rather than as women’s or girls’ briefs under HTSUS 6108.21.00 (7.6 percent duty), 6108.22.90 (15.6 percent duty) or 6208.92.00 (16 percent duty) or as babies’ garments under HTSUS 6111.30.50 (16 percent duty).
The CPSC has updated the mandatory safety standards for play yards and non-full-size baby cribs to incorporate by reference the latest versions of the voluntary standard for these products. The revised standards will apply from 5 April unless the CPSC receives significant adverse comments by 28 February (play yards) or 3 March (baby cribs), in which case the applicable rule will be withdrawn.
On 18 November, the General Administration of Customs announced that it will carry out random inspections of some import and export commodities not listed in the catalogue of commodities subject to statutory inspection. The objective is to protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers and safeguard health and safety. Import commodities that will be subject to inspections include stationery for students, baby products and electronic products. Export commodities include children’s toys.
The CPSC has determined that certain revisions made to the voluntary safety standard for soft infant and toddler carriers (ASTM F2236-14) improves the safety of these products and has therefore updated the applicable mandatory standard to incorporate these revisions. Separately, the CPSC will accept public input through 21 January on a proposal to establish new performance and revised labelling requirements to address potentially deadly hazards associated with neck floats.