In a 1 April letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, scores of House Democrats called for baby products to be exempted from the import tariffs on Mainland China, Hong Kong, Canada and Mexico.

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a direct final rule adopting the latest version of ASTM F406, with modifications, as the mandatory safety standard for non-full-size baby cribs.

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adverse comments by 28 February (play yards) or 3 March (baby cribs), in which case the applicable rule will be withdrawn.

‘No sustainability, no sale’ was the message at Playtime & Kid’s Hub New York show, with exhibitors keen to parade their green credentials.

Consumers are favouring gender-neutral clothing for babies and children, according to exhibitors at Manhattan’s Playtime & Kid’s Hub expo.

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.

US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a final rule to establish a consumer product safety standard for nursing pillows.

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.

On 9 October, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued guidelines on the filing of records on formula foods for infants. Prior to production, manufacturers producing and selling such foods in mainland China must complete record-filing by submitting information to the provincial‑level market regulator on aspects such as food ingredients, additives and formulations.