ISO 9001:2015, Quality Management System and its guidance companion, ISO 9000, were published on 23 September 2015. Alongside the publication and now available is the online comparison guide 'BSI Essentials: 9001'.
ISO 14001, the environmental management systems standard, is now available. The standard has undergone its first revision for 10 years and was published on 15 September 2015.
BS EN 71 demonstrates to authorities that a product complies with the European Directive. It was revised 2014 to include mechanical and physical properties of toys to prevent children from choking, trapping their fingers or injuring themselves on a toy. Manufactuers and importers are now oblged to ensure no unsafe toys enter the market.
Although it has been recently reported that regulations regarding the use of e-cigarettes in the UK are to be tightened – specifically their use in enclosed spaces in Wales – in America the opposite seems to be happening, with proposed government regulations looking to be eased.
On 8 June, new EU regulations came into force capping cross-border fees, reports DFNI Online. Fair Payment Alliance (FPA) confirmed that with the national interchange rates regulated, debit and credit card transactions would now be more competitive for retailers and consumers.
A new mobile app has been developed by Bureaus Veritas Consumer Products Services (BVCPS) to help retailers, brands, manufacturers and importers stay updated on standards and regulations.
The death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes after being hit on the head by a cricket ball sent shockwaves around the world. In response, the ICC agreed that the British Standard BS 7928:2013 Specification for head protectors for cricketers should be adopted on a global scale. In line with this, both Cricket Australia and Cricket New Zealand have withdrawn their 1997 standard in favour of the British Standard.
The issue of businesses posting fake reviews online has become a bit of a problem recently, so much so that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to launch an investigation into it.
Businesses have joined forces with NGOs and investors to call for stronger standards from the Palm Oil Certification Group. In a letter published this week, some of the world's biggest consumer brands such as PepsiCo and Starbucks have urged the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to strengthen its standards.
