Taunusstein, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/06/2012 -- Foodborne viral outbreaks are ever present in the media spotlight. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported that viral agents were responsible for 11.9% of the foodborne outbreaks in the European Union (EU) during 2007, coming second only to Salmonella as the most common causation agent group.

Undetected food contamination
Foodborne viral infections often go undetected and differ from bacterial infections in that, once present in food, viruses will neither alter the taste nor the aspect of the particular product. Food poisoning cases such as the contamination of dried tomatoes in France 2010, semi-dried tomatoes in Australia and the Netherlands in 2009 and 2010 respectively, usually implicate norovirus (NoV) or hepatitis A virus (HAV.) 19 member states of the EU reported a total of 697 outbreaks of the Norovirus in 2008. For those outbreaks that were verified, noroviruses were the most frequent cause, followed by HAV.

Enteric viruses can be very infectious. Norovirus inoculums, which cause the "stomach flu", vomiting and diarrhoea, can infect an individual with levels as low as ten viral particles. They can survive for long periods in food and water and are generally more resistant to chemical and UV disinfection, filtration and pasteurization than microorganisms.

Food may be contaminated by viruses during all stages of the food supply chain, and transmission can occur by consumption of food contaminated during the production process or contaminated by infected food handlers. Removal of viruses by ultrafiltration membranes or inactivation by prolonged heating or optimal UV treatment is possible; however these viruses survive reasonably well in adverse conditions. Therefore, the EFSA panel (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/panels/contam.htm) recommends focusing controls on preventive measures rather than trying to remove or inactivate viruses from food.

Regulatory measures
Regulatory officials, in order to combat the dangers associated with foodborne viruses, are pursuing various possible measures.

- The EFSA published a report in 2011 on "scientific opinion regarding an update of the present knowledge on the occurrence and control of foodborne viruses".

- This year, an expert working group created by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), is expected to publish a standard method for the detection of norovirus and hepatitis A virus in food.

- The CODEX Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) is also working on a guideline which is now ready for final adoption.

- European Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2005:338:0001:01:EN:HTML) of 15 November 2005 indicates that "Foodstuffs should not contain micro-organisms or their toxins or metabolites in quantities that present an unacceptable risk for human health", underlining that methods are required for foodborne virus detection.

Measure viral risks
Foodborne viruses constitute a real concern to the safety of food. SGS has implemented analytical methods based on the expected standard method from CEN and offers microbiological testing services (http://www.sgs.com/en/Agriculture-Food/Food/Primary-Production/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Microbiological-Tests.aspx) to food companies which can help to measure viral risks and integrate foodborne virus testing in their analytical surveillance plans.

For more information on foodborne virus testing and analytical surveillance, please contact the SGS experts.

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Ron Wacker, PhD
Global Business Development Manager Food Testing
SGS Germany

t: +49 6039 4696540
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Concerns surrounding food safety continue, despite many improvements in food production and handling. Foodborne diseases constantly evolve and new infections are often discovered. In addition, new challenges to food safety arise from the global nature of the modern marketplace for food.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/21/2012 -- More perishable foods are now routinely shipped around the world than at any point in history. These include fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and processed foods. For example, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS), US food imports grew from $41 billion in 1998 to $71 billion in 2007.

Increasing outbreaks of diseases
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that foodborne disease outbreaks markedly increased in 2009 and 2010 due to imported food. This was the result of findings from a CDC review of outbreaks recorded for implicated foods that were imported into the United States in its Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System over the period 2005-2010. During these five years there were 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses linked to food imports from 15 countries. Nearly half of the outbreaks recorded occurred in 2009 and 2010. The most common cause of disease outbreaks from implicated imported food came from fish, followed by spices and nearly 45 percent of the foods causing outbreaks originated from Asia.

Preventive measures
To verify and monitor the food safety standards in use abroad, and particularly in developing countries, is naturally a difficult task. Nonetheless, commerce and consumers demand confidence that imported food meets sufficient levels of safety so that incidents of foodborne illness are reduced or even prevented altogether.

For this reason the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) was established as a nonprofit organization under Belgian law in May 2000. The GFSI is managed by The Consumer Goods Forum and measures the actual food standards in use against food safety criteria, develops consumer awareness, fosters exchange of information in supply chains and reviews good retail practices. The most recent version of the "GFSI Guidance Document" (http://www.mygfsi.com/gfsi-benchmarking-general/guidance-document.html) was published in January 2011. This sets out processes, such as how to implement the specific requirements that enable commercial food safety programs to gain GFSI recognition.

Eight major US and international food retailers signed up to GFSI benchmark food safety programs in June 2007. Each retailer is aligned with a common criteria defined by food safety experts, the objective of which is to make the production of food as safe as possible. The original retailers, Carrefour, Tesco, ICA, Metro, Migros, Ahold, Walmart and Delhaize agreed a common acceptance of GFSI benchmarked schemes to minimize duplications in the supply chain. Several other food service, retail and manufacturing companies have since joined them in this approach.

Small business solutions
To implement GFSI requirements and obtain certification may require a considerable investment – a cost food producers in developing countries are often unable to afford – so in 2011 the GFSI announced its Global Markets Capacity Building Program (http://www.mygfsi.com/structure-and-governance/gfsi-technical-committee/gfsi-global-markets-working-group/gfsi-gm.html). This phased program commenced in 2008, when the GSFI identified a lack of technical assistance and support in the development of food safety management systems for smaller and less advanced businesses.

At METRO Jinjiang Cash & Carry, China the former chairman of the Technical Working Group and present Head of Quality Assurance Jan Kranghand said in a prepared statement that the goal is "to ensure that through the adoption of this program, businesses can progress over time in a harmonized and systematic way towards obtaining certification under one of the schemes recognized by GFSI."

The GFSI has also launched a Global Markets Program for Primary Production. Numerous pilot programs have been conducted globally by the GFSI Primary Production Technical Working Group since it was formed in 2010. Covering crops, fruit and vegetables, the program offers the options of basic and intermediate levels in guiding primary producers to full certification under one of the schemes recognized by the GFSI.

The efforts of GFSI are having an impact on the food industry. A study conducted by the University of Arkansas (http://www.uark.edu/home/) and commissioned by Walmart (http://www.walmart.com/) shows that when food manufacturers achieve certification under one of the internationally recognized GFSI benchmarked schemes, their food safety programs are strengthened and safer products result.

The study revealed that suppliers who had implemented a scheme benchmarked by GFSI maintained a well-documented management system for food safety. Suppliers also felt that the safety of their products had improved and their employees were better trained.

If you need more information about SGS Food Safety Solutions (http://www.sgs.com/en/Agriculture-Food/Food.aspx), please contact us.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Jim Cook
Food Safety Technologist
SGS North America, Inc.
291 Fairfield Ave, Fairfield,
New Jersey 07004, USA

t +1 973 461-1493
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS has been a totally independent award organization since 1991. When the Global Marketing team for Guinness (the Irish Stout beer) needed to verify the number of attendees at St Patrick’s Day celebrations worldwide to set their own world record for “The Friendliest Day of the Year”, they required the assistance of a capable global partner with the capability to cover most of their chosen markets. That is why they turned to SGS for help.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/25/2012 -- As one of the most iconic and ubiquitous beer brands in the world, Guinness is instantly recognizable around the globe as a "little piece of Ireland." The global branding team for Guinness decided to attempt to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for "The Friendliest Day of the Year" on St Patrick's Day March 2012. This was a record of truly global proportions, incorporating 26 countries across 4 continents. However, they faced daunting logistics and timing challenges in assembling independent corroboration for the claim and obtaining endorsement in time for a media announcement on the same weekend as the celebration.

Guinness (http://www.guinness.com) called on the services of SGS as one of two partners to help provide independent verification. SGS requested their specialist partners React Surveys for their assistance; they are an associate of the Lodge Group, from which the mystery shopper group SGS Lodge Services in Spain were purchased in 1998.

In order to meet the all-important media deadline for the Monday press, the data from the qualifying venues and the share of the grand total of over 350,000 participants counted by SGS on the night had to be checked, summarized and submitted to GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS for validation by 10am on Sunday. The final press materials then needed to be delivered to global media by 1 pm GMT on Sunday 18th March.

Working to the exacting requirements of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) and within a multidisciplinary team, SGS successfully verified the qualification of participating venues and mass events in 24 out of the 26 countries spanning some 10 time zones. The qualifying headcount was carried out during a short 5-hour window of opportunity between 7 pm and midnight Saturday, with data uploaded to a central web-enabled secure database by 1 am in each time zone on Sunday morning March 18, 2012.

The vast amount of data uploaded on Saturday night was checked and summarized as it came in by two teams from SGS & React working throughout the night. By 10am on Sunday the data had all been finalized, summarized in the required format and exported for scrutiny by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, who then announced the fantastic news that St. Patrick's Day, for the first time ever, had gone down in history as 'The Friendliest Day of the Year'. An announcement to the world's press was then issued immediately from the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

With a staggering 435,456 people joining the campaign in the spirit of friendliness, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS confirmed that the two new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS had been set, marking St Patrick's Day as officially the world's 'Friendliest Day of the Year' (https://secure.guinness.com/en-gb/stpatricks/).

Mark Jarman, Global Marketing Manager for Guinness, commented: "We did it, and we couldn't have done it without SGS and its partners delivering brilliantly. We were pleased to work with SGS because of the fact it is a worldwide and well-respected verification agency with the capacity to bring everything together at a single point. The totals SGS provided, added to the verified totals in the UK and US, made it a truly global "World Record" with over 350,000 participants on the night. Really well done and world record breaking thanks for helping to deliver this!"

About SGS Food Services
With SGS Food Services (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food.aspx) available worldwide, SGS provides you with a range of services including auditing, inspection, testing, brand surveillance, mystery shopping and food labeling reviews for food products according to worldwide food regulations.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS food experts for further information.

Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Jennifer Buckley
Global Food Marketing Manager
SGS North America Inc.
291 Fairfield Ave, 07004 Fairfield, NJ, UNITED STATES

t: +1 (973) 461 1498
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The latest research data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that foodborne disease outbreaks linked to imported foods are on the rise. In all, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported foods from 15 countries. However, nearly half of the outbreaks occurred in 2009 and 2010. Most of the outbreaks were due to fish and spices, which are among the most commonly imported foods.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/24/2012 -- The Food Safety Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement on March 14, 2012 that an analysis of their Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System data for 2005-2010 showed 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses resulted from imported food. Of the 39 outbreaks, 17 occurred between 2009 and 2010 and 17 were associated with fish while 6 were due to spices (5 of these from fresh or dried peppers). Most outbreaks were caused by salmonella or histamine poisoning. In all 15 countries of origin were involved in these outbreaks, and nearly 45 percent of these in Asia.

Although this shows that outbreaks from imported food are increasing in the US, it must be seen against the background of a general increase in import volumes to the United States. In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported 5.6 million imported food shipments into the US. By 2009 this figure had risen to 10.7 million and the CDC has reported that as much as 85 percent of seafood eaten in the US is imported, and depending on the time of the year, 60 percent of fresh produce is imported as well. Overall, imports account for 16 percent of food consumed in the US.

US Congress demanded in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) increases to inspections of foreign facilities to tighten the safeguards of the US food import program. During fiscal year 2011, the FDA inspected around 1,000 of 254,000 registered foreign food facilities. As required by the FSMA the FDA will inspect more food facilities abroad during the 2012 to 2015 fiscal years.

According to import alert 16-105 (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_19.html) the FDA automatically detains seafood products from notorious sources specified on a "red list" due to a history of outbreaks caused by decomposition or histamine formation. Similarly with import alert 99-19 (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_263.html) they automatically detain certain food products potentially containing salmonella. Due to a change introduced by the FSMA in 2001, to detain the product the FDA no longer needs evidence a product can cause harm, illness or death, simply a reason to believe the product could cause harm, illness or death.

About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS performs microbiological testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Agriculture-Food/Food/Primary-Production/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Microbiological-Tests.aspx) for salmonella, other pathogenic microorganisms and histamine in its food laboratories. Throughout its global network, SGS is able to provide a comprehensive range of services, including analytical testing, auditing, inspections and technical support for food companies worldwide.

Please do not hesitate to contact SGS for further information.

Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
Food Safety Technologist
291 Fairfield Ave, Fairfield,
New Jersey 07004, USA

t: +1 973 575 5252
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Southdale, Johannesburg -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/02/2012 -- Delayed for one year to allow the industry extra time to revise their product labels in preparation, South Africa has now established new labeling regulations (R146) that applies to food manufacturers both nationally and internationally and is effective from March 1, 2012. The purpose of the legislation is to inform consumers about their purchasing decisions of food and to prevent the use of misleading or ambiguous food labels.

Recognizing from the latest scientific research and the international Codex guidelines that their existing food labeling regulations were outdated, the South African Department of Health (DoH) replaced regulation R2034 (1993) with new regulation R146. This followed an extensive process of debate, compilation and amendment in 2010 and the new regulations were originally intended to be effective from March 2011, but postponed until March 2012 to allow the industry enough time to make the changes.

Mandatory information now required on food labels include the name and address of the manufacturer, importer or distributor, instructions for use, net content, country of origin, batch identification, use by date, nutrient analysis per 100 g (or per 100 ml of liquids), a list of Ingredients and a list of any common allergens.

With regulation R146 (http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/foodcontrol/advertising/2012/reg0146.pdf), the label must contain the contents of foodstuffs (e.g. colorants, preservative, herbs & spices, etc.) Ingredients must be listed in order of descending mass (not volume). The ingredient weighing the most will be listed first and the ingredient weighing the least will be listed last. Common allergens include gluten, milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish or crustaceans, and major cereals (wheat, rye, barley, and oats).

Various misleading descriptions are prohibited on packaging and labels. These include words or images, marks, logo or descriptions that create the impression foods are endorsed by health practitioners, organizations, institutes or foundations. Exceptions to this rule include religious certification organizations, Fauna & Flora certifications, and organizations accredited under the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).

Further forbidden practices are individual endorsement or testimony implying a nutritional claim, an endorsement of the manufacturer or seller (by a logo, mark, symbol, written or verbal statement). Specific words and phrases forbidden for nutrient claims are "rich in", "excellent source", "good source", "enriched with X", "with added X", "X free" or similar wording, "nutritious", " healthy", "wholesome", "complete nutrition" or "balanced nutrition" or other words or symbols that imply health giving properties, the word "cure" or any other medicinal claim. Other misleading descriptions, e.g. "grain fed", "Karoo lamb", "natural lamb", "country reared", "free range", "pure", and "organic" are also banned. Statements to the effect of being fresh, natural, pure, traditional, original, authentic, real, genuine, homemade, farm house, handmade, selected, premium, finest, quality, best or any other words or pictures which convey similar concepts are also prohibited unless the products are compliant with United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA) criteria.

About SGS Food Safety Services
With SGS Food Safety Services available worldwide, SGS provides you with a range of services including auditing, inspection, nutritional analysis, food labeling reviews (http://www.sgs.com/en/Agriculture-Food/Food/Primary-Production/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Food-Label-Reviews-and-Nutritional-Analysis.aspx), and technical assistance for food products according to worldwide food regulations.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS food experts for further information.

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Deenah Dolley
Service Coordinator
SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
58 Melville St, Booysens, Johannesburg, 2091
PO Box 82582, Southdale, 2135
t: +27 11 681 2567
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

A revised European standard EN 1930:2011 was published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) in December 2011. It concerns the domestic indoor use of child safety barriers across door openings and replaces the current standard EN1930: 2000 and its amendment A1: 2005. European National Standard Organizations bound to CEN/CENELEC have to publish this new document until June 30, 2012.

Bradford, West Yorkshire -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/29/2012 -- Safety barriers used in the home are intended to guard crawling infants and toddlers against accidents such as falling down the stairs and access to the many dangers present in kitchens and bathrooms, such as burns from touching the stove, scalds or impacts from pulling down cooking pots and poisoning from drinking cleaning fluids. Young children under 2 years of age are sometimes violent at play and are always naturally curious and unaware of dangers. They often find inventive ways to overcome barriers such as baby gates, calling for equally inventive safety features to prevent them from doing so.

The 32 national standards organizations bound to CEN (http://www.cen.eu/cen/Sectors/Sectors/Consumer%20products/Pages/default.aspx) have 6 months, in this case until June 30, 2012, to adopt the new standard into their national legislations. In February and March 2012, the French standard (NF EN 1930), the German standard (DIN EN 1930) and the British standard (BS EN 1930) were published without amendment in the journals of their national standards bodies. Further national standards are due for publication soon.

The main changes in the revised standard are the introduction of new hip and finger probes, a new rattle test for the security of the gate as well as improvements to locking devices and the impact test. Some tests in the previous standard have been dropped, on the grounds they are not reproducible, including the ball and chain test and "out of alignment" assessment.

The rattle test enables checking of the fixings, locking devices and opening systems. For example, self closing mechanisms must lock automatically with a visual or audible alert to indicate the barrier is either closed or remains open. The impact test now includes a description of a test frame that will provide a more reproducible test.

About SGS Services for Juvenile Products
To assist manufacturers in the development of juveniles and child care products (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Juvenile-Products-and-Childcare-Articles.aspx), SGS has dedicated experts and services. With its global network, SGS offers physical and mechanical testing, chemical tests, packaging evaluation and inspection services to ensure the compliance of consumer products in their target markets throughout the world.

If you require further information about how SGS can help with compliance to the Safety Barriers Standard, contact:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co., LTD
Catherine Follin-Arbelet
15F, Building B, No. 900 Yishan Road 200233,
Shanghai

t: +86 (021) 6107 8200

SGS United Kingdom Ltd
Melvyn Wolff
Technical Manager
Crossley Hall House,
Thornton Road, Bradford,
West Yorkshire, BD8 0HH

t: +44 (0) 1274 367 994

Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/28/2012 -- To bring legislation in line with provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act 2010 (FSMA) the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an interim final rule and draft guidance for record access requirements on February 23, 2012. The FDA has also updated a question and answer section to the guidance and the interim final rule became effective on March 1, 2012.

The regulations apply to importers, manufacturers, processors, packers, transporters, distributors, receivers and holders of bulk food in the USA. The FDA can request access to the records kept by a company should there exist a reasonable cause to believe a product may be adulterated or that contamination by another product or packaging presents a threat to humans and animals. Exempted from record access requirements are farms, restaurants or retailers of food supplied directly to the consumer and food packaging material except when filled with food and products under United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) jurisdiction.

To enable its surveillance function, the US FDA is granted legal access to all manufacturing records, records of raw materials (ingredients and packaging), receipt records, product distribution records, test records, recall records and reportable food records, customer distribution records, complaint and adverse event records. However, the US FDA does not have the right to access recipes, financial records, pricing data, personnel records, research records and sales records with the exception of shipment data to customers.

It is an obligation for importers, manufacturers, processors and packers to keep records about each specific lot. In addition, importers must also continue to keep records required by the Bioterrorism Act. Precise requirements for the records that have to be kept are found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 1 (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=1), subparts I and J.

Files must be kept for 2 years from the last date recorded and records must be provided within 24 hours of a formal request by the FDA. In the event that the records requested are not provided within 24 hours, the FDA can suspend the facility's registration, detain or seize products, demand mandatory recall and impose an injunction.

About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS is committed to inform interested parties when new developments on legislation occur. Throughout the global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing, auditing, and inspections of food (http://www.sgs.com/en/Agriculture-Food/Food.aspx) articles for worldwide markets. Technical assistance and labeling services also belong to SGS' range of services, throughout their worldwide network of laboratories.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS food experts for further information.

SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
Food Safety Technologist
SGS – North America, Inc.
291 Fairfield Avenue, Fairfield
NJ 07004, USA
t: +1 973 575 5252
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Clenbuterol is a controversial and widely banned fat-burning drug that is added to the feed for pigs and other livestock to enhance muscle growth.

Fairfield, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/07/2012 -- Intended to result in leaner meat with a higher muscle-to-fat ratio, the use of Clenbuterol has been banned in meat since 1991 in USA and since 1996 in the European Union (EU). The drug is banned due to health concerns about symptoms noted in consumers. These include increased heart rate, muscular tremors, headaches, nausea, fever and chills. In the majority of cases these adverse symptoms are temporary.

Clenbuterol is a growth-promoting drug in the beta-agonist class of compounds. It is not licensed for use in China, the United States or the EU for food producing animals, but some countries have approved it for animals not used for food, and a few countries have approved it for therapeutic uses in food producing animals.

A major crackdown by the Chinese authorities in March 2011 involved the arrests of nearly 1000 people and confiscations of large amounts of tainted meat and stores of the drug. The situation has dramatically improved in China since September 2011, when a ban of Clenbuterol was announced by China's Ministry of Agriculture.

Clenbuterol is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee and other international sporting organizations due to its muscle-building properties. This has triggered several instances of claims by athletes who tested as positive for Clenbuterol that the blame lay with meat they had consumed.

In Mexico, where Clenbuterol has been banned for some years, 109 soccer players originating from several countries tested positive in July 2011. Over the next several months, government inspectors in Mexico shut down 14 livestock markets where 99% of 6,421 meat samples tested positive for the drug.

In Spain, Alberto Contador, a top Spanish cyclist was denied his victory in the Tour de France 2010 after testing positive for Clenbuterol. His defense was that he had inadvertently ingested the drug by eating meat in Spain and his case was upheld, despite the fact that very little contaminated meat had been detected from samples taken in Spain or throughout the EU during 2008-2009.

About SGS Food Safety Solutions
SGS laboratories around the world are equipped to perform Clenbuterol testing by employing one of several possible procedures involving microscopy, such as GC/MS, LC-MS/MS and ELISA methods and with an accuracy of one part per billion (ppb) or less.

For more details on SGS Food services contact the SGS Food Safety experts:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
Food Safety Technologist
SGS – North America, Inc.
291 Fairfield Avenue, Fairfield
NJ 07004, USA

t: +1 973 575 5252
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Session Will Address the Role of Collaboration in the Food Supply Chain; Registration Required

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2012 -- SGS Food Services is hosting "McDonald's: Collaboration in Food Safety & Brand Protection," a breakfast session at the 11th Global Food Safety Conference in Orlando, Florida, from 7:45-8:45 am on Friday, February 17. Panelists from McDonald's Corporation, global and local suppliers, a scheme owner and a certification body will provide real-world examples and insights on the role of cooperation in creating a culture of food safety and brand protection from farm to front counter. Registration is required.

The session will be moderated by Steven Sklare, Sales Executive Food Safety Services, SGS, USA. Panelists will include:
- Amy Wilcox, Manager Quality System, US Supply Chain Management, McDonalds, USA
- Roger Bont, Global Quality Assurance Director, Corporate Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Cargill, USA
- LeAnn Chuboff, Senior Technical Director, SQF Institute, USA
- Raul E. Fajardo, VP, Global Quality, McCain Foods Ltd., USA
- Kevin Edwards, Associate Director Food, SGS, USA

The session will be held at the site of the conference, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando. Registration is available at http://www.tcgffoodsafety.com.

SGS is a Premium sponsor of the conference, which runs from February 15-17. The annual event will bring together over 1,000 leading food safety specialists from over 60 countries to advance food safety globally.

As part of its overall Food Services portfolio, SGS offers comprehensive third-party food safety services for the whole food supply chain from farm to fork. Programs include Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification services to ensure compliance with multiple food safety standards. The company's food safety experts will be available at Booth #24 throughout the Global Food Safety Conference to answer questions.

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading verification, testing and certification company. The company's comprehensive testing, product inspection, certification, training and technical services cover the entire supply chain in any given industry around the world. SGS' global network and expertise provide a single consolidated source that can help manufacturers, suppliers and retailers reduce risk, improve efficiency and product quality, ensure compliance to both national and international standards and manage sustainability. With more than 70,000 employees SGS operates a network of more than 1,350 offices and laboratories globally.

Web: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on 13 September 2011 they are taking extra steps to fight E. coli in the food supply. Under the new ruling, should E. coli serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 be found in raw ground beef or the meat used to make raw ground beef, such products will be prohibited from being sold as food in the USA.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/16/2012 -- Just like the more widely known serotype E. coli O157:H7, these non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing serogroups of bacteria can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a blood disease that can result in fatal kidney failure, especially in young children.

Some beef industry processors have already agreed to test all of their lean beef for the non-0157 serogroups, but others continue to challenge the implementation of the new rules, claiming it will unduly impact trade and the meat industry. The Beef Industry Food Safety Council contends the new regulations will cost the industry 173-323 million dollars annually .

While already testing for E. coli O157, Australia, Canada and New Zealand contend that by demanding the testing of imported goods to the USA for further serogroups of E. coli it may violate existing trade agreements under the World Trade Organization (WTO). They argue that the USDA FSIS should provide a risk assessment under Article 5 of the WTO agreement. The USDA issued a draft risk assessment on non-O157 E. coli In August 2011, but it remains unclear whether this was submitted to the WTO. The USDA FSIS have already updated their Microbiological Laboratory Guidebook (MLG 5B.01) to add the detection and isolation of the same non-O157 serogroups in meat products, which became effective November 4, 2011. It specifies a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method for screening and isolating the non-O157 serogroups. On January 13, 2012 one company announced they have developed a commercial method of testing for the non-O157 serogroups.However, the USDA FSIS postponed the implementation of a routine sampling program for these serogroups until June 4, 2012 to allow more time to prepare.

About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS follows up and regularly informs interested parties about the ongoing developments in US and international food safety legislation. SGS is able to provide a wide range of services, which include microbial analysis and analytical testing, auditing, and the inspections of food products for the US and worldwide markets at its global network of laboratories. SGS also provides consultancy and labeling services throughout its worldwide network.

Please contact SGS should you require further information.

Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

On December 5th, 2011 the People’s Republic of China announced a ban on the production and sale of ractopamine. Ractopamine is a controversial nerve stimulant used to increase the yield of lean meat in pigs. Largely banned internationally, it remains legal in some countries, notably the USA.

Xuhui, Shanghai -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/14/2012 -- The Chinese ministries of Industry and Information technology, agriculture, commerce and health as well as the state administration for industry & commerce, general administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine jointly published the ban in a bulletin.

Ractopamine has been listed in "Banned drugs in feed and the water of animals" in China since 2002. However, from December 5th, 2011 the production and marketing of ractopamine has also become banned in China, in accordance with the provisions of the State Council.

As a synthetic beta-adrenoceptor agonist (nerve stimulant), ractopamine is a feed additive used to promote the leanness of pig meat. Ractopamine promotes the growth of muscle tissue, while simultaneously reducing the accumulation of fat in pigs. The drug is often referred to as a new type of "Clenbuterol" with similarities to dopamine hydrochloride and Salbutamol.

Safety regulations concerning ractopamine used for meat production vary around the world. As a veterinary drug, ractopamine is not approved in most countries and using ractopamine is completely banned in 160 countries. The uses of all drugs belonging to the beta-agonist category are specifically banned in the European Union. With a few exceptions for therapeutic purposes, the ban for use in animals for food production in the EU is cited in EC Directive 96/22/EC. Only 24 countries, which include the United States, Canada and Brazil, currently allow the use of ractopamine in livestock. The purpose of using ractopamine is basically to improve the percentage of lean meat obtained from these animals. The maximum residue of ractopamine in swine muscle meat intended for food is limited to 50 ppb in the United States.

About SGS Food Safety Services
With food laboratories worldwide, SGS can test for residues of beta-agonist drugs, including ractopamine. SGS has the testing capability in China to comply with the national and Ministry of Agriculture standard methods. In addition, SGS can perform the tests, with detection levels as low as 0.01 ppb, for a variety of matrixes, such as meat and poultry products, dairy products and seafood.

Please do not hesitate to contact SGS for further information.

Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Roy Zhao and Jeremy Li
SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
4/F, The 3rd Building, No 889, Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China
Zip 200233

t : +86 21 61072711
E-mail: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 was amended and substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1258/2011 on December 2, 2011. This increases the maximum nitrate content that is allowable in fresh lettuce and spinach. The maximum level of nitrates (NO3) has risen from 4,500 to 5,000 mg/kg in fresh lettuce and from 3,000 to 3,500 mg/kg in fresh spinach.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2012 -- Nitrates occur naturally in plants and they can transform into nitrites and then react with amines and amides to produce N-nitroso compounds.

Such compounds have been linked to possible causes of gastric, esophageal, nasopharyngeal, and bladder cancers. Vegetables that are green and leafy, such as lettuce, spinach, and arugula contain higher levels of nitrates than are typical. The nitrogen fertilizers and light intensity used in their cultivation are the main factors responsible for the nitrate content in these vegetables.

Due to differences in the climate across the EU, it was not always found possible to achieve consistent nitrate (http://www.agriculture-food.sgs.com/en/Fertilizers/Analytical-Services/Standard-Fertilizer-Tests/Tests-on-Ammonium-Nitrate.aspx) levels in fresh lettuce and spinach under the previous maximum levels, which were set in 2006. To resolve this problem, Regulation 1258/2011 was introduced to marginally ease the maximum nitrate levels:

1.1 Fresh spinach (Spinacia oleracea): Maximum Level 3500 mg NO3/kg

1.2 Preserved, deep-frozen or frozen spinach: Maximum Level 2000 mg NO3/kg

1.3 Fresh Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) (protected and open-grown lettuce) excluding lettuce listed in point 1.4: Harvested October to March - lettuce grown under cover: Maximum Level 5000 NO3/kg; lettuce grown in the open air: Maximum Level 5000 NO3/kg

1.4 Iceberg lettuce: Lettuce grown under cover: Maximum Level 2500 NO3/kg; Lettuce grown in the open air Maximum Level 2000 NO3/kg

1.5 Arugula (Eruca sativa, Diplotaxis sp., Brassia tenuifolia, Sisymbrium tenuifolium): Harvested October to March: 7000 NO3/kg; Harvested April to September: Maximum Level 6000 NO3/kg

1.6 Processed, cereal-based foods and foods for infants and young children: Maximum Level 200 NO3/kg

A study to assess the risks was carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/) in 2008. This concluded it was unlikely the new maximum levels would result in any appreciable health risks and that the benefits from eating vegetables should remain unaffected. The EFSA performed another study in 2010 to investigate potentially acute effects on infants and young children of nitrate exposure at the new maximum level. The EFSA concluded that cooked spinach is more likely to be consumed by infants than lettuce and that neither the current nor new maximum levels of nitrates are likely to pose a health concern, whereas at higher levels the risk could not be entirely discounted. The EFSA also reported there is no scientific data to indicate a health risk for young children consuming spinach and lettuce at the new maximum levels of nitrates.

About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS Food Safety Services (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com) can help you by checking the concentration of nitrates in vegetables throughout their global network, using a spectrophotometric technique and other methods of testing. The spectrophotometric technique has a Limit of Detection (LOD) of 0.12 mg/kg and a Limit of Quantification (LOQ) of 0.40 mg/kg.

If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact the SGS food safety experts.

Website: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

SGS introduces a new and unique program of three product marks for environmental impact, progressing towards the ultimate tier of greenhouse gas neutrality, to help companies transparently demonstrate their ongoing environmental commitment.

Arcueil Cedex, Île-de-France -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/12/2012 -- SGS Consumer Testing Services announced today the first Product Carbon Footprint program to offer marks that can be applied to manufactured products that are sold on international markets. As leading providers of sustainability solutions, SGS's new product marks will provide a competitive edge to clients through transparent confirmation of their environmental claims; the program is also the first to offer a comprehensive and progressive three-label scheme, clearly demonstrating continuous improvement in reducing and offsetting a product's environmental impact.

"Consumers today are becoming more and more keen on eco-friendly products. In a recent survey, for example, 74% stated they would like products to display environmental impact information to guide their purchasing decisions," said Charles Ly Wa Hoi, Global Sustainability Services Vice President. "Our new Product Carbon Footprint program enables companies to transparently communicate this information using a universally recognized tool – a symbol indicating that a product's credentials have been verified by a trusted independent organization – while also providing a continuous carbon reduction framework that can both reduce costs and enhance brand reputation."

Three Levels Leading to Carbon Neutral
Most carbon footprint marking schemes are limited to a state, a country or a single phase in a product's carbon journey. By contrast, SGS's program offers a holistic and global approach; covering all countries with a single label and providing three levels of successive environmental achievement:

• SGS Carbon Footprint, indicating the environmental commitment of a brand by applying international standards and tabulating the results on the label to confirm that SGS has assessed the total greenhouse gas emissions over the product's life cycle.

• SGS Carbon Reduction, showing that the product's carbon footprint has been reduced during the 12 months under a continuous improvement scheme, which was established following the initial carbon footprint calculation.

• SGS Carbon Neutral, signalizing the achievement of a significant reduction and any remaining emissions have been offset by programs such as renewable energy credit purchase systems from certified third-party organizations.

SGS sustainability experts at centers around the globe can support companies to formulate a carbon reduction strategy of their own and help to define achievable reduction targets, to pave the way towards attaining the SGS Carbon Reduction and SGS Carbon Neutral marks. Based on a product life cycle analysis, this strategy can include measures such as reductions of raw materials, the implementation of more efficient technologies, energy management and supply chain optimization. It is worth noting that these techniques can also achieve savings in production costs.

Principle Strategic Benefits
The globally unique three-mark structure of the SGS Product Carbon Footprint (http://www.sustainability.sgs.com/EN/Facilities-and-Production/Product-and-Packaging/Carbon-Footprint/Product-Carbon-Footprint-Mark-PCF-Mark.aspx) program promises critical leverage for brands that want to transparently promote their sustainability initiatives with a view to enhancing consumer approval and thereby increasing sales, differentiating their products from the competition on the shelves of stores, and helping to conserve the resources of the planet. Benefits of the SGS service include:

• The SGS mark is trusted as the world's leading verification, testing and certification company.

• The clear visibility of an organization's environmental commitment to address climate change challenges.

• The ability to use a single mark internationally, eliminating the time and expense of obtaining different labels for the various markets.

• Incentives for continuous improvement, given the opportunity to exhibit increasing achievement; progressively minimizing environmental impact while products advance from the SGS Carbon Footprint mark to SGS Carbon Reduction and SGS Carbon Neutral labels.

• Charting a roadmap towards carbon neutrality, driven by the client and supported by SGS sustainability consultants upon completion of a product life cycle assessment (http://www.sustainability.sgs.com/EN/Facilities-and-Production/Product-and-Packaging/Ecodesign/Life-Cycle-Assessment.aspx).

• A global network of laboratories, facilitating primary data collection from factories and an analysis of raw materials that has not been represented in existing databases.

About SGS Consumer Testing Services
SGS Consumer Testing Services (http://www.consumer-goods-retail.sgs.com/en) is a division of the SGS Group, the world's leading verification, testing and certification company. SGS's comprehensive testing, product inspection, process assessment and sustainability services cover the entire supply chain from product development to retailing for electrical, wireless, soft line, hard line and food products. SGS's global network and expertise provide a single consolidated source that can help manufacturers, suppliers and retailers reduce risk, improve efficiency and product quality, and ensure compliance to both national and international standards. The SGS Group has more than 67,000 employees and over 1,250 offices and laboratories in 140 countries.

Please don't hesitate to contact SGS's experts should you need more information.

Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Emilie Viengchaleune
Executive Assistant, Global Sustainability Services
29, avenue Aristide Briand
94111 Arcueil Cedex

t +33 1 41 24 87 49
E-Mail: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sustainability.sgs.com/en

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

On October 19, 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modified its regulations for bottled water quality standards to establish a maximum allowed level of 0.006 mg/L for the chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), bringing it into line with existing regulations for tap water. The modification to regulation 21 CFR 165.110, will require bottled water manufacturers to monitor their finished products, and the source water, for DEHP content on an annual basis. The new regulation takes effect on April 16, 2012.

Taiwan, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/02/2012 -- Various studies have concluded through exposure assessment analyses that the primary pathway for public exposure to the chemical DEHP is food and drinks. Phthlalates are used in the manufacture of plastics and trace amounts can transfer from contact with a plastic container. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the long-term and chronic exposure to DEHP above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.006 mg/L has the potential to cause damage to the liver and testes, produce reproductive effects and give rise to cancer in humans.

Contaminant (CAS Reg. No.): Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (117-81-7)
Maximum contaminant level (MCL) in milligrams per liter (ppm): 0.006

In response to these findings, the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/default.htm) has amended its regulations for bottled water quality standards by establishing 0.006 mg/L as the maximum allowable concentration of DEHP. At least once a year from April 2012, bottled water manufacturers will be required to monitor their finished bottled water products for DEHP content under the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations for bottled water. Unless it is exempted, source water must also be monitored for DEHP as often as necessary under the new regulations, but at least once every year. The new rules will ensure the FDA's minimum quality standards for bottled water, with regards to DEHP content, are equivalent to those set by the EPA for public drinking water. The rule will be effective throughout the USA from April 16, 2012.

About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS Food Safety Services (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com) can test bottled water for DEHP at many of the laboratories in the worldwide SGS network, by carrying out analyses for a wide range of phthalates as well as determining trace levels of DEHP utilizing gas and liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy techniques.

Please don't hesitate to contact SGS' experts should you need more information.

Website: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The natural sweetener Stevia has now received safety approval from the European Commission.

Taunusstein, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/26/2011 -- Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of a Paraguayan plant Stevia rebaudiana, is heralded as up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. The food industry has been keen to make use of this substance for years, but Stevia has long been suspected of causing cancer.

However, after the European Authority for Food Safety (EFSA) allayed health concerns about Stevia in 2010 the European Commission (EC) has now decided Stevia is safe, provided maximum use is kept to an appropriate level. Commission regulation (EU) No. 1131/2011, which introduces the new sweetener, became effective early in December 2011. The new additive will be found listed as E 960 on food products.

Stevia will most likely be used for sweetening low-calorie soft drinks. However, the food industry also plans to use the substance in yogurt, cereals and chocolate. One of the reasons given by the EC for their approval is the "need for new, reduced-calorie products."

The European Commission formally adopted the regulation (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:295:0205:0211:EN:PDF), permitting the use of steviol glycosides as a sweetener for foods and beverages throughout all 27 member states of the European Union. After the granting of individual approval by the Member States during the summer and signing by Commission President Barroso on November 11, it was published on November 12 in the Official Journal of the EU, thus becoming effective 20 days later, on December 2, 2011. According to the EU, the EFSA has verified the safety of the substance, despite the fact Stevia was long suspected as a possible carcinogenic and genotoxic substance. The level of maximum exposure of the public to the additive will not be known until the food industry has determined all its possible uses and the regulation provides for a subsequent review to establish maximum permitted concentrations.

Food additives are defined as substances that preserve or sweeten foodstuffs. Approval is only granted to food additives that provide a benefit to the consumer, for example a longer shelf life, and are found not to be harmful. It is mandatory to indicate additives in the list of ingredients of foodstuffs in the EU by quoting "E" numbers or their full name (see updated list of food additives in the EU). By 2020, the EFSA will review all 320 approved additives that are currently allowed in the EU. This includes the controversial sweetener Aspartame.

The use of additives in food will soon become even safer and more transparent in the EU than it currently is, thanks to two further legislations that were adopted by the European Commission during November 2011. Based on these legislations, the Commission has prepared two new lists. The first list concerns additives in foodstuffs that will come into effect in June 2013. A freely accessible online database will allow consumers to identify which additives are authorized in a particular food. The second list consists of additives in food ingredients, such as flavors, nutrients and enzymes. This list will take effect in the coming weeks. The establishment of these two lists is an important step in the implementation of the framework Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 on food additives that was adopted in December 2008.

About SGS Food Services
SGS, the global leader in third-party testing, provides analytical services (http://www.agriculture-food.sgs.com/en/Food/Retail-and-Hospitality/Testing-and-Analytical-Services.aspx ) for a broad range of additives and other food-related services through their global network of laboratories. The company is also committed to keeping interested parties informed of regulatory changes and any new testing methodology developments.

For further information, please contact the SGS food experts.

Contact details:
t +49 6039 4696540
E-Mail: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognised as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the American seafood industry that federal and state regulatory personnel will sample and test premium-priced species of fish, to verify the correct labeling of their products by comparing the DNA sequences of the fish they contain.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2011 -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the US domestic seafood industry that agency and state regulators will be sampling and testing 100 high value species of fish over the next four months, to determine the accuracy of species labeling. The initiative grew out of concern that inexpensive species, or species with potential safety concerns, are being intentionally mislabeled for sale as a higher valued species or to avoid import restrictions. Mislabeled seafood is considered misbranded under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, thus it violates the law.

According to the FDA the most commonly mislabeled seafood is shown in the following table.

Examples of commonly substituted seafood:

Premium fish - Cheaper substitute

Red snapper - Rockfish
Mahi mahi - Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi)
Swordfish - Mako Shark
Orange roughy - Oreo dory or john dory
Cod - Alaska pollock
Halibut - Sea bass
Dover Sole - Arrowtooth flounder
Red drum - Black drum
Snapper (Lutjanus sp.) - Tilapia
Grouper - Basa or tra
Lake or yellow perch - White perch or zander
Caviar (sturgeon species) - Paddlefish or other fish roe
Walleye - Sauger or Alaska pollock
Chum salmon - Pink salmon
Salmon - Steelhead trout
Pacific salmon - Atlantic salmon
Blue crabmeat - Imported crabmeat
Wild-caught salmon - Farmed-raised salmon

The FDA lists fish under the Fish and Fishery Product Hazards and Controls Guidance which, when labeled as a different fish species, can create a food safety hazard.

The subtle differences in taste and texture between fish species make identifying the species particularly difficult once the fish has been filleted or processed. For this reason identification of fish species normally requires DNA testing. Fish identification is now performed by the FDA using a system that is based on research by the University of Guelph's Barcode of Life (BOL) and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum's library of authenticated samples. The Fish Barcode of Life campaign (Fish-BOL), is an international research collaboration to assemble a standardized reference DNA sequence library for all species of fish.

The FISH-BOL project (http://www.fishbol.org/) uses a DNA-based identification system, based on the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. As demonstrated in several studies, this gene permits the diagnosis of species throughout the animal kingdom. Furthermore, their results show that sequence divergences at this specific gene routinely enable discrimination of even closely allied species in nearly all animal phyla.

As a part of the BOL project, DNA sequences have been identified for 172 authenticated fish, representing 72 species and 27 families. In animals overall, a fragment of only 655 base pairs of amino acids, starting near the 5' end of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene, has been shown in the majority of cases to be reliable enough for species identification.

In their identification project, the FDA utilizes Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing to generate the DNA barcodes for fish species identification. They have already established a reference standard sequence library for seafood identification by using this methodology.

About SGS Food Testing Services
SGS offers services in the PCR testing field for species identification and a broad range of food-related services (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com) through its global network of laboratories. In addition, SGS is committed to keeping interested parties informed of developments on regulatory activity and new methodology development.

Please contact SGS for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
Food Safety Technologist at SGS North America Inc.
291 Fairfield Ave, 07004 Fairfield, NJ, UNITED STATES

t +1 973 461 1493
E-Mail: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognised as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Taiwan Department of Health (DOH) revealed that an industrial chemical intended to soften plastic packaging was being used as an ingredient by the food industry. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was found in use as a cheap substitute in a clouding agent for several brands of food products in Taiwan, in direct contravention of legislation prohibiting the use of DEHP in food products. The clouding agent is a food additive mainly used to make fruit drinks more visually appealing, but banned DEHP was used as a replacement of the usual and more expensive palm oil.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/05/2011 -- Taiwanese investigators from the Department of Health (DOH) detected the presence of DEHP and Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) in food products on May 23, 2011. The crisis that resulted exerted great pressure on the food industry to test for the presence of phthalates, and brought the issue of protecting consumers from the associated health hazards to public attention.

Immediate measures taken in response to the discovery included the Taiwan DOH announcing the removal of all DEHP contaminated sports drinks, teas, fruit juices, jams, nectars and jellies as well as any DEHP contaminated products in tablet, powder or capsule form from store shelves. As an additional response to the crisis, Taiwan set a standard of 1 ppm for the six phthalates of DEHP, DIDP, DINP, BBP, DBP, and DNOP. China also announced limits at 0.3 ppm for DBP, 9 ppm for DINP, and 1.5 ppm for DEHP. The international criteria for the daily maximum consumption of phthalates range from 0.6 to 30 mg for a 60 kg adult, depending on the phthalate compound in question.

The Crisis Spreads

The measures taken were not enough to stem the crisis, however. On May 29, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a warning regarding DEHP contamination in Taiwanese food products, with an alert issued two days later. This resulted in the recall of multiple Taiwanese imported products throughout the month of June. Soon thereafter China suspended the import of 858 food products from Taiwan, affecting 55 suppliers specializing in beverages, food and food additives.

The crisis continued throughout June, with the United States becoming involved on June 21. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was informed by the DOH that phthalates were contained in 57 items shipped from Taiwan to the United States. The FDA resolved to monitor the impact on the U.S. food supply. On the same date, Australia withdrew an asparagus juice that Taiwan had also identified as being contaminated with banned phthalates.

As the concern took on global proportions, the Taiwan DOH was forced to report the export of phthalate contaminated products to 22 countries and regions. These including the United States, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, Argentina, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Macao, Singapore, Egypt, the Marshall Islands, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Brazil, Brunei and Japan. This initially involved a total of 34 manufacturers and 206 products.

Identification of Tolerable Daily Intake Levels

By July 18, the Taiwan DOH had identified 315 manufacturers as culpable, with a total of 877 products containing banned phthalates. Phthalates are used widely to increase the elasticity and flexibility of plastic products (for example, PVC) and trace amounts can transfer into food products in contact with such plastics. However, high levels of DEHP have been shown to cause damage to the liver and kidneys and to affect the body's reproductive system. The tolerable daily intake (TDI) of phthalates varies according to the actual substance, with DEHP having its level set at 0.05 mg per kg of body weight per day. BBP is set at 0.5, while DBP is set at 0.01, and DINP and DIDP at 0.15 mg/kg of body weight per day. There is no TDI available for DNOP and DIBP. Excessive amounts of DEHP have been shown to affect reproduction, with BBP, DBP and DIBP affecting reproduction and development and DINP and DIDP bringing about liver damage. DNOP is known to adversely affect the liver and thyroid.

The 'no observed adverse effect level' (NOAEL) for the reproductive and developmental effects of DEHP is set at 4.8 mg/kg body weight per day. To its credit, the Taiwan DOH has now standardized a method for determining the use of phthalate plasticizers in food, through the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS).

About SGS Food Services
SGS Food Safety Services (http://www.agriculture-food.sgs.com/en/Food/Processors-and-Suppliers/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Food-Contaminant-Testing.aspx) can help manufacturers test their food products for phthalates. The SGS global testing network includes the use of state of the art, high-resolution instruments for the detection of a wide range of plasticizers.

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The debate about genetically modified and engineered organisms (GMOs) used in food production continues, with a global agreement coming into place enabling individual countries to adopt GM food labeling. Recent decisions in Europe, America and Africa have also brought about changes to the GMO landscape.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/02/2011 -- Codex Alimentarius, the international food safety advisory body, defines GMOs as: "genetically engineered/modified organisms and products thereof, produced through techniques in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination". Consumer groups, the organic food industry and other interest groups have pointed out that the long-term health and environmental effects of GMOs are unknown and potentially irreversible.

Labeling of GMO products

Codex has resolved a twenty-year debate by deciding to permit voluntary labeling indicating the presence of GMOs, after the US delegation dropped its objections on winning the concession that "foods derived from modern biotechnology are not necessarily different from other foods simply due to their method of production". Codex has issued new guidelines that will allow countries to adopt the labeling of GMO products without a risk of legal challenge from the World Trade Organization (WTO), because national measures based on Codex standards cannot be challenged for mounting a barrier to trade.

GMO in Europe

The attorney general of the European Court of Justice issued an opinion in March 2011, suggesting that France's ban on Monsanto's genetically modified maize is illegal. The opinion stated France "could not suspend the planting of Monsanto's MON810 genetically modified corn… without having asked prior permission from the European Commission". This perhaps indicates how the court may rule when the case is heard. It is an especially interesting development in light of France being one of seven European countries, which also includes Germany, to ban the maize that is one of only two GMO crops approved for cultivation within the EU.

The European Parliament granted EU Member States the right to ban or restrict GMO crop cultivation for a wide range of reasons in July 2011.

The possible barriers to GMO include pesticide resistance, biodiversity preservation, and possible socioeconomic impacts such as contamination risks to agriculture and difficulties in the management of any such contamination. The right to restrict or ban GMO still awaits final approval, but in any case signals a major change to the existing policy, whereby all EU Member States must follow EU regulations except under specific conditions.

The EU Commission and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have also been called for updates to their GMO guidelines (http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/gmo_authorisation_en.htm). The European Parliament noted these bodies have approved a large number of genetically modified animal feed and human food products and ingredients. In response, a risk assessment of food and feed derived from GM animals is now being compiled by the EFSA after comments from a public consultation were taken until September 30,, 2011.

GMO in the U.S.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been asked by a group of senators to drop plans to discuss a commercial enterprise's request to permit farming of genetically modified fish for human consumption, in what would be the first such fish farm. The House had already passed an amendment to eliminate funding for the program. Concerns were voiced over the loss of jobs in fishery along the coastal states, as well as the possible escape of genetically modified salmon from fish farms, thus resulting in the contamination of native fish populations and the possibility of their out-competing native fish populations.

GMO in Africa

Kenya has joined South Africa, Egypt and Burkina Faso as African countries that allow the importation and production of GM crops on July 1, 2011. Further countries on the continent also currently conducting their own research into GM crops include Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mali, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana.

The implementation of biological safety measures in Africa, however, is impeded by a number of concerns. These include the economic ability of African governments to curb illegal production and trade of GM crops, and disagreements about the role GM could play in famine relief and food security for burgeoning African populations.

About SGS Food Services
GMO products continue to cause controversy and uncertainty around the globe. Plus, evolving policy development is highly complex. SGS has developed technology that can test, detect and track the presence of GMO in all raw and finished food materials. SGS food specialists are able to help you find your way through the regulatory jungle and to assess and monitor your company's global food supply chain (http://www.agriculture-food.sgs.com/en/Food/Retail-and-Hospitality.aspx) from field to fork.

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 67,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Deadly EHEC Strain

Hamburg, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/30/2011 -- On May 19, 2011 the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported a marked increase in the numbers of people suffering from a severe illness called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). which is known to destroy blood cells and can lead to kidney failure. By May 25 the cause of the outbreak was determined as the bacteria Escherichia coli 0104:H4, not only well-known for causing a dreaded disease, but in this case a rare enterohemorrhagic strain that also produces cytotoxins, more colloquially called Shiga-like toxins. A small amount of these bacteria are enough to bring about serious illness and the need for immediate medical attention.

Once the bacteria strain had been identified, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued an alert and the RKI and German Institute of Risk Assessment (BfR) (http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/home.html) issued a warning against the consumption of raw tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers until such time as the source of the contamination was found.

Demand Surges for Food Testing

The warnings issued by the ECDC prompted a large number of food samples to be sent for testing by both food producers and local authorities to food testing laboratories (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com/microbiological-testing.htm), where the presence of an infection could be identified. SGS received many of these samples, because it has testing facilities that enable identification of the EHEC bacteria. Dr. Roy Hoerner, laboratory manager at SGS Germany in Hamburg, faced a sudden deluge of urgent demands for food testing. Dr Hoerner explains:

"We routinely perform extensive microbiological analyses for pathogenic organisms in our accredited laboratories. Analysis for EHEC is usually done by detection of the Shiga-like toxins (ELISA) or characteristic genes (PCR). As the crisis in northern Germany got underway we received a mountain of requests to perform tests for the detection of EHEC. The microbiological laboratory team devoted considerable efforts to increase our capacity for the increased number of samples, while ensuring an absolutely safe laboratory process. This was successfully implemented in only a few days. We were then able to support our clients during the crisis with reliable analyses and short turnaround times. Several hundred samples were analyzed in just a few days, and this helped our clients fulfill their own internal and external requirements for quality control."

Breakthrough Discovery

Despite all their efforts, the source of the infection continued to elude scientists. Eventually, on June 5, RKI was able to utilize epidemiological data to identify sprouts as the possible cause of the outbreak. When employees of a farm for horticulture in Lower Saxony tested positive for Escherichia coli 0104:H4, time was needed to match the strains of the disease found in patients and fenugreek sprouts that analyzed as testing positive. It was still, however, debatable as to whether the farm was the primary source of infection or merely one of its distributing arms. Once evidence was gathered to suggest that these locally grown sprouts were contaminated, it was eventually deduced that fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt were the likely source of the HUS/EHEC outbreak. A withdrawal of the seeds stopped the disease in its tracks and by July 27 there had been no new cases reported for the three previous weeks.

About SGS Food Testing Services
SGS Food Testing Services (http://www.sgs.com/foodsafety) is able to provide full and comprehensive third-party testing services for the whole food supply chain from farm to fork and can help ensure that your products are fit for market sale.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/23/2011 -- On October 19, 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the presence of strains of listeria in cantaloupe samples taken from Jensen Farms. Currently, there are 33 additional illnesses and 29 deaths reported to be linked to the ongoing outbreak of listeria food poisoning from Colorado-grown cantaloupes.

The bacterium that causes listeriosis, L. monocytogenes, produces varying symptoms depending on a person's risk factors. Listeriosis normally starts with diarrhea followed by fever and muscle aches, similar to the symptoms of flu. If pregnant women develop the flu-like symptoms they may also endure complications including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or a fatal infection of the newborn infant. Elderly people with defective immune systems and young children can develop headaches, stiff neck, mental confusion, loss of balance and convulsions and can result in fatal meningitis or encephalitis. The onset of symptoms can occur anytime between three days to two months after infection occurs.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported it had nine cases of listeriosis including two deaths on September 2, 2011 prompting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to commence an urgent investigation of the multiple state outbreak in which cantaloupe was the suspected infection vehicle.

On September 10, 2011 the FDA and Colorado state officials visited cantaloupe producer Jensen Farms to collect multiple samples. Of the 30 swabs taken, 13 were confirmed positive for L. monocytogenes with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern combinations matching three of the four outbreak strains. In addition, cantaloupes from the firm's cold storage area confirmed positive for the bacteria with PFGE pattern combinations matching two of the four outbreak strains.

The FDA identified several factors that most likely caused the introduction, spread and growth of L. monocytogenes at Jensen Farms. The problem may have been stemmed from bacteria in the field where the cantaloupes were grown or through contamination of the packing facility by a truck that hauled reject cantaloupes to a cattle operation. The bacteria may also have spread in water near the machinery and employee walkways, hard-to-clean floors and/or machinery in the packing facility, or from equipment previously used for other agricultural products.

Bacteria growth is likely promoted by condensation, due to a missing pre-cooling step prior to cold storage.

The FDA concluded that if the facility had followed the non-binding recommendations for minimizing microbial food safety hazards in melons, as published by the FDA in July 2009, these problems might have been avoided. Obligatory standards will soon be enforced under the Food Safety Modernization Act (http://www.fda.gov/InternationalPrograms/FDAPublicationsinForeignLanguages/ucm271687.htm) of 2010, providing new authorities for the FDA.

In all, four outbreak strains of L. monocytogenes were found in 26 US states, leading to 29 deaths and 33 additional illnesses. Settlements to the families may cost $150 million.

About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS, the global leader in third-party testing, provides food safety services (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com) to the whole food supply chain, from farm to fork, to help assure that your products are fit for consumption. SGS has testing labs throughout the world that can test food products for L. monocytogenes.

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 67'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

SGS and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences (CAAMS) opened a new food testing laboratory in Beijing, China. The partnership of CAAMS with SGS greatly strengthens the relationship with the government of China in the quest to improve food safety.

Shanghai, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/14/2011 -- SGS China, a division of the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, has opened a new food testing laboratory in Beijing in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences (CAAMS). The facility is SGS's eleventh professional food laboratory in China, supporting ongoing efforts by the Chinese government to tighten food safety controls in order to protect the public health.

SGS's food testing services span the entire food supply chain from raw and semi-manufactured foodstuffs to final products in all principal food segments, helping protect consumers from potential hazards such as pathogenic bacteria and allergens. The lab can perform microbiological, physical and chemical analysis according to both national and international standards as well as a full range of other services, improving food safety (http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com/index.htm) and hygiene from farm to fork.

The Beijing lab partnership between SGS China( http://www.cn.sgs.com/) and CAAMS, a 55-year-old research organization that operates under the auspices of the Chinese government, strengthens SGS's relationship with government agencies overseeing food safety initiatives that have expanded since new legislation to protect the food supply chain passed in 2007.

About CAAMS
CAAMS'(http://en.caams.org.cn/en/Html/en/profile/023237319.htm) services include research and development for food processing and engineering for China's food and agricultural industries, with focuses ranging from tillage and plant protection to harvesting and post-harvest processing as well as agricultural machinery.

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 67'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

SGS is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) for facility inspections and certification audits.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/21/2011 -- In a service agreement between BAP and SGS, the independent contractor (SGS) will perform facility inspections and certification audits for aquaculture farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills that apply for BAP certification.

"We are very pleased to work with an auditing organization with such worldwide capacity and capabilities as SGS," BAP Executive Director Jim Heerin said, "particularly as the Global Aquaculture Alliance is preparing to announce the completion of new standards."

Best Aquaculture Practices (Link to: http://www.foodsafety.sgs.com/best-aquaculture-practices.htm)(BAP) certification is based on standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance, an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. The BAP standards are drafted by species-specific technical committees and reviewed by a Standards Oversight Committee of varied stakeholders following a period of public comment.

"This achievement represents a very important step for SGS in order to meet the food safety and sustainability needs of aquaculture industry and retailers globally through BAP certification" states Rob Parrish, Vice President Global Food at SGS.

The BAP standards address environmental and social responsibility, animal welfare, food safety and traceability in a voluntary certification program for aquaculture facilities.

Successful participants in the BAP program are awarded with the "Best Aquaculture Practices Certification" mark for use on packaging of seafood products, demonstrating to consumers a participant's commitment to providing safe and sustainably sourced seafood.

Last year the BAP certification program was successfully benchmarked against the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) food safety requirements, therefore seafood processing plants can now achieve both BAP certification and GFSI compliance through a single audit process.

If you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Jennifer Buckley
Global Food Marketing Manager, SGS North America, Inc.
291 Fairfield Avenue, Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA

t: +1 (973) 461 1498
f: +1 (973) 575 7175

E-Mail: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/foodsafety

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Awaiting implementation in July 2011, the new EU 2009/48/EC Toy Safety Directive (TSD) realises the European Parliament demand for greater technical documentation and further responsibilities for toy manufacturers and importers.

Aix en Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/13/2011 -- Manufacturers to Shoulder Toy Responsibilities

The EU 2009/48/EC Toy Directive includes greater technical documentation responsibilities, including the requirement that manufacturers draft an EC declaration of conformity (DoC) for each product they release in the European market. In addition, manufacturers must keep each DoC and all other technical documentation on file for ten years after their product has been released on the market. As expected, product instructions and safety information is mandatory for inclusion.

The responsibilities assigned to manufacturers don't stop there. Products must now be marked with the name and address of the manufacturer and importer, the product type, batch and serial number and CE mark.

The EU, however, has attempted to ease the burden on manufacturers by issuing the EU Explanatory Guidance Document (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/files/tsd-guidance/tsd_rev_1.2_explanatory_guidance_document_en.pdf) , which aims to enable compliance with the requirements of the directive. The EU is also compiling a guidance document related to technical documentation responsibilities now issued under the directive.

Mandatory Technical Documentation

To ensure compliance with safety requirements, manufacturers must now provide detailed description of product design and manufacture, including references to the manufacturing process, age suitability, grading level and intended product use. General description and a colour picture of the product must also be included, along with the address of both product manufacture and storage. As well as this, all packaging and instruction details and test reports are mandatory and where relevant, an EC type examination certificate must also be provided.

Where changes in toy design occur, it is the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure continued product compliance with the requirements of the directive. Continued compliance is mandatory for all toy products under the directive.

The new technical documentation requirements under the directive also specify the inclusion of a Bill of Materials (BOM) along with manufacturing documentation per toy product. The BOM is required to detail all relevant substances and components for each component and material included in toy manufacture. Where specified under REACH (http://www.reach.sgs.com/index.htm) , Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must also be provided.

All Toys to Undergo Safety Assessments

New to the directive is the inclusion of a Safety Assessment Procedure, whereby manufacturers must identify chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical, fire, hygiene and possible radioactive hazards associated with their toy product.

Importers Obliged to Verify Their Products Too

Importers do not escape the new toy directive (http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/consumerproducts/toys/new-eu-toy-directive-information-request-2.htm). They will have to ensure that conformity assessment procedures have been carried out by the manufacturers of all imported toy products. Importers will also be required to verify that manufacturers have the appropriate technical documentation, instructions, safety information and CE marking for all imported toys. Each imported toy product must carry both the importer's and manufacturer's company details, including the company registered name, trademark and address. It is also the responsibility of importers to ensure that each imported toy carries a type, batch or serial number.

SGS Validation Services for Technical Documentation

SGS is able to assist toy manufacturers and importers with services designed to ensure compliance with the new directive. These services include the BOM list review, the preparation and review of CLP notification dossiers, the preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), SHVC screening (as per REACH regulation requirements), risk assessment and factory audits as per the requirements of the new legislation. SGS is also able to provide a full capacity product testing service, report validation as well as the provision of EC type examination certificates.

SGS will organize on a regular basis some free webinars on the EU Toy Directive. Don't hesitate to email us at consumer.products@sgs.com to receive invitations.

For further details please contact:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Stephanie Pionchon
Marketing Manager, SGS France
215 Rue Paul Langevin, Pole d'activite Aix les Milles, 13854 Aix en Provence, France

t: +33 4 42 61 64 46
E-mail: stephanie.pionchon@sgs.com
Website: http://www.hardlines.sgs.com

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

In the light of increasing demand from clients and its great expertise, SGS has expanded its detergent performance testing facilities in Aix en Provence in France. SGS is confident it can assist clients with their detergent and home fragrance requirements and new installations of washing machines and dishwashers are on hand to help with the extra work.

Arcueil, Île-de-France -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2011 -- The "Home Fragrances" industry falls under several directives and regulations: the Global Product Safety Directive (GPSD), CLP, REACH and other specific regulations including regulations for aerosols sprays, candles, packaging and the Grenelle environment project.

SGS has always taken its testing facilities with the utmost seriousness, and to that end, has installed new washing machines, dishwashers and even closed individual toilet facilities at its testing laboratory in Aix-en-Provence. SGS' new toilet facilities are designed for the testing of toilet cleaning products with consumer sensory panels. SGS also has three levels of water hardness available at its improved and expanded testing facilities.

SGS can aid clients with detergent development and now SGS' testing services can offer the ageing effects of washing balls, descaling treatment as well as the all-important ecolabelling of laundry detergents.

The company is confident it can help clients check the labeling of their home fragrance and detergent products, including the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (http://www.reach.sgs.com/safety-data-sheet-sds-classification-and-labelling.htm ) of products against all relevant regulations and legislation. SGS can also prepare clients for compliance with the new CLP regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) and to the Grenelle law about environmental labeling.

SGS offers auditing services to enable proper certification of home fragrance and detergent products and SGS will also propose help with the International Featured Standards for Home and Personal care (IFS HPC) (http://www.ifs-certification.com/index.php?page=home&content=public_content&desc=ifs_standards_personal_care&language=english) compliance for household chemical products. As of November 2009, the IFS introduced a new standard for Household and Personal Care products sold by private labels and retailers. The IFS HPC audit protocol covers cosmetics and personal care products, household chemical products and housekeeping implements such as sponges, plastic cups and aluminum foil as well as personal hygiene products such as tissues and feminine hygiene products for private labels.

Pre-audit facilities are also available to ensure preparation for certification. SGS further provides a comprehensive range of services (http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/sgs-france-offers-testing-audit-and-consultancy-services-for-detergents-and-home-fragrances?viewId=10058870 ) for the compliance of personal and home care products with regulations and legislation. SGS' services cover sustainability, microbiological testing and help with other regulatory obligations.

For further details please contact:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Carine Dumas
Sales Engineer for Cosmetics and Personal & Home Care, SGS France
29, avenue Aristide Briand, 94110 Arcueil, France.

t: +33 1 41 24 86 62
E-mail: carine.dumas@sgs.com
Website:http://www.hardlines.sgs.com

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

CPSIA legislation in the United States requires that both manufacturers and importers adhere to stringent standards when it comes to the safety and regulatory compliance of consumer products, especially those targeted for the children’s market. Testing and certification standards have never been higher, with lead and phthalate levels in particular, being subject to more rigorous regulation.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/29/2011 -- On August 14, 2008, the President of the United States signed legislation that reformed the laws and regulations of the U.S.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) governing all consumer products sold in the U.S. This legislation, called the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), is the most important revision to the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) since the CPSC's formation in 1972.

Manufacturers must understand how CPSIA legislation (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf ) applies to their products, the complexities of how the CPSC will interpret and enforce it, how their competitors intend to comply, how their customers will require them to comply, and how to document their product compliance.

SGS offers a comprehensive range of services designed to assist manufacturers and importers with ensuring their products comply with the requirements of the CPSIA. The following accredited SGS laboratories (http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/consumerproducts/hot-regulatory-topics/cpsia-hardlines-information-request/sgs-cpsia-accredited-labs-hardlines.htm) are approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for various aspects of CPSIA testing and certification:

In the Americas, SGS maintains laboratories within the U.S. (Fairfield, NJ &Tulsa, OK) and Brazil (Santos). In Asia, SGS's laboratories are located in Bangladesh (Dhaka), China (Guangzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin), Hong Kong, India (Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon, Thane, Tirupur), Korea (Anyang), Malaysia (Shah Alam), Philippines (Makati City), Singapore (Singapore), Sri Lanka (Colombo 2), Taiwan (Kaohsiung, Taipei), Thailand (Bangkok), and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh).

For the EMEA region, the CPSC approved CPSIA testing laboratories can be found in France (Aix en Provence), Germany (Taunusstein), Mauritius (Phoenix), Turkey (Istanbul), and the United Kingdom (Bradford).

For further information, contact SGS' CPSC accredited laboratories:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Fred Mills-Winkler
Technical Director Toys, SGS North America Inc.
291 Fairfield Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA.

t: +1 973 575 5252 ext 22038
E-mail: fred.millswinkler@sgs.com
Website: http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/cpsia

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,250 offices and laboratories around the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm