The Directorate-General of the European Commission (“Commission”) for Taxation and Customs Union published a report last month on controls on products entering the EU market. The report aims to address the challenges faced due to product non-compliance during 2024 and to identify measures to further improve enforcement of EU rules. In light of this, Hong Kong traders, particularly those involved in e-commerce, should be aware of the future implications of the proposed EU customs reform.

The CPSC is seeking public input by 24 September on recent revisions to the voluntary safety standard for bassinets and cradles (ASTM F2194-25), specifically on whether these revisions improve the safety of these consumer products.

In accordance with the Interim Measures for the Administration of Product Quality Supervision and Random Sampling Inspections (Order No. 18 [2019] of the State Administration for Market Regulation), the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation released implementation rules for quality supervision and random inspections of eight categories of food-related products on 19 August.

On 6 June, the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation announced that it has prepared implementation specifications for quality supervision and random inspections of 132 types of products in accordance with the Administrative Regulations of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Product Quality, the Interim Measures on Administration of Product Quality Supervision and Random Inspection and other regulations, and in alignment with revisions to relevant product standards.

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

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

CBP is reclassifying training pants as sanitary pads under HTSUS 9619.00.61 (10.8 percent duty), 9619.00.64 (14.9 percent duty) or 9619.00.74 (16 percent duty) rather than as women’s or girls’ briefs under HTSUS 6108.21.00 (7.6 percent duty), 6108.22.90 (15.6 percent duty) or 6208.92.00 (16 percent duty) or as babies’ garments under HTSUS 6111.30.50 (16 percent duty).

The CPSC has updated the mandatory safety standards for play yards and non-full-size baby cribs to incorporate by reference the latest versions of the voluntary standard for these products. The revised standards will apply from 5 April unless the CPSC receives significant adverse comments by 28 February (play yards) or 3 March (baby cribs), in which case the applicable rule will be withdrawn.

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

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