This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two cybersecurity information sharing bills that gained qualified support from the Obama Administration. Together, the bills (the Protect Cyber Networks Act (PCNA) and the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act (NCPAA)) would authorize companies to share cyber threat information and defensive measures with each other and the
Managing “Cyber” – A New Guide for Companies on Cybersecurity and Addressing Cyberthreats and Cybercrime
The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) today released a new guide to help companies manage their cybersecurity, including how to address cyberthreats and how to prevent cybercrime. The ICC Cyber security guide for business, prepared by the ICC’s Commission on the Digital Economy, was written to help companies address the new types of
Data Breaches: Not Just for States and the FTC Anymore
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that AT&T Services, Inc., will pay $25 million to resolve an investigation into whether the company violated Sections 201(b) and 222 of the Communications Act relating to consumer privacy at AT&T call centers in Mexico, Colombia, and the Philippines. According to the FCC’s order and consent decree,
CPSC Versus FDA Recalls: What You Need to Know
Selling to consumers is generally a beneficial enterprise for all involved, but occasionally businesses will need to recall products, for a myriad of reasons. When that happens, different sets of rules apply depending on the type of product that is impacted. If your product falls under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) jurisdiction, one
Vermont Proposes SKU-Level Reporting in GreenChem Rulemaking
For everyone concerned about the expanding burden of green chemistry reporting, here’s something that will really make your hair – and bankbook – stand on end: Vermont is proposing to implement the green chemistry law adopted last year by mandating SKU-level reporting. Yes, you read that correctly. (Read the proposed rule here.) The impact
Industry Victory in Prop 65 Appeal: Exposure Averaging Upheld
A California appeals court has affirmed a trial court ruling that averaging exposure to reproductive toxicants over a relevant “window of susceptibility” time period specific to the chemical, and across product lots, was appropriate in a Proposition 65 case involving lead in baby and toddler foods. Environmental Law Foundation v. Beech-Nut Corp., (A129831, Alameda County
Watch What You Listen To (and Watch)
The flow of data over the Internet creates privacy concerns in strange situations. For instance, when Pandora, the music streaming service, integrated its subscribers’ profile pages with their Facebook accounts, Pandora apparently made music preferences and listening choices available to the subscribers’ friends. The result was a suit alleging a violation of a Michigan statute
FTC Diagnosis: App Health Claims Need Life Support
Technology is advancing fast, but would you use an app to figure out if you had cancer? According the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), that’s just what two app developers were recommending, but the FTC said they lacked the evidence to back their claims up. The FTC entered into consent agreements with two companies, MelApp and
Green Chemistry – The State of the States
For the consumer products industry, there is little question that state green chemistry laws are becoming increasingly complex and challenging. Laws are in place from California to Maine, and proposals are bubbling up around the country. States as diverse as Connecticut, New York, Florida, Oregon, and even Mississippi are considering their own green chemistry laws.
FTC Proposes Updates to Fair Packaging and Labeling Rule
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing updates to its labeling and packaging requirements under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), including deleting specific requirements for commodities advertised using terms such as “introductory offer,” “cents off,” and “economy size.” The proposed changes would also modernize place-of-business requirements,