SGCDpro is pleased to announce Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Commissioner Robert S. Adler as the keynote speaker for Deco ’13 in Louisville,

Michele Tirelli of Tecno 5 welcomes Deco ’12 visitors to his booth. (Photo courtesy of SGCDpro.)

Ky. Adler will open the Ask the Experts regulatory and legislative session on Sunday, April 14. Adler, who was appointed to the commission by President Barack Obama in 2009, previously served as professor of legal studies at the University of North Carolina, where he also fulfilled the role of associate dean for both the MBA and BSBA programs. Adler has taught courses in business law, business ethics and business-government relations. His term as commissioner runs through 2014.

Deco ’13 will be held April 13-15 at the Hyatt Regency Louisville, site of Deco ’07. The technical program will focus on new decorating technology. Both equipment and supplies will be highlighted, and several new speakers will be presenting this year.

EPA Withdraws Cadmium Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has withdrawn the recently published cadmium rule, citing a number of letters and comments from manufacturers that would have been affected by the regulation, which originally appeared in the Federal Register on
December 3, 2012. The agency sought to enforce the rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

In other EPA news, Administrator Lisa Jackson has informed President Obama that she will leave the agency. No date has been set for her departure.

Product Recalls

Home Depot has issued a voluntary recall of a mug featuring the Homer Simpson cartoon character. The mug is orange and looks like a Home Depot “Homer” bucket. It has been alleged that the metallic band can spark in a microwave oven, posing a potential fire hazard. No injuries have been reported. 

Kirkland Signature saute pans with glass lids have been voluntarily recalled by Meyer Marketing Co. There have been 97 reports of lids breaking or shattering. The pans were sold at Costco stores between May and October of 2012.

2013 Dues and Meeting Information

It is not too late to pay your 2013 dues to continue your SGCDpro membership. The society’s web access code and mailing lists (including email) have been updated, so if your membership expired on December 31, 2012, you are no longer receiving essential updates. Contact SGCDpro headquarters at (740) 588-9882 for renewal information.

SGCDpro will hold its annual meeting of members on April 15 during Deco ’13. During the meeting, new officers will be installed and bylaw changes will be voted upon. For additional information, visit www.sgcd.org. 

Any views or opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent those of Ceramic Industry, its staff, Editorial Advisory Board or BNP Media.