FDA Approves Over-the-Counter Access for Plan B for Women 18 and Older
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of Plan B, a contraceptive drug, as an over-the-counter (OTC) option for women aged 18 and older. Plan B is often referred to as emergency contraception or the "morning after pill." It contains an ingredient used in prescription birth control pills–only in the case of Plan B, each pill contains a higher dose and the product has a different dosing regimen. Like other birth control pills, Plan B has been available to all women as a prescription drug. When used as directed, Plan B effectively and safely prevents pregnancy. Plan B will remain available as a prescription-only product for women age 17 and under.
Dell Laptop Battery Recall
Dell has identified a potential issue associated with certain batteries sold with Dell Latitude™, Inspiron™, XPS™ and Dell Precision Mobile Workstation™ notebook computers. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulatory agencies, Dell is voluntarily recalling certain Dell-branded batteries with cells manufactured by Sony and offering free replacements for these batteries. Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire.
Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers or separately as secondary batteries:
- Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
- Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705
- Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90
- XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710
Lands End Cool Blue Backpack Recall
Name of Product: Cool Blue Backpacks
Units: About 400
Importer: Lands’ End, of Dodgeville, Wis.
Hazard: The backpack’s battery pack can overheat causing the battery case to melt, presenting a burn hazard if touched.
Incidents/Injuries: Lands’ End has not received any reports of injuries or incidents. The hazard was discovered during internal product review.
Target Firestreet Scooter Recall
Name of Product: Firestreet Scooters
Units: About 185,000
Importer/Distributor: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Manufacturer: Triple Win Sports, of Taiwan
Hazard: The handlebars, wheels and wheel brakes can break and detach, causing the rider to lose control, fall and possibly suffer injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: Target has received five reports of incidents and injuries resulting from breaking or collapsing parts. Injuries resulting from falls include: a fractured arm, cracked teeth, bruises to the head, face and arm, a report of a lacerated toe, and scratches.
Black and Decker and Crafstman Cordless Electric Lawnmower Recall
Name of Product: Black & Decker and Craftsman Brand Cordless Electric Lawnmowers
Units: About 160,000 mowers — Note: 140,000 of these Black & Decker and Craftsman brand lawnmowers were recalled in September 2002, but also are included in this recall.
Manufacturer: Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md.
Hazard: An electrical component in the lawnmowers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Black & Decker has received 10 additional reports of electrical components overheating, including one additional report of a fire extending beyond the mower. — Note: The original recall involved 11 reports of electrical components overheating. One of these resulted in a minor hand burn and nine resulted in reports of minor property damage extending beyond the mower.
Bentley Continental GT 2004 Recall
Bentley Continental GT 2004 Passenger vehicles (Wed, 16 Aug 2006) On certain passenger vehicles, there is the potential for insufficient clearance between a brake pipe and an engine mounted hose clip, which could eventually result in failure of the brake pipe. This failure could result in an increased stopping distance when braking increasing the risk of a crash and also a risk of fire due to brake fluid escaping into the engine compartment.
Femtec Ultra Aftermarket Cast Aluminum Wheel Recall
Ultra Aftermarket Cast Aluminum Custom Wheels (Tue, 15 Aug 2006) Certain Femtec Ultra aftermarket cast aluminum custom wheels, series 260 in sizes 15" x 10" and 16" x 10" sold for use on light trucks. These wheels may contain design-induced stress which could lead to a crack developing over time at the drop center. This could lead to air loss from the tire as well as the eventual separation of the wheel and tire from the rim, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Sri Lanka Travel Warning
This Travel Warning provides security information and alerts American citizens traveling to or living in the northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka of the heightened potential for terrorist actions, including attacks against civilians. This situation is likely to continue for some time. Over the last several months, acts of terrorism including bombings and political assassinations have occurred in Sri Lanka. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan military forces have clashed on several occasions, and this fighting has escalated in recent weeks. While most of the country remains largely unaffected, the Department warns Americans against traveling to areas in the North and East of the country given the dangers caused by the ongoing fighting between LTTE, other armed groups, and Sri Lankan military forces. This Travel Warning expires on November 15, 2006.
FTC Halts Bogus Claims For Fuel Saving Device
August 23, 2006 by Bill
Filed under Law, Scams & Frauds
Four Million Dollar Settlement Imposes Lifetime Ban on the Sale or Manufacture of Devices
The manufacturer of a magnetic “fuel saving” and emissions-reduction device that did not save fuel or reduce emissions will pay $4.2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that his advertising claims were false. The FTC will seek to provide redress to consumers who bought the device based on the false advertising claims. In addition, the defendants will be banned from selling or manufacturing magnetic fuel savings and emissions reduction devices.
“Consumers are looking for ways to increase fuel efficiency and save money at the pump,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “There are some practical ways to do that, like following the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, combining errands, and avoiding jack-rabbit starts. The fact is that many products that claim to save fuel don't work, and worse yet, may damage your car and end up costing you more.”
FTC Chairman Addresses Issue of Net Neutrality
Internet Access Task Force Will Examine Issues Raised by Converging Technologies
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today told a meeting of the Progress & Freedom Foundation that she has formed an Internet Access Task Force to examine issues being raised by converging technologies and regulatory developments, and to educate and inform the enforcement, advocacy and education initiatives of the Commission. “I also have asked the Internet Access Task Force to address what is likely the most hotly debated issue in communications, so-called ‘network neutrality,’” she said.
“The FTC’s Internet Access Task Force is looking carefully at the issues raised by calls for network neutrality laws. . . . I urge caution in proceeding on the issue. I . . . question the starting assumption that government regulation, rather than the market itself under existing laws, will provide the best solution to a problem,” Majoras said.
Majoras said there are points that should be considered before enactment of legislation to regulate the Internet, since regulation will have impact “for years to come.”
“The FTC frequently is asked to weigh in on proposed legislation and policies, and we virtually always assert the principle that, absent clear evidence of market failure or consumer harm, policymakers should not enact blanket prohibitions of particular forms of business conduct or business models or place requirements on how business is conducted.”