Government Affairs & Legal

IHA has collected a variety of resources to help members stay on top of current legal and technology issues.

IHA Working with the AAP Coalition to Provide Border Adjustment Tax Information

The International Housewares Association, representing the more than 1,700 housewares suppliers around the globe, is working with the Americans for Affordable Products (AAP), a growing coalition of more than 100 businesses and trade associations that represents millions of American jobs, to provide information on the Border Adjustment Tax or BAT. AAP is running a national…

California Releases New Prop 65 Warning Regulations

After considering them for more than a year, California’s Office of Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has finally issued new “Safe Harbor” warning regulations for Proposition 65. The new regulations intend to provide consumers “more specificity” about the chemical content of products sold in California. They take effect on August 30, 2018 and are set forth in California Health…

IHA Announces Prop 65 Protection Insurance for Members

The International Housewares Association is partnering with Wells Fargo Insurance to provide a new insurance program that can help members mitigate their liability under the California Proposition (Prop) 65 legislation. The Prop 65 Protection Program provides protection from the costs associated with defending a Prop 65 lawsuit specific to plasticizers, including fines,…

Are you selling product online directly to consumers?

There seems to be an increase in the number of reported lawsuits levied by plaintiffs against IHA members alleging that the Terms and Conditions of their online ecommerce websites violate New Jersey’s arcane Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (“TCCWNA”). These lawsuits don’t have to prove there has been a loss or damage suffered by the consumer. Your company…

IHA Launches Alternative Dispute Resolution Initiative

By Debbie Teschke, Manager of Media Relations & Communications With U.S. civil litigation costs escalating to $200 billion to $300 billion annually, the International Housewares Association (IHA) has launched an initiative to help members save time and money by exploring Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) instead of litigation in a courtroom setting. ADR methods include…