Wednesday, December 17, 2008


2009 Advertising rates/editorial calendar for both HOSIERY NEWS/ INSIDER and THA’s Website can be found (here). For more specific details, contact Jeanna Sheldon at jeanna.sheldon@hosieryassociation.com or 704.365.0913, ext. 203.

Save the Dates for Future Webinars:

• January 2009
  A Leg-up on the Next Administration
  How the new Administration will likely impact the legwear industry.
• February 2009
  Financially Speaking
  Thompson, Siegel and Walmsley will provide an overview of the economic environment and how financial market landscape will directly and indirectly impact the legwear industry.

Missed Past Webinars?
If you weren’t able to attend past webinars, visit the THA website member section for meeting materials. Questions, contact the THA office at 704.365.0913.

THA INDUSTRY DIRECTORY:
ARE YOU CONNECTED? Members, if you have not recently sent us your information to include in the electronic THA Directory, please contact THA for a copy of the directory application.

Meeting Requirements Under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act: THA Develops Compliance Roadmap for the Legwear Business

The Hosiery Association (THA), Romulus Global Issues Management and the Hosiery Technology Center (HTC) have teamed up to provide the legwear industry with a comprehensive approach to meeting the requirements under the newly implemented Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). We understand the signficant impact this legislation has on your businesses and have therefore developed pragmatic insights that offer answers to the multitude of questions that have subsequently evolved. This compliance road map contains an implementation time line, discusses which legwear products (for men, women and children) and legwear products for toys must comply within respective parameters, a compliance flowchart, prohibitions and penalties, information on the CPSC database, information you should discuss with your attorney, etc. THA recently hosted a webinar, “Knit to Safe: Meeting the Requirements Under the CPSIA” during which industry experts discussed in-depth this newly created roadmap specifically for the legwear industry. If you missed the webinar, the meeting materials and the complete roadmap are posted on the Member Only Section of THA website.

Other Legislative Activity
ATHA is a member of NAM’s CPSC Coalition which submitted a petition this week along with over 30 associations requesting that under the CPSIA the CPSC should move ahead expeditiously with its rulemaking processes. Of particular interest to the legwear industry is our request for the exemption of testing for lead in yarns and fibers based on the fact that they have no inherent or only trace amounts of accessible lead. With regards to certification, we are requesting the CPSC to recognize alternate screening methodologies including screening through use of test data collected for other regulations) which are readily available and can be relied upon as the basis for screening goods or component parts thereof for the purposes of testing and certification.

Additionally, CPSC is asking for public comments by Jan. 30 on mandatory third-party testing of component parts of certain children’s products.

THA has also submitted public comments collectively within the Lacey Act Coalition as well as individually as requested by US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The purpose of these comments was to affirm that while THA supports the important environmental objectives of the Lacey Act, and specifically the prevention of illegal logging and harvesting of plants, it believes the import declaration requirement should not be applied to hosiery articles and component fibers and yarns (click here for letter)

THA Annual Convention Dates Set for 2009 and 2010: April 23-26, 2009 – Hilton Ocean Front Resort, Hilton Head, South Carolina. * Special Note: Global Legwear Conference added to 2009 Convention
THA is very excited about this new program element which will feature Merrill Lynch economist Kalil Andraos and a panel of global industry executives from southeast Asia, Korea, Central America, and Mexico. (click here for mini-site)

April 29 – May 2, 2010 – Francis Marion Hotel – Charleston, South Carolina

Thanks to everyone for helping us launch our philanthropic initiative this year. Be sure to check the new website and the event albums.

Check out site for updated information! THA has launched a new section on its website that provides information on eco-awareness, “green”, sustainability, etc. within the legwear industry. Whether you are looking for specific products and/or services, this medium will offer insights that are pertinent to the industry, the retailer and the consumer. Contact Sally Kay, 704.365.0-913, ext. 212 or email if you’d like to share your “green” information through this new communications tool.

The contents printed in this document are informational in nature. They are gathered from various industry sources and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or actions of THA.
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