PESA Selects Defensor To Strengthen Government IT Market Position

Dennis Defensor joined PESA as Vice President for Global Sales, Marketing and Channel Management. PESA is the Leading Company for Highly Secure and Scalable Video, Audio, USB and KVM Distribution and Extension Technology.

Huntsville, AL — PESA Switching Systems, a global manufacturer of high-performance secure, video, audio, USB and KVM distribution announced today that Dennis Defensor has joined the company to lead global sales, marketing, and channel management.

Based in the Washington DC area, Dennis Defensor brings over 30 years of executive management and technical leadership and procurement regulations expertise in the Federal, State and Local government for IT and Enterprise Solutions. Mr. Defensor previously held senior management positions at Akima/NANA as Group President managing three operating companies, ICOM Simulations as President & CEO), CloudShield/SAIC as Senior Vice President of Global Sales, DLT Solutions as Senior Vice President, Oracle Division, GTSI as Vice President of Marketing Communications & eCommerce, Viacom New Media-Chicago as Senior Vice President, and Falcon Microsystems as Vice President of Systems Integration. In the federal market, he has lead companies which provided IT solutions to DOD, Intel communities and civilian agencies. 

Defensor’s experience and interest in the public and private sectors of the IT market spans cybersecurity, cloud computing, Internet of Things, network architecture, simulations, and digital full-motion video. With a J.D. degree from Catholic University of America, a pioneering law school in Communications Law, Mr. Defensor brings relevant knowledge and real-world experience in the melding of technology and government contract regulations.

“Dennis brings a plethora of industry experience and management success,” said Howard Sutton, Executive Chairman of PESA. “We look forward to leveraging Dennis’s experience as we expand the market footprint of our secure video, audio, USB and KVM distribution solution.”

In his own words, as to what attracted him to PESA, Mr. Defensor said, “In this new digital world where video is ubiquitous, PESA is the world leader as the only highly secure digital ‘eyes and ears’ for government agencies and global commercial enterprises. PESA is currently the only company that can truly protect the end-to-end integrity of video data which is critical for decision-making in command-and-control centers, secure briefing rooms, military command operations centers, government and corporate situation rooms, law enforcement and first-responder centers, security rooms for critical infrastructures, transportation and logistics hubs and mobile command centers.  This technology is destined to become one of the pillars of DOD’s JADC2 strategy.”

More information is available at https://pesa.com/  or contact Dennis Defensor directly via ddefensor @ pesa dot com

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED COUNSEL

Sofia Miguel, of Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel, PLLC, has been selected to the 2021 list as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Its mission is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate.

Members are thoroughly vetted by a research team, selected by a blue ribbon panel of attorneys with podium status from independently neutral organizations, and approved by a judicial review board as exhibiting virtue in the practice of law. Due to the incredible selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent of attorneys in the United States are awarded membership in NADC. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession from across the nation.

About Law Office of Sofia K. Migul, PLLC

Law Office of Sofia K. Miguel, PLLC is a law firm in Puyallup, WA focusing on personal injury cases such as car accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bite injuries, insurance claim, slip and fall, premises liability, and more. 

Sofia has more than 20 years of experience in the subject. She is a highly-skilled attorney who works hard on your behalf.

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Nevada Introduces Restrictions on PFAS and OFR in Some Consumer Goods

Stakeholders are advised that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and (additive) organohalogenated flame retardants (OFR) are to be regulated in a wide variety of consumer products in the US state of Nevada.

The state governor signed AB 97 (Chapter 112, 2021 Session) into law on May 27, 2021. This act amends the state’s Revised Statutes in relation to:

  • Chapter 459 ‘Hazardous Materials’ – PFAS in firefighting foams – prohibited for testing and firefighting training, except in specific uses
  • Chapter 597 ‘Miscellaneous Trade Regulations and Prohibited Acts’ – OFR in business textiles, children’s products, mattresses, residential textiles and upholstered residential furniture – restricted to no more than 1,000 ppm for each OFR

To learn about exemptions to the OFR requirement, read SGS’s original SafeGuard 077/21.

The Act includes the following definitions:

  • ‘PFAS’ – family of fluorinated organic chemicals with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom
  • ‘Residential textile’ – textile designed for residential use as a covering on windows or walls
  • ‘Children’s product’ – product primarily designed or intended to be used by or for a child under 12 years of age

The definition of ‘children’s product’ does not include:

  •  A tent or sleeping bag
  • Consumer electronic products and components or products complying with Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Union (currently Directive 2011/65/EU, RoHS Recast)
  • Devices within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C § 321 (h))
  • Food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical or biological products
  • Outdoor sports equipment
  • Toys meeting the latest version of ASTM F963 ‘Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety’

Stakeholders should be aware the provision relating to PFAS will come into effect on January 1, 2022, and the provision for OFR will become effective on July 1, 2022.

SGS Chemical Testing

SGS offers a comprehensive range of testing services to help manufacturers and suppliers ensure their products are safe and comply with national and international regulations concerning harmful chemicals. Learn more about SGS Chemical Testing Services

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full State of Nevada, USA, Regulates PFAS and Flame Retardants in Certain Consumer Goods SafeGuardS. 

Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr  

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS 

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 89,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

New Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Articles in Brazil

Manufacturers and suppliers of food contact packaging, utensils, lids and metallic equipment are advised of Brazil’s amendments to its Technical Regulation.

Brazil’s Ministry of Health and National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) published Resolution of the Collegiate Board of Directors (RDC) No. 498 of May 20, 2021, on May 26, 2021. This amends RDC No. 20/2007 and transposes Mercosur’s GMC Resolution No. 16 of December 17, 2020, into Brazilian national law.

Among the changes brought in by the Resolution are:

  • Laser welding is now allowed in the manufacture of side seams in metal packaging
  • Section 3 ‘Positive List of Raw Materials for Packaging and Metallic Equipment’ updated with editorial and technical changes. These include:
    • ‘Polymeric coatings’
    • ‘Sealings or sealants’
    • ‘Surface lubricants’
    • ‘Restrictions’
  • Emphasizes that overall (total) and specific migrations for coated materials are to be carried out on the finished goods
  • Allows specimens of metallic substrates that are manufactured using identical conditions as the finished product for overall and specific migration
  • Clarifies that the overall migration limits are those that are established in the technical regulation corresponding to the type of coating used
  • ‘Determination of the specific migration of metals in tinplating packaging’ replaced with ‘Determination of the specific migration of metals in packaging, lids, utensils and metallic equipment not covered by Clause 4.1’

Finally, there are also new requirements on the use of simulants and sample preparation. These include:

  • Use of 0.5% (w/v) citric acid as simulant for the specific migration of metals from uncoated metallic materials that are intended for acidic foods (pH no greater than 4.5)
  • Use of artificial water as simulant for the specific migration of metals from uncoated metallic materials that are intended for non-acidic, alcoholic and fatty foods (0.5% (w/v) citric acid may also be used but subject to results meeting limits, otherwise artificial water)
  • Details the procedure from EN 16889:2016 for the preparation of artificial water
  • Indicates uncoated materials to be evaluated under the actual conditions of use where applicable, otherwise the following conditions are to be used:
    • 40 °C, 10 days for storage at room temperature
    • 70 °C, 2 h followed by 40 °C, 24 h for hot-fill and short-term storage (less than 24 h) at room temperature.
    • 70 °C, 2 h followed by 40 °C, 10 days for hot-fill and long-term storage (more than 24 h) at room temperature.
    • Boiling temperature of simulant, 2 h for boiling conditions

Resolution No. 498 of May 20, 2021, came into force on June 1, 2021. Stakeholders have until November 27, 2021, to comply with its provisions.

SGS Food Contact Material Services

SGS’s technical experts have extensive experience of testing materials and articles in contact with food. They can ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for compliance. SGS offers the full range of testing, including migration tests, along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review. Learn more about SGS’s Food Contact Material Services. 

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Brazil Revises Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Articles SafeGuardS. 

Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr HingWo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Alessandra Shimizu
Technical Manager
Tel: (+55) 11 3883-8880 Ext. 8785

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS 

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 89,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

CLP Regulation Amended in Europe

The European Union (EU) has revised Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulation).

The changes brought in by the amendment, published in Regulation (EU) 2021/849 as an adaptation to technical and scientific progress (ATP) makes changes to Table 3, Part 3 in Annex XVI of the CLP Regulation – ‘List of Harmonized Classification and Labeling Hazardous Substances’.

These include:

  • Adding 22 new entries, including citric acid
  • Replacing 41 entries, including:
    • Specific concentration limit (SCL) for boric acid and diboron trioxide
    • Creating one group with a single SCL for:
      • Tetraboron disodium heptaoxide, hydrate
      • Disodium tetraborate, anhydrous
      • Orthoboric acid, sodium salt
      • Disodium tetraborate decahydrate
      • Disodium tetraborate pentahydrate
  • Deleting Index No. 015-192-0001 on tetrakis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-m-phenylene biphosphate

The latest ATP will come into force on June 17, 2021. It will be applied from December 17, 2022. Stakeholders should be aware that substances and mixtures can be classified, labeled and packaged in accordance with this amendment from June 17, 2021.

SGS CLP Services

Throughout our global network of laboratories, we are able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy for restricted substances, safety data sheets (SDSs), as well as chemical safety assessments (CSAs) for the EU and international markets. Our environmental product safety services can assist with aspect of the EU classification, labeling and packaging (CLP) regulation. Learn more about SGS’s CLP Services

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full EU Amends CLP Regulation on Substances and Mixtures SafeGuardS.

Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr HingWo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS 

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 89,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.