Baar (May 19, 2026) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has opened a new Bicycle, eMobility and Transit Packaging testing laboratory in Bentonville, Arkansas, expanding its global network and strengthening support for manufacturers serving North American and international markets. The new facility, located at 2310 SW 14th Street, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event bringing together key stakeholders from across the cycling ecosystem. The new lab will focus on quality, development and safety testing to global regulatory standards for US bicycle and e-bike suppliers, assemblers and manufacturers. ISO/IEC 17025 and ISTA accredited, this facility provides testing services for bicycles, e-bikes, micromobility and packaging, helping brands meet evolving safety, performance and regulatory requirements.

Strategically located in one of the fastest-growing cycling ecosystems in the United States, the Bentonville lab enables faster turnaround times and localized support for global clients. “With demand for e-bikes and micromobility solutions accelerating worldwide, manufacturers face increasing regulatory complexity,” said Jay Suh, Head of Connectivity & Products, North America, SGS. “This new facility allows us to deliver end-to-end testing solutions that help clients achieve compliance, improve product quality and accelerate time to market.” The laboratory supports a wide range of testing services for bicycles, e-bikes, components, safety equipment and transit packaging. These include mechanical durability and safety, aligned with US and international standards. Bentonville joins SGS’s network of bicycle testing laboratories established across Europe, China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and is equipped with the latest EFBE® bicycle testing instrumentation (EFBE was acquired by SGS in August 2025).

The lab will also serve as the central transit packaging testing facility (e.g. ISTA) for SGS in North America. SGS’s capabilities cover key requirements such as bicycle safety regulations, battery and electrical system testing, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). As part of the launch, SGS partnered with PeopleForBikes, the US bicycle industry’s trade association and a leading voice for growing ridership nationwide, and Wish for Wheels, a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the well-being of children and communities, to build and donate 60 bicycles and helmets to youth in underserved communities.

The initiative reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to riding, strengthening communities and delivering lasting impact beyond the industry. Bentonville has rapidly emerged as a leading cycling destination in the United States, making it a natural choice for SGS’s latest investment. By integrating with SGS’s global network of laboratories, the Bentonville site enables manufacturers to streamline certification processes across multiple markets while maintaining consistent quality and compliance standards.

“Bentonville is quickly establishing itself as a leading hub for cycling innovation in North America,” said Jose Maldonado, Chief Marketing Officer at PeopleForBikes. “SGS’s investment in advanced testing infrastructure strengthens the entire bike ecosystem – from product development and safety to speed to market. This is the kind of industry collaboration that moves the business of bikes forward and supports continued growth in cycling and e-mobility.” SGS’s commitment to cycling extends well beyond Bentonville. As the proud sponsor of the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, SGS sees the qualities that drive performance at the elite level – precision under pressure, team coordination, and consistency and resilience – as the same principles that underpin its performance culture and shape how it delivers for clients every day.

From the UCI WorldTour peloton to the testing floor in Bentonville, to a child riding away on their first bike, SGS's support for the sport is grounded in disciplined execution and trust when it matters most. Find out more about SGS’s bicycle and e-mobility testing services. Notes to Editors Facility details - Location: 2310 SW 14th Street, Bentonville, Arkansas - Opening date: May 18, 2026 - Accreditation: ISO/IEC 17025 and ISTA Testing capabilities include: - Mechanical durability and environmental testing (incline impact, compression, drop, vibration) - Transit and packaging testing (ISTA) Standards and regulations supported include: - CPSC 16 CFR 1512 (bicycle safety) - ISO 4210 Bicycle Safety - EFBE Tri-Test Our new Bentonville lab will work in tandem with our Suwanee, Georgia lab to deliver a fully integrated testing solution supporting the entire bicycle ecosystem: - Battery and electrical safety testing for e-bikes - UL/CSA 60950-1, 62368-1 (chargers) - 47 CFR Part 15 (radio frequency devices) - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing - UL 2849 (e-bike electrical systems) - UL 2271 (batteries) About SGS   SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company.

We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability. Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource. SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).

About PeopleForBikes PeopleForBikes is a national bicycle advocacy nonprofit and the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association representing more than 340 bicycle industry supplier members and nearly 1.4 million individual supporters. Through its three areas of influence – infrastructure, policy, and participation – PeopleForBikes accelerates the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike, advances pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation, and reduces barriers to welcome more people to the joys of riding a bike.

Join us at peopleforbikes.org and donate to support our work. About Wish for Wheels Wish for Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 with a mission to provide every child with their own bike and helmet. Through its Bike Build & Give program, the organization partners with companies and communities across the United States to build and donate brand-new bikes to children at Title I schools. Since its founding, Wish for Wheels has delivered more than 100,000 bikes while creating hands-on volunteer experiences that connect teams directly with the children and communities they support. Learn more at wishforwheels.org.

Baar (May 8, 2026) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 054.26, summarizing Brazil’s new law on silicone materials in food contact materials (FCMs) and articles.

 

New sanitary requirements were issued on April 7, 2026, by Brazil’s National Health Agency (ANVISA) and published in the Official Gazette (DOU):

  • Resolution of the Collegiate Board of Directors RDC No.1020 of April 2, 2026
  • Normative Instruction No. 435 of April 2, 2026

 

Resolution No.1020/2026 transposes Mercosur/GMC/RES. No.34/25 into Brazil’s domestic law. It establishes definitions, authorized substance lists and test methods for silicone food contact materials, sets migration limits, including those for childcare articles, mandates specific test methods and standards, requires compliance verification using existing migration standards and repeals outdated silicone provisions in earlier regulations.

 

Effective on the day of its publication in the DOU of April 7, 2026, the regulations impact stakeholders across the food contact silicone material and article supply chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.

 

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that may impact their business. SafeGuardS 054.26 includes further information on Resolution No.1020/2026, including key provisions.

 

Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the original SafeGuardS 054.26 for more details.

 

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. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. 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 Issues New Legislation for Food Contact Silicone Materials SafeGuardS.

 

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

 

For further information, contact Media Inquiries or:

 

Dr. HingWo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: +852 2774 7420

 

Lara Gallego

Packaging Regulations Consultant, Mercosur/Brazil

Tel: +55 11 94178 0564

 

Website: http://www.sgs.com/hardlines

LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

 

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

 

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.

 

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).

 

Baar (May 8, 2026) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 055.26, reporting on South Korea’s updated  of food contact utensils, containers and packages standards.

 

Notice No. 2026-24 was issued in March 2026, updating the country’s ‘Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packages’. This notice replaces requirements and specifications detailed in the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)’s Notice No. 2024-29. Food contact utensils, containers and packages are regulated by Chapter 3 of the Food Sanitation Act, which directs the MFDS to establish standards and specifications for these products.

 

Key revisions in Notice No. 2026-24 include the restructuring of the ‘General Rules’ and ‘Common Standards and Specifications’, the introduction of a new section defining multiple terms, updates to migration requirements for certain plasticizers and the expansion of permitted recycled materials from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to include polypropylene (PP) under specified conditions.

 

Notice No. 2026-24 takes effect from March 27, 2026, with some exceptions for certain substances.

 

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that could impact their business. SafeGuardS 055.26 includes a useful table highlighting the migration specifications for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) under the new standard.

 

Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the original SafeGuardS 055.26 for more details.

 

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. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. 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 South Korea Updates Standards and Specifications for Food Contact Materials SafeGuardS.

 

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

 

For further information, contact Media Inquiries or:

 

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

 

SeungJae Lee
Section Chief, Connectivity and Products
Tel: +82 (0)31 460 8028

 

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

 

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

 

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.

 

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).

 

Baar (May 11, 2026) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 049.26, summarizing Spain’s draft Royal Decree that would mandate accessible labeling for cosmetics, food products and hazardous substances. This move is intended to better protect vulnerable consumers.

 

A comprehensive framework is introduced in the draft, promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, to ensure that consumer products sold in Spain can be understood and used safely by all consumers, particularly those with visual impairments.

 

While covering a wide range of goods, the draft proposal does not apply to bulk products or those intended solely for industrial or professional use. The new accessibility standards require compliance across the entire supply chain, with manufacturers, importers and distributors subject to reporting obligations, including the reporting of any detected non-compliance.

 

The requirements established in the proposed Royal Decree support Spain’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and help harmonize national consumer protection rules with broader EU packaging and waste regulations. They include:
- Accessible physical labeling
- Clear Spanish-language text for all essential information
- Digital accessibility tools as a complement to physical labels
- Specific mandatory content on labels

 

The draft decree is currently progressing through a revised approval process and is expected to advance in the second half of 2026, following a review by national authorities and the European Commission, with no final approval or implementation date currently set.

 

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that could impact their business. SafeGuardS 049.26 includes further information about the proposed requirements and the approval process.

 

Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the original SafeGuardS 049.26 for more details.

 

SGS cosmetics and personal care product services
Through a global network of state-of-the-art laboratories, SGS offers comprehensive testing and certification solutions for cosmetics, household care, absorbent hygiene and disinfectant products. Their experts verify safety and efficacy, simplifying market access while ensuring regulatory compliance. Learn more about SGS’s cosmetic and hygiene product services.

 

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Spain Moves Toward Inclusive Labeling for Cosmetic Products SafeGuardS.

 

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

 

For further information, contact Media Inquiries or:

 

Lydia Abdel Rahman
Designation Business Developer, Cosmetic and Personal Care
Health and Nutrition
Website: www.sgs.com/cosmetics 
LinkedIn: Cosmetics & Personal Care

 

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

 

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.

 

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).

Baar (May 11, 2026) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 056.26, reporting on Türkiye’s notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its draft regulations on bisphenol A (BPA) and other hazardous bisphenol derivatives in certain food contact materials (FCMs) and articles.

Most commonly used to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins to improve the durability of FCMs, these substances have been found to disrupt the endocrine system and are increasingly subject to strict legislative control worldwide.

Two draft communiqués from Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry were notified to the WTO on April 8, 2026, on FCMs and articles:
– Turkish Food Codex Draft Communiqué on the ‘Restriction of the Use of Bisphenol A, other Hazardous Bisphenols and Bisphenol Derivatives in Certain Substances and Materials in Contact with Food’ (Draft Communiqué 1), a communication largely harmonized with European Regulation (EU) 2024/3190
– Draft Communiqué on ‘Amendments to the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Plastic Substances and Materials in Contact with Food’, a document complementing the requirements in Draft Communiqué 1

The communiqués include proposals for bans, strict content limits and conditions for permitted use across specific material categories. These would set significant restrictions on BPA and other hazardous bisphenols and would also establish testing and conformity requirements, along with rules on declarations of conformity and conditions of use. If accepted, the draft proposals will introduce new obligations for manufacturers, retailers, importers and distributors across the food contact supply chain.

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that could impact their business. SafeGuardS 056.26 includes further information about the two draft communiqués, including key provisions and implementation timelines.

Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to SafeGuardS 056.26 for more details.

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. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. 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 Türkiye Consults on BPA and other Bisphenols in Food Contact Materials SafeGuardS.

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information, contact Media Inquiries or:

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

Ugur Yilmaz
Certification and Regulatory Manager
Tel: +90 (0)538 979 2056

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
Linkedin: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).

More Articles ...