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TRANSCRIPT

00:00 Brought to You by TAB Quartz
00:19 Intro
00:29 Silicosis Legislation in U.S. House
02:33 A Word from TAB Quartz
03:42 Feds Seek $290M in Tariff Fraud Case
06:35 New Draft on Calif. Quartz Regs
09:15 Brazil Natural Stone Seeks EU Expansion
11:20 Registration Open for ’27 Xiamen Show
12:55 Cosentino Expanding U.S. Sites
15:15 Rigon Honored by Women Who Rock
15:53 Outro
16:22 Brought to You by TAB Quartz

00:19

Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.

00:29

The issue of silicosis is now in the halls of Congress. On Oct. 13, H.R. 10798, the Silicosis Prevention and Treatment Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives and then referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Lou Correa of California and Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon, would create a federal grant program to help healthcare facilities educate the public about silicosis and provide prevention and treatment measures for those affected.

The act creates a grant program to award healthcare providers with federal funding to conduct outreach and education; provide screening, diagnosis and treatment of silicosis; develop education programs, and; offer pulmonary rehabilitation and patient care.

Correa’s district is home to the Tile Mile in Anaheim, Calif., where workers fabricate manufactured stone countertops, a process that releases silica dust. Orange County in California accounts for more than 135 of the state’s more than 660 confirmed silicosis cases.

“No worker should lose their ability to breathe because of the job they do to support their family,” Correa said. “This bill puts resources into the hands of the clinics and hospitals that treat these workers, so they get the care they need before it’s too late.”

Dexter, a pulmonologist, says it’s critical that those who are most at risk for the disease be educated as to their risks.

“The Silicosis Prevention and Treatment Act will increase funding for healthcare facilities to disseminate information and raise awareness about this progressive lung disease,” she said. “We must protect the people whose hard work builds our communities.”

Approximately 2.3 million people are exposed to silica on the job, including in construction and mining, as well as stone fabrication.

03:42

The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil fraud lawsuit late last month against a Hayward, Calif.-based importer, alleging evasion of customs duties.

The suit, filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, seeks to recover $67.9 million from Uni-Tile & Marble Inc. and its chief executive officer, Xin Mian Pan, in unpaid customs duties on merchandise imported from the People’s Republic of China.

The government is also seeking $222.5 million in fraud penalties from the defendants.

The government alleges that, from September 2018 to August 2023, the defendants fraudulently transshipped, undervalued, and misdirected merchandise via a scheme that involved five shell companies – with two of the companies set up with stolen identities.

As a result of this alleged conduct, the defendants made materially false statements and omissions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 503 declared shipments of imported merchandise or “entries” of wooden cabinets and vanities, quartz surface products, ceramic tile, and other merchandise that deprived the United States of duties.

In December of last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced criminal conspiracy charges, as well as wire fraud, smuggling, and international money laundering against Pan, Uni-Tile and several others involved in the defendants’ ongoing system to evade custom duties and violate U.S. trade and finance laws.

The criminal indictment alleges that Pan and his co-defendants devised a plan to avoid paying the combination rate on quartz-surface products and other customs duties to increase the profitability of Pan’s companies. He controlled several companies that imported kitchen products subject to the combination rate.

The conspirators utilized several techniques to avoid paying duties, including the transshipment of goods through Malaysia, the use of shell companies, and misclassifying imported products in 503 declared shipments of imported merchandize.

In the new civil complaint, the government seeks to enforce CBP’s demand that defendants pay additional duties and penalties because the conduct alleged against them in the criminal case also violated 19 U.S.C. 1592(a), which is a provision of the Tariff Act of 1930.

Acting Executive Director Salvatore Ingrassia of Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations for CPB, says, “These civil penalties demonstrate that attempts to undermine our economy and American businesses carry serious consequences.”

06:35

The proposed rules for fabricating materials with crystalline-silica content in California got tighter last week … in both the wording and the time for public comment.

The regulations, offered by state workplace-safety agency CalOSHA to combat the ongoing silicosis epidemic among workers, tweaks a few definitions concerning the material in question. But there’s also one part that might affect any slab product used in the Golden State.

The amount of crystalline silica allowed in surfaces the state defines as artificial stone moved just a tick, References to material of “one percent” changed in several areas to “less than one percent.”

The new proposed regulations also go into detail on what’s exempted from the definition of artificial stone, including uncrushed or milled natural stone; ceramic and porcelain products; terrazzo; and sintered stone, concrete, or cement slabs containing no binders.

The major change, however, is in proposed recordkeeping, where fabrication businesses would need to have, for any product, a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every SKU in stock and “a laboratory analysis for each SKU using X-ray Diffraction from a laboratory” accredited in accordance with state code.

That analysis, according to the proposed regulation, would need to be “provided by the importer, manufacturer, distributor, supplier, or other source.”

CalOSHA also provided a limited time for public input on the proposed changes. The agency posted the revised draft on Oct. 22 and called for all comments to be submitted by Oct. 30.

The proposed regulations would need to be presented to the state Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for a final determination. The next meeting is set for November 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Monterey, Calif., but no agenda has yet been published.

A previous public-comment call on the first draft of the regulations gave an additional week in September. That draft received 45 written comments, including submissions from California health agencies and groups, six fabrication shops, three union representatives, two legal firms involved in silicosis-victim cases, and two surface manufacturers (LX Hausys and Caesarstone).

Industry groups offering comments on the original draft included the International Surface Fabricators Association, Natural Stone Institute, and the Tile Council of North America.

09:15

Brazilian officials – including those from the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) – went to Brussels, Belgium, in mid-October for two days of direct support for Brazil’s trade in Europe

Fabio Cruz, vice president of Centrorochas, noted that European countries already do business with it, but some of the material passes through local companies who do their own processing and resell them to other markets.

“There is room for us to play a larger role, both through direct sales and by developing partnerships with European counties,” he said.

Along with showcasing products and participating in international trade fairs, the sector aims to build closer ties with professionals who influence purchasing decisions, identify projects that are still in the planning stages, and develop initiatives tailored to the characteristics of each market.

Among the proposals discussed was the hosting of a Brazil Stone Experience in Europe, similar to programs already hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Washington. The discussions also covered potential partnerships with European companies, particularly in Portugal.

Environmental requirements in the European market were also discussed. In this context, a sectoral Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD, project for Brazilian granite, marble and quartzite was highlighted.

Currently under development, this study seeks to gather data on the environmental impacts of these materials and establish benchmarks for the entire Brazilian industry.  

Also under discussion is a proposal to address challenges in international maritime transport. Cruz suggested that information be gathered on volumes, routes and logistical needs of different exporting sectors to establish a coordinated dialogue with major shipping companies.

“Brazil-EU Sectoral Planning: From Agreement to Market” was organized by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency and the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Brazilian trade representatives from eight European countries.

11:30

Registration is now open for the 27th China Xiamen International Stone Fair, which is scheduled for March 16-19 next year. The event, which drew more than 155,000 attendees in 2026, will be held at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center.

This year’s theme is “Find Your Delight,” which seeks to help those in the industry rediscover why they fell in love with stone in the first place – before helping them find their next big opportunity in the world’s largest stone marketplace.

The 2026 show offered more than 191,000 m2 (2,055,907 ft2) of exhibition space in eight distinctive zones and drew more than 2,000 exhibiting brands from around the world.

Whether you’re looking for the right material for a special project, a more efficient piece of equipment, a different supplier or a new idea or trend that helps grow your business, pre-registration will help you find it faster.

Also, show organizers will provide a visa information letter of support for international visitors, help with hotel bookings with discounted rates and free shuttle bus service to and from the show, and access to the show’s online B2B platform. For more information, go to www.stonefair.org.cn

12:55

Cosentino, the Spanish-based sustainable surfacing manufacturer, continues to grow its North American footprint with two new showroom and design spaces and updates to two more, along with the opening of the first-ever Cosentino Studio in the United States later this year.

The grand opening of the Cosentino City showroom in Naples, Fla., puts an immersive showroom and creative hub in the heart of the Naples Design District. It invites visitors to experience the textures, finishes and practical applications of the latest Cosentino products, along with innovative design zones.

The 2,448 ft2 showroom is designed to connect architects and designers and create a collaborative, hands-on environment. There are currently 13 City locations nationally.
A new Cosentino Center in Defuniak Springs, Fla., is built to serve that state’s Gulf Coast and provides 37,500 ft2 of space that includes a showroom, offices and warehouse to give designers, tastemakers and homeowners a comprehensive opportunity to explore Cosentino’s brands.

Cosentino has also refreshed its showrooms in New York and Chicago. The flagship designations for the architecture and design communities showcase inaugural collections from ECLOS, Dekton and Silestone.

Still to come is the first Cosentino Studio in the United States and only the fifth in the world. Situated in downtown Montclair, N.J., the 1,790 ft2 studio is rooted in a residential and large-project approach, with an immersive Cosentino Bathroom Studio and enhanced displays for design professionals and their clients to visualize surface selections in real-life settings.

“At Cosentino, growth has always been about more than new locations; it’s about deepening our connections to the design community,” says Eduardo Cosentino, executive vice president of Cosentino Group and CEO of Cosentino Americas. “We’re bringing our latest advancements closer to the architects and designers defining the next wave of kitchen and bath trends.”

15:15

And, Andressa Rigon, national director of sales for OHM International Inc. received the prestigious Women Who Rock Female Leadership Award for 2026. The honor celebrates influential women driving the global stone and surface sector forward.

Rigon, who’s been with OHM since 2004, accepted the honor during the recent Women Who Rock tour of Brazilian stone facilities. She follows in the footsteps of previous industry honorees including Pilar Cosentino, CEO of Cosentino and Park Industries CEO Joan Schatz.

15:53

Remember, the new issue of Stone Update Magazine is now available at www.stonemag.com. For a transcript of today’s podcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update and we’ll see you here again soon.