The word "AUSTRIA" stamped on the side is not an indication of where it's actually made.
The safety has nothing to do with it at all. It's the collection of points assigned to handguns for "sporting use" by the ATF. Remember, the ATF in it's infinite wisdom "world without end" has decreed that firearms that are not of "sporting use" may not be imported into the US. How it reaches the level of sporting use is determined by the following. A gun must score 75 points based on the following list:
Length: for each 1/4" over 6" 1
Forged steel frame 15
Forged HTS alloy frame 20
Unloaded weight w/mag (per oz.) 1
.22 short and .25 auto 0
.22 LR and 7.65mm to .380 auto 3
9mm parabellum and over 10
Locked breech mechanism 5
Loaded chamber indicator 5
Grip safety 3
Magazine safety 5
Firing pin block or lock 10
External hammer 2
Double action 10
Drift adjustable target sight 5
Click adjustable target sight 10
Target grips 5
Target trigger 2
http://www.atf.gov/files/forms/download/atf-f-5330-5.pdf
So, take the Glock 26.
Length (6.29") 1
Weight (21.87oz) 22
Caliber (9mm) 10
Locked breech 5
Firing pin block 10
Double action 10
Target sight 10
Target grips 5
Target trigger 2
Total 75 - just enough to get in.
Figure that the 42 (or more accurately the 25 and the 28 previously) would not meet the level of 75 simply because the .380 only gets 3 points on the "caliber" instead of 10. Which means that the 25 and the 28 failed the "sporting" test in the eyes of the ATF, "May they live forever." (And yes, I'm treating it like the ATF is ridiculous because they are.)
Anyway, far as I can tell, there is no "safety" requirement in the list above.
As for the 42. I don't see it being a real game changer for pretty much anyone. I know people have been begging for a .380 Glock for what reason I don't know. I would have been more impressed if they'd done a single stack 9mm. But then, maybe that's the point. Maybe the 43 will be a 9mm version of the 42.