2025 ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

6:30am EST

ICPHSO Morning Walk

Wednesday February 19, 2025 6:30am - 7:15am EST

Start your morning off with a walk around the Hyatt property led by Member Jane McGarry. Bring your own water bottles and prepare for the busy day ahead!

Wednesday February 19, 2025 6:30am - 7:15am EST
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Lobby

Associated ICPHSO Event

7:00am EST

Breakfast

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Enjoy a hot breakfast courtesy of ICPHSO before the days events begin. Be sure to visit the exhibitors and view the posters in the exhibit hall before the sessions begin.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Breakfast

7:00am EST

Registration

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:00am - 5:00pm EST

Registration Desk - Grand Cypress Ballroom Level

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:00am - 5:00pm EST
Registration Desk - Grand Cypress Ballroom Level

Registration

7:30am EST

Sponsored Satellite Session 10: Covington & Burling LLP: Internal Alarm and External Oversight: Whistleblowers, Independent Auditors, and Third-Party Monitors

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:30am - 7:50am EST

Grand Cypress A-C

Join Covington for a program highlighting the key trends in the use of independent monitors and third-party auditors to oversee the implementation of safety compliance improvement commitments in regulatory enforcement actions. We will also discuss the incentives for whistleblowers and the importance of internal quality audits in reducing enforcement risks.

Speakers

Sarah Wilson

Covington & Burling LLP

Joshua González

Covington & Burling LLP

Jack Mizerack

Covington & Burling LLP

Molly Brown

Covington & Burling LLP

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:30am - 7:50am EST
Grand Cypress A-C

Satellite Sessions

7:30am EST

Sponsored Satellite Session 11: Eurofins' Deforestation Impact Assessment: A Comprehensive Tool for EU DR Compliance

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:30am - 7:50am EST

Palm A-F (Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:30am - 7:50am EST
Palm A-F (Ballroom Level)

Satellite Sessions

7:30am EST

Sponsored Satellite Session 12: Foley & Lardner LLP: You’ve received a Notice of Violation from the CPSC. Now what?

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:30am - 7:50am EST

Regency 1-4 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

Join Foley for a program highlighting tips and best practices for responding to Notices of Violation and challenging unsubstantiated CPSC claims.

Speakers

Erik Swanholt

Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

Megan Chester

Associate, Foley & Lardner LLP

Wednesday February 19, 2025 7:30am - 7:50am EST
Regency 1-4 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

Satellite Sessions

8:00am EST

Day 3 - Opening Remarks and Announcements

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:00am - 8:10am EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Speakers

David Kosnoff

ICPHSO Planning Chair/Incoming President, Product Safety Executive

Recently retired from Walmart after a career spanning nearly forty years in corporate life, including a focus on product safety since 2006, David has had the privilege of leading Product Safety teams for Walmart, Hasbro, Amazon, and Mattel. His work included two Hong Kong based assignments... Read More →

Kim Mason

Vice President, Product Quality and Compliance and ICPHSO President, Five Below

Kim Mason is the Vice President of Product Quality and Compliance at Five Below. She leads a team who implements and manages processes, systems, and training related to product safety, testing and regulatory compliance. Kim also oversees Five Below’s social responsibility program... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:00am - 8:10am EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Plenary

8:10am EST

Ross Koeser Tribute and Achievement Award Presentation

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:10am - 8:25am EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Carol Pollack-Nelson, former President and Planning Chair, will deliver a tribute to Ross Koeser, who sadly passed away on January 25, 2025.

Following the tribute, we will recognize the recipient of the 2025 Ross Koeser Achievement Award, Don Kornblet. The award will be presented to Don by the 2024 recipient, Pinuccia Contino.

Congratulations Don!

Speakers

Carol Pollack-Nelson

Principal, Independent Safety Consulting, LLC

Carol Pollack-Nelson, Ph.D. is a human factors psychologist specializing in consumer product safety. She works as a consultant and researcher, providing guidance to manufacturers, retailers, attorneys, test labs, consumer groups, and the government on product safety issues including... Read More →

Pinuccia Contino

Deputy to the Director for Consumers & Head of Unit Product Safety and Rapid Alert System, European Commission

Pinuccia Contino is the Deputy to the Director for Consumers & Head of the Product Safety and Rapid Alert System Unit in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST). In this capacity, she is responsible for the European Union's legislation on general product safety... Read More →

Don Kornblet

Product Safety Advisor/President, ADK Information Services, LLC, ADK Information Services

Don Kornblet has dedicated over 40 years to enhancing consumer product safety on a global scale. He has significantly contributed to ICPHSO through his work with ADK Information Services and as the Product Safety Advisor to the Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP). Since... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:10am - 8:25am EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Plenary

8:25am EST

Regulator Session 1 : CPSC Updates

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:25am - 9:15am EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Hear the latest information from CPSC on 2025 activities.

Speakers

Jonathan Midgett

Consumer Ombudsman, US CPSC

Jonathan Midgett, Ph.D. is the Consumer Ombudsman at the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in Bethesda, Maryland [https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Consumer-Ombudsman]. Since joining CPSC in 2001, Dr. Midgett has been evaluating emerging hazards and contributing to the... Read More →

Jim Joholske

Director, Office of Import Surveillance, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Import Surveillance

James “Jim” Joholske is Director of the Office of Import Surveillance at the U.S. ConsumerProduct Safety Commission (CPSC). He began his career at CPSC in July 2000 in the agency’s Office ofCompliance and Field Operations. While in the Office of Compliance and Field Operations... Read More →

Stephen Lee

Program Specialist, Office of the Small Business Ombudsman, CPSC

Stephen Lee is a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook with a Master’s degree in general chemistry and has been with the CPSC since 2015. Stephen first joined CPSC as a Compliance Officer within the Regulatory Enforcement Division where he oversaw and enforced various mandatory requirements... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:25am - 9:15am EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Regulator

9:15am EST

Regulator Session 2: Global Regulator Updates

Wednesday February 19, 2025 9:15am - 10:05am EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Hear from global regulators on the latest regulatory activities in their jurisdictions.

Moderators

David Kosnoff

ICPHSO Planning Chair/Incoming President, Product Safety Executive

Speakers

Pinuccia Contino

Deputy to the Director for Consumers & Head of Unit Product Safety and Rapid Alert System, European Commission

Jim Joholske

Director, Office of Import Surveillance, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Import Surveillance

Thezi Mabuza

Deputy Commissioner, National Consumer Commission, South Africa

The National Consumer Commissioner is a regulator responsible for consumer protection in relation to all transactions and service except, financial services.I am interested on topics related to eCommerce with special interest for people with disabilities, Do not Call registers and... Read More →

Sarah Smith

Deputy Chief Executive, Office for Product Safety and Standards, UK

Sarah is the Deputy Chief Executive of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business & Trade. She leads the UK Government’s approach to product regulation and market surveillance, and legal metrology, including administering new sovereign... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 9:15am - 10:05am EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Regulator

10:05am EST

Networking, Exhibits & Poster Viewing Break

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Please be sure to stop by and visit the exhibitors and check out the poster displays in the exhibit hall while enjoying some food and beverage treats.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Networking & Exhibit Break, Poster Viewing

10:05am EST

Poster: ANSI Z535.7 and beyond - Introduction to the new standard for presenting safety information in electronic media

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

For decades, ANSI Z535 standards have provided guidance for presenting safety information in media such as safety signs, product labels, and, since 2006, product manuals and collateral materials. With evolving technology and connectivity, people - both product users and manufacturers - are increasingly turning to electronic media as another channel for finding or providing product information. ANSI Z535.7, the American National Standard for Product Safety Information in Electronic Media, helps bring ANSI Z535 concepts into these newer media. This poster provides an introduction to ANSI Z535.7 and also touches on some considerations of presenting safety information in electronic media that go beyond the standard.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:05am EST

Poster: Best Practices in Evaluating Lithium-Ion Batteries

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

The poster presentation focuses on an investigation into the evaluation of batteries for various properties that impact performance and safety. The batteries tested have been sourced from a variety of manufacturers for comparative analysis. The audience will gain knowledge in what potential pitfalls exist within lithium-ion batteries, and what is necessary to identify those, prior to implementation in a product. Data will be presented showing the wide variety in quality of batteries and how different operating conditions impact their performance and lifetime characteristics. Specific topics explored will include battery cell construction, energy capacity, degradation leading to capacity loss, and how quickly end of life is reached.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:05am EST

Poster: Dog Anatomy Data Collection - Research to Fuel the Dog Equivalent of the Small Parts Cylinder

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

CSU, in partnership with the ASTM F15.05 subcommittee on pet products, has begun a research project to use CT scanning technology and an inflator balloon to collect anthropometric data around different points of "narrowing" in the digestive tract of different sized dogs. Additionally CSU will collect head, jaw, and mouth dimensions. Among other things, the intent is for this data to fuel to development of choking/ingestion test cylinders for dog toys, the dog equivalent of the human toy small parts cylinder.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:05am EST

Poster: Improving Data Reporting to Avoid TSCA Pitfalls: A Call for Engagement of Downstream Users

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Under the US EPA’s TSCA program for existing chemicals, providing insufficient or incomplete data about a business’s product or process can lead to erroneous risk conclusions by EPA and, ultimately, unnecessary and costly risk management measures. Small and midsize enterprises and downstream users of a chemical are particularly vulnerable to these determinations. To avoid this outcome, stakeholders up and down the value chain should be engaged in the TSCA process as early as possible. A review of the types of data needed by EPA was performed to assist the regulated community with identifying and organizing their data to optimize the accuracy of EPA’s risk assessment conclusions on the relevant Conditions of Use.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:05am EST

Poster: Inmetro's advances in market surveillance in Brazil

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Market Surveillance is one of the pillars of quality infrastructure. In order to improve its activities in this area, Inmetro, the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology of Brazil, plays a crucial role in ensuring product safety and compliance with technical regulations. As part of it's strategy it was established the Safety Products Laboratory-Nusep/Divig/Dconf/Inmetro in 2023. Among its activities, it has been carrying out several testing of products that are under regulation of Inmetro’s certification. Recently the laboratory was responsible for the organization of special operations in the country, for instance, one dedicated to wires and cables (43% of manufacturers showed irregularities) and another for toys (10% of the products showed some restrictions). The results are contributing to get a better quality of products available to consumers.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:05am EST

Poster: Made of recycled PET?

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Consumers embrace the concept of recycling and brand owners want to offer products that respond to such noble aspiration. But, without proper traceability mechanisms, it is hard to confidently claim the amount of recycled material used in a finished good. Incremental cost and limited availability amount of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) have led to erroneous claims about 2/3 of the time.

This poster will share how a methodology was developed and accredited to accurately identify and quantify rPET. It will share the challenges faced during development, the selection of the chemical marker and the equipment evaluated and utilized to have the most consistent and accurate measurement.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:05am EST

Poster: YouthShape.US: A New Study of Child and Youth Anthropometry and Physical Capability

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Data on the body dimensions of youth are widely used in design and regulatory applications. However, the U.S. has not had a public, well-sampled, detailed child anthropometry study since the 1970s. Importantly, less information is available on body shape. To address this gap, body size, shape, health and physical capability data were gathered on 600 children ages 3 through 17 years. Data included 1D and 3D anthropometry (head, hand, foot and whole body), body composition, and measures of strength and fitness. Study outcomes will be used to create a new public archive of anthropometry and physical development data for U.S. youth. The dataset and interactive design tools will serve as a valuable resource for the design and evaluation of products and systems children use.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:05am - 10:35am EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

10:35am EST

Regulator Session 3 Health Canada Updates

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:35am - 11:25am EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Hear from representatives from Health Canada who will provide regulatory updates.

Speakers

Dennis Price

Director General, Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate, Health Canada

In November 2022, Dennis Price joined Health Canada as Director General of the Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate. In this role, Dennis is responsible for the assessment, management and communication of health and safety risks for all consumer products and cosmetics... Read More →

Nadira Rambritch

Director - Consumer Product Safety Program, Health Canada

Nadira Rambritch is the Director of the Consumer Product Safety Program within the Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch (ROEB) at Health Canada. With over 20 years of service within the Government of Canada, Nadira has held key roles across various programs at Health Canada... Read More →

Lynn Berndt-Weis

Director, Assessment, Information and Engagement Bureau, Health Canada

Lynn Berndt-Weis is the Director of the Assessment, Information and Engagement Bureau within Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program. In this role, Lynn oversees activities to identify, assess, and manage health and safety risks posed by consumer products and cosmetics.The... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 10:35am - 11:25am EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Regulator

11:35am EST

Breakout 21: Aligning Compliance and Sustainability Goals Through Smart Chemical Testing Strategies

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST

Regency 1-4 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

This session will explore how businesses can effectively align their compliance and sustainability goals by leveraging smart chemical testing strategies. The focus will be on navigating a complex landscape of global regulations, including California Proposition 65, US State PFAS regulations, children’s product reporting rules, and European REACH and POP regulations. The panel will also emphasize the critical role of raw material management and the involvement of industry trade organizations in driving collaboration to meet both regulatory and sustainability challenges. Attendees will gain valuable and actionable insights on integrating chemical management into broader sustainability strategies while ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Moderators

Pratik Ichhaporia

VP Technical Services North America, Eurofins

Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia is a recognized expert in quality, safety, and environmental issues affecting the textiles, toys, and hardlines industries. As the Vice President of Technical Services for Consumer Product Testing North America at Eurofins, Dr. Ichhaporia has extensive experience... Read More →

Speakers

Chelsea Murtha

Senior Director, Sustainability, AAFA

Chelsea Murtha serves as the association’s advocate and spokesperson on matters of sustainability and product safety. She engages with Congress, the Executive Branch, independent agencies, as well as state and local legislatures and agencies and foreign governments on sustainability... Read More →

Deepak Jadhav

Global Director – Product Chemistry, New Balance

Deepak is the Global Director of Product Chemistry at New Balance, a well-known athletic footwear and apparel brand. Steering New Balance's product chemistry division, his focus is on integrating sustainable chemicals and materials into New Balance products and supply chain. With... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST
Regency 1-4 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

Breakout

11:35am EST

Breakout 22: Inclusive Toy Design Through Collaboration

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST

Grand Cypress A-C

Toy design often starts with engineers, but ensuring accessibility to play with that toy isn’t always part of the equation. By collaborating with experts like occupational therapists, toys can be designed to include as many children as possible, regardless of ability.

This interactive session is designed to get product designers, engineers and product safety professionals to expand their approach to inclusive product design. After a brief presentation by a safety and compliance engineer and an occupational therapist, attendees will work in small groups to redesign a toy based on real-world child's disability considerations. Through hands-on ideation, participants will explore how to integrate inclusive principles into their design process.

After this session, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how to incorporate diverse needs into product development, ultimately expanding play opportunities for more children. They’ll also take-home practical strategies for applying disability-inclusive design principles across all products.

Moderators

Kristin Cordz

The Bitter Gal aka VP Business Development, Market Actives, LLC

Kristin is currently the VP of Business Development for Market Actives, the exclusive US distributor of Bitrex® Safety Technology, providing comprehensive support to all US customers. Her responsibilities include the development of core Bitrex brand assets, product safety ingredient... Read More →

Speakers

Rachael Hintze

Occupational Therapist, Children's Specialized Hospital

Rachael is a Senior Occupational Therapist at Children’s Specialized Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health outpatient care facility in New Jersey. She graduated Ithaca College with a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Science, Minor in Recreation, and a Masters of Science in Occupational... Read More →

Jen Mussell

Sr Manager Product Safety, Mattel, Inc.

Jen Mussell is the Sr Manager of Product Safety in the Product Safety & Regulatory Compliance organization at Mattel. Prior to this role, she was a Mattel Quality Engineer working primarily on Fisher-Price baby gear products. Throughout her career, Jen has been focused on making... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST
Grand Cypress A-C

Breakout

11:35am EST

Breakout 23: Standardization and Product Safety in China, EU, and USA

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST

Palm A-F (Ballroom Level)

Standards are powerful and effective tools that are widely used by countries to implement legal requirements and ensure product safety. Knowledge of how standards work is key to product safety compliance.

This presentation aims to provide clear picture of the complicated standard system and the implementation of standards in China. It will also include an introduction of standardization in EU and USA, as well as comparison of the three jurisdictions.

The presentation will help the attendees to understand the challenges in compliance with standards. At the same time, providing suggestions and tips on how to overcome the difficulties.

Moderators

Amy Chen

Regulatory Compliance Consultant, Compliance & Risks

Amy Chen works as a Regulatory Compliance Consultant in Compliance & Risks, specialising in product safety and related regulations globally for over 15 years. The topics covered include REACH, RoHS, WEEE, energy labelling, energy efficiency, packaging, product safety, EMC, climate... Read More →

Speakers

Rodney Thu

Director, Quality Assurance, Hasbro, Inc.

Rodney Thu is the Director of Quality Assurance at Hasbro, where he has worked for 12 years. He leads the Commodity, Regulatory & Internal Policy and Laboratory (CRPL) team within Hasbro’s Quality Assurance department. His team is responsible for ensuring the quality of high-risk... Read More →

Molly Lynyak

Manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International

Molly Lynyak is a manager in the Technical Committee Operations Division of ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world.In her role, Lynyak has direct responsibility for the standards development activities within Committee F15... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST
Palm A-F (Ballroom Level)

Breakout

11:35am EST

Breakout 24: Implications of Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) in Product Safety and New Regulations

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST

Regency 5-9 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

The panel will discuss the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) topic, which is widely applied in different industries and involves stakeholders, retailers, brands, manufacturers, and others. The panel will discuss what LCA is, how it is calculated, and why is it becoming a key element in products safety and environmental assessment. Additionally, the panel with also look into how LCA is shaping new emerging regulation around the world and how will the results of LCA be used in different industries. What are the main datapoints and preparation needed in order to carry out LCAs, how to take into consideration the reusability, repairability of products, and what are the expectations in different industries.

Moderators

Khaled Abdou

TUV Rheinland Global Business Development Manager – Sustainability/ LCA Expert, TUV Rheinland

Dr. Khaled Abdou is a Sustainability Global Business Development Manager and LCA Expert in the Business Stream Products of TÜV Rheinland, based in London, UK. After having rounded his studies up with a PhD in Marine Biology, Khaled worked in different roles as Environmental Sustainability... Read More →

Speakers

James Pollack

Partner, Marten Law

James Pollack is a Partner at Marten Law, an environmental law firm based in Seattle, WA. James leads Marten’s consumer products regulatory practice where he helps trusted national brands bring sustainable products to market. He counsels apparel, footwear, outdoor gear, and furniture... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:35am - 12:25pm EST
Regency 5-9 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

Breakout

12:35pm EST

Lunch and Keynote 3: Sally Greenberg, JD -- Chief Executive Officer, National Consumers League (NCL)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 12:35pm - 1:45pm EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

The following attendees are being recognized with a Certified Product Safety Professional designation. Congratulations to all:

Nathan Mouw
Senior Director of Global Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs
Whirlpool Corporation

Kylee Rogers
Senior Product Safety/Compliance Consultant
Best Practice Quality

Anusha Sirimanna
Senior Quality Assurance Manager
Carters Osh Kosh

Speakers

David Kosnoff

ICPHSO Planning Chair/Incoming President, Product Safety Executive

Sally Greenberg, JD

Chief Executive Officer, National Consumers League (NCL)

Sally Greenberg is a champion of consumer and worker rights and joined the National Consumers League (NCL) as Executive Director on October 1, 2007. An expert on a broad spectrum of issues, Sally has testified before Congress and federal agencies on privacy matters, food labeling... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 12:35pm - 1:45pm EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Lunch, Keynote

1:45pm EST

Certified Product Safety Professional Designation - Recognition

Wednesday February 19, 2025 1:45pm - 2:00pm EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

ICPHSO is pleased to present the following attendees who are being recognized with a Certified Product Safety Professional designation earned through the Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP) certification program. Congratulations to all!

Nathan Mouw
Senior Director of Global Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs
Whirlpool Corporation

Kylee Rogers
Senior Product Safety/Compliance Consultant
Best Practice Quality

Anusha Sirimanna
Senior Quality Assurance Manager
Carters Osh Kosh

Speakers

David Kosnoff

ICPHSO Planning Chair/Incoming President, Product Safety Executive

Laurel Roney

Vice President, Product Integrity, Spin Master, Inc./SPSP

Laurel Roney has worked in the consumer goods industry for more than 20 years and was a member of the SPSP Job Analysis Committee which was responsible for defining the knowledge requirements and specific skills necessary to demonstrate competence and understanding required to design... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 1:45pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Lunch, Recognition

2:10pm EST

Breakout 29: Ask the CPSC SBO

Wednesday February 19, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EST

Grand Cypress A-C

This interactive session with a Program Specialist from CPSC's Small Business Ombudsman office provides attendees an opportunity to ask regulatory and other CPSC related questions through the meeting app.

Speakers

Stephen Lee

Program Specialist, Office of the Small Business Ombudsman, CPSC

Wednesday February 19, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EST
Grand Cypress A-C

Breakout

2:10pm EST

Breakout 30: One Product - Many Variations

Wednesday February 19, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EST

Regency 1-4 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

In a world where legislation is becoming increasingly complex and supply chains are growing more intricate, managing overheads and ensuring compliance are becoming more challenging than ever. This session, titled "One Product – Many Versions," will delve into the multiple layers of data that shape a product’s journey to market. From test data, labeling, certifications, customer feedback, ESG compliance to legislative data, each layer is crucial for connecting and aligning product safety stakeholders and ensuring meets market needs. The panel will discuss how to effectively navigate these layers, providing practical tips for managing the complexities of compliance in today’s demanding regulatory environment.

Moderators

Jacob Nedergaard

CEO & Co-Founder, Qarma

.Jacob Nedergaard is the CEO and co-founder of Qarma, a leading provider of digital solutions that empower brands, retailers, and importers to streamline quality, compliance, and ESG management while enhancing efficiency.With a strong background in retail and consumer products, Jacob... Read More →

Speakers

Deven Wisner

Vice President, Global Registration Services & American Law Label

With over a decade of product-safety expertise, Deven is a results-driven professional based in Tucson, Arizona. Specializing in stuffed article licensing and labeling, Deven has seamlessly supported manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers. In addition to consumer products... Read More →

Heather Capell Bramble

VP Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance, Mattel, Inc.

Heather Capell Bramble is Vice President of Global Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance for Mattel, Inc. She is a senior executive and seasoned attorney with more than 25 years of compliance, management, and legal experience in corporations, government, private law firms, and... Read More →

Evan Friedler

Associate General Counsel, Wayfair LLC

Evan Friedler serves as Associate General Counsel to Wayfair and leads their Regulatory and Government Affairs team. Evan and his team ensure that Wayfair's customers can safely and legally find exactly what they want from a selection of tens of millions of items across home furnishings... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EST
Regency 1-4 (Take steps to left of escalator to level below ballroom)

Breakout

2:10pm EST

Breakout 31: Can AI in Products Be Safe?

Wednesday February 19, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EST

Palm A-F (Ballroom Level)

The ASTM F3463 Standard Guide for Ensuring the Safety of Connected Consumer Products has recently been updated to include Artificial Intelligence (AI). In consumer products, AI refers to software algorithms that use machine learning and data to perceive the item's environment and users, and autonomously makes decisions to optimize function and user experience. In this session, we will explore why AI is not like other technologies the industry is already familiar with. We will look at some of the unique hazards that can form when using AI, and why the mitigation of risk with AI is unlike anything we have seen before. We will provide insights on how to test AI in connected consumer products. We will provide guidance for different stakeholders on how to establish safety assessment due diligence for a technology that continues to evolve and adapt.

Moderators

Travis Norton

Head of Content Strategy and Compliance Innovation, Compliance & Risks

Travis Norton is the Head of Content Strategy and Compliance Innovation at Compliance & Risks. Travis has worked in the consumer products industry for more than 30 years. He has been involved with service development and technical consultation for the certification and testing of... Read More →

Speakers

Stephan Pesch

Intl Regulatory Compliance Specialist Senior, TUV Rheinland

Stephan Pesch is the International Regulatory Compliance Specialist for Hardlines Products at TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. More than 20 years ago he started at TUV Rheinland in Guangzhou, China to set up labs for consumer product testing and to develop internal test standards... Read More →

Karin Athanas

Executive Director, Alliance for Family and Consumer Sciences, (AAFCS)

Manny Dekermenjian

Product Safety Manager, Google

Manny Dekermenjian is a product safety manager at Google focused on IoT connected products. He has experience investigating fires, product defects, engineering disasters, and incidents resulting in injuries or fatalities. He has worked on safety issues in various industries, applying... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EST
Palm A-F (Ballroom Level)

Breakout

3:10pm EST

Plenary Session 6: Protect Consumers From Unsafe Products in the E-Commerce Era: Leveraging CPSC Efiling and Testing to Ensure Safety and Compliance.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

The surge in online shopping has brought convenience by allowing products to reach consumers directly, while sometimes bypassing the scrutiny and jurisdiction, potentially posing safety risks to consumers. The CPSC is strengthening its enforcement of safety regulations more rigorously. Moreover, the CPSC's eFiling system is set to revolutionize product compliance data reporting, swiftly identifying potentially hazardous products in the market. All other key stakeholders in safety, including third-party testing laboratories, also play pivotal roles by helping the supply chain adopt comprehensive testing programs that guarantee product safety, compliance, and quality. In this session, we'll discuss the challenges of managing product safety in the era of e-commerce, share industry practices in monitoring and testing high-risk products in the e-commerce market, and explore how to leverage the eFiling system to import safe products into the US market.

Moderators

Min Zhu

Senior Director, Technical Services & Operations, US & Canada Softlines, SGS North America Inc.

Dr. Min Zhu is at the helm of SGS North America's Softlines technical and operations teams, with an impressive 20-year track record in textile research, product development, performance evaluation, and technical marketing. She oversees the development of cutting-edge testing and compliance... Read More →

Speakers

Jim Joholske

Director, Office of Import Surveillance, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Import Surveillance

Vaibhav Kulkarni

Director Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, Hasbro, Inc.

Vaibhav Kulkarni is Director Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for Hasbro, Inc. based in Rhode Island.He is responsible for managing Regulatory Affairs in North America and supports the Quality Assurance Team in product safety, compliance, and quality. He works with teams based... Read More →

Sophia Legros

VP of Product Integrity, Social Compliance, and Sustainability, SPARC Group

Sophia Legros is the Vice President of Product Integrity, Compliance, and Sustainability at Catalyst Brands (formerly SPARC Group LLC). Since joining the company, she has played a pivotal role in shaping its brand identity and driving expansion into new markets. With a sharp eye for... Read More →

Alexander Murph

Director of Product Safety and Compliance, The Step2 Company LLC

Alexander Murph is the Director of Product Safety and Compliance at The Step2 Company, a juvenile and home products manufacturer based in Streetsboro, Ohio. With over 16 years of experience in product safety and laboratory testing, he is responsible for ensuring global product compliance... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Plenary

4:00pm EST

Networking, Exhibits & Poster Viewing Break

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Please be sure to stop by and visit the exhibitors and check out the poster displays in the exhibit hall while enjoying some food and beverage treats.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Networking & Exhibit Break, Poster Viewing

4:00pm EST

Poster: ANSI Z535.7 and beyond - Introduction to the new standard for presenting safety information in electronic media

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:00pm EST

Poster: Best Practices in Evaluating Lithium-Ion Batteries

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:00pm EST

Poster: Dog Anatomy Data Collection - Research to Fuel the Dog Equivalent of the Small Parts Cylinder

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:00pm EST

Poster: Improving Data Reporting to Avoid TSCA Pitfalls: A Call for Engagement of Downstream Users

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:00pm EST

Poster: Inmetro's advances in market surveillance in Brazil

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:00pm EST

Poster: Made of recycled PET?

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:00pm EST

Poster: YouthShape.US: A New Study of Child and Youth Anthropometry and Physical Capability

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Poster

4:30pm EST

Plenary Session 7: Americexit: Understanding the Increasing Divisions in the United States as Individual U.S. States Add Their Own Product Safety Requirements

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:30pm - 5:20pm EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

As Europe largely consolidates its product safety requirements under the auspices of the EU GPSR, the United States is increasingly Balkanized with an ever-changing series of requirements depending on individual U.S. states. How can a non-U.S. company (or a U.S. company!) keep up with the changes as it seeks to market and sell in the vast American market?

This session will review the many changes in U.S. state regulations and what to expect. With a focus on non-Americans, this session will also analyze the impact of recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings, the recent U.S election, and how these developments in Congress and the Presidency may lead to even more state requirements to rival CPSC’s requirements in the coming years.

Moderators

Neal Cohen

Principal, Neal Cohen Law LLC

Neal Cohen is a product safety attorney who serves as a trusted advisor for companies developing and launching new products or dealing with crises, such as product recalls. Neal specializes in regulatory compliance, hazard analysis, warnings, instructions, import investigations, consumer... Read More →

Speakers

Stacey Bowers

Global Product Compliance Manager, Enhesa

Stacey Bowers, MILS, is a Global Product Compliance Manager within Enhesa Product Intelligence's Expert Services Team. Stacey has been part of the ES Team since November 2023, but within the wider global product compliance industry for over 20 years, at companies such as Compliance... Read More →

Anders Persson

Regulatory Affairs Leader, IKEA of Sweden

Anders Persson is a Regulatory Affairs Leader at Inter IKEA Group, and has worked in the requirements and compliance team at the head office in Sweden since early 2016. Aside from his work in worldwide compliance and product safety, Anders is deeply involved in sustainability and... Read More →

Gretchen Lee Salter

Strategic Advisor, Safer States

Gretchen Salter has been a leading advocate in the environmental health movement since 2005. Drawing on her experience as an organizer in electoral politics, she has spearheaded successful campaigns across the country to eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products, including... Read More →

Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:30pm - 5:20pm EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Plenary

5:20pm EST

Day 3 - Wrap Up and Announcements

Wednesday February 19, 2025 5:20pm - 5:30pm EST

Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

Speakers

David Kosnoff

ICPHSO Planning Chair/Incoming President, Product Safety Executive

Wednesday February 19, 2025 5:20pm - 5:30pm EST
Grand Cypress D-I (Ballroom Level)

5:30pm EST

Networking Reception

Wednesday February 19, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm EST

Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Enjoy light food and drinks while networking with exhibitors and other attendees.

Wednesday February 19, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm EST
Exhibitor Hall (Grand Cypress Ballroom Level)

Networking Reception