ICPHSO and Carol Pollack-Nelson again will provide discrete job matching for members looking for work and for companies/organizations hiring. Contact Carol at pollacknel@comcast.net for more information.
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 →
Come meet returning and new colleagues as the ICPHSO tradition of networking the day before the conference begins with filling the conference bags with sponsored gifts and information, while enjoying pizza, beer and wine.
Marc J. Schoem assumed the position of Executive Director of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) on October 15, 2015, after more than forty years at the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). His last position at CPSC was in a senior... Read More →
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!
Open to first time attendees and new members. Please join us for information on what to expect during the week, meet other first timers and new members and also hear about ICPHSO and the various programs we run. This session also provides an opportunity for our supporters to self identify their commitment to supporting different stakeholder perspective during our Symposium and beyond. This introductory session for new members and first time conference attendees also provides ICPHSO an opportunity to introduce its robust program of inclusion and diversity to advance product safety from all stakeholder perspectives..
Manager, Global Affairs and Public Policy, AI, Google LLC
Alejandra Barceló is a specialist in political risk, international affairs, and public policy. Currently leading Google's AI policy portfolio for Platforms and Devices (including Chrome, Android, Play, and Pixel). Her career spans the private sector and international organizations... Read More →
Transparency, collaboration, and communication are three principles underlying a good market surveillance policy. The example of how these principles have been included in the European General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) and how they will change the approach to market surveillance and evaluation of the safety of products sold online, will show up in EU in December 2024. While waiting for this important date, we'll discuss the challenges market surveillance authorities were facing in the past, how these challenges will be mitigated by the GPSR, how providers of online marketplace will contribute to solve past challenges and how consumers will benefit from a clearer set of rules on online sales. These innovations can be taken as inspiration from other policy makers, to potentially develop an aligned approach to increasingly regulate online commerce using the same tools available for market surveillance, agreeing on the responsibilities of online marketplace’s providers and consumer rights.
From industry, to consumers, to agencies across the globe, product recalls present unique and shared challenges. Those challenges include, the decision-making process around issuing a recall, determining remedies, recall execution and ultimately announcing and ensuring consumer participating in a recall, and more. In this panel featuring representatives from retail chains, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies, attendees will hear stakeholder reflections on lessons learned from recall events and how its shaped their approaches. Panelists will engage in dialogue on common challenges and opportunities, including leveraging technology, to reduce barriers to increase recall effectiveness. There will be ample time devoted to responding to attendee questions.
Manager, Global Sustainability and Compliance, Costco
Erin Bradley is the Manager of Product Safety and Recalls at Costco Wholesale. Erin has spent the last 12 years of her nearly 24-year Costco career developing and leading Costco’s Non-Foods Product Safety Program. Her team is responsible for monitoring Costco’s data sources for... Read More →
Vice President, Head of Safety, Ethics and Compliance, Peloton
Michael is Vice President, Product Safety Compliance at Peloton Interactive, Inc., where he serves as Co-Chair of the Product Safety Committee. In this role, he helps oversee a comprehensive product safety program including risk assessments; product safety compliance processes; training... Read More →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Creating safer consumer products is a noble pursuit bestowing benefits to society and makes business sense because it reduces potential health risks; the risk of legal liability; the risk of product recalls and the attendant costs and reputational damage; and the risk of product failure. From a health risk perspective, potential adverse health effects are evaluated throughout the lifecycle of a product:
•From the early development stage when considering the product’s ingredients and formulation •To the post-market stage when the product is in use by consumers. This guidance is provided by various jurisdictions and industry groups. From a human factors or user experience perspective, one and the same iterative formative testing processes can be leveraged to: •Decrease product risk •Improve usability •Enhance user experience.
The FDA’s human factors guidance provides a blueprint for a process that could be translated to the consumer product world.
Consumers and municipalities are poorly equipped to deal with the types and volume of waste that is generated when products and packaging have reached their end of life. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations/programs are one of the solutions that are many countries globally are turning toward to better manage this problem. When retailers, brands, and manufactures are assigned responsibility to fund and engage in management of these wastes, recycling can increase, while reducing resource consumption and emissions.
The intent of this session is to: raise awareness of these important regulations, help attendees get a better idea of how EPR may be applicable to them, provide visibility into future regulations, and share ideas about how to address these requirements.
The panel will share their knowledge, perspectives, and insights from their different position in the product life cycle, within, a major retailer, an IT/electronics company, and skilled service provider focusing on EPR.
Manager, Product Stewardship Compliance, Canadian Tire
Consumer product safety professional at Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd., with responsibilities for product safety, incident management, ethical sourcing and regulatory compliance.
Each of the ICPHSO strategic committees will host one open meeting as a breakout session throughout the symposium, where attendees can attend and get first-hand insight and experience what the committees do and how they serve ICPHSO and further our mission in preparation for the open call for volunteers to join the 2025 strategic committee groups that will be formed shortly after the symposium concludes. This will also present an opportunity to showcase one of our "member only" activities in the hopes of encouraging an interested non-member in joining ICPHSO to be eligible to serve on an open committee slot.
Changing consumer rights are impacting product recall implementation but are they also changing outcomes? Panellists will discuss how they are seeing approaches to recalls and consumer remedies change to meet new legislative expectations and the impact that they may or may not be seeing.
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
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!
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
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 →
The objective of this session is to explore and discuss the pivotal role of leadership in fostering a culture of compliance within organizations. By highlighting best practices, sharing real-world case studies, and providing actionable strategies, this session aims to equip leaders with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance consumer product safety and regulatory adherence.
Effective compliance in consumer product safety is not merely about adhering to regulations but about creating a culture where safety and ethical standards are ingrained in every facet of the organization. Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping this culture. This session will delve into how leaders can drive compliance from the top down, address challenges, and leverage best practices to achieve and maintain high standards in product safety.
There are numerous policy issues in relation to ESG and product safety, with the recent introduction of EU rules regulating packaging, including in relation to tethered caps on single use plastic drinks containers and also, manufacturing processes used in the manufacture of consumer products. The EU Packaging Directive stipulates among other requirements that, by the end of 2024, EU Member States should ensure that producer responsibility schemes are established for all packaging. The EU Packaging Directive also sets specific targets for recycling, the EU Batteries Regulation ensures that batteries placed on the EU market are sustainable and circular throughout their whole life cycle and the EU Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) was recently amended to restrict the intentional use of microplastics in consumer products. This amendment is designed to enhance transparency in relation to potentially harmful chemicals / substances contained in consumer products.
Reparability, sustainability, durability have become key words in the products world. Authorities, NGOs and consumers want to have products' lifespan extended in an easy and cheap way, even when products present high technology. Consumers do not necessarily want to go to the manufacturer to get spare parts, want to choose where to repair their products and how, even when it relates to safety-related components. Once there is an issue, the brand manufacturer is however always the one whose liability is sought. But when is a product not anymore the initial product? When is the manufacturer not the manufacturer anymore? How far should manufacturers anticipate changes that can be done to their products?
Attendees will learn about newly available functional children's strength data gathered by University of Michigan through a project funded by CPSC. A diverse panel of representatives from the research study team, product standards and regulatory bodies, consulting, and industry will present the study methods and results, discuss how the research is aimed to be used for standards development, and how child strength data is used in product design or safety assessments. Minimal information on strength is available for children under age 6 years. To address this gap, 580 children ages 2 through 11 years participated in this study. Exertion tasks included standing pushing and pulling with one and two hands, seated pushes and pulls with one and two hands, seated pushing with both feet, and other hand strength measures. Interface forces were measured for an additional 170 children ages 6 to 23 months who interacted with toy-like objects.
This outcomes focused session will explore the opportunities for all types of stakeholders to participate and provide feedback at different stages of policy and law making in the EU, US and UK, and in the development of standards. The panel will explore the benefits of engaging, whether stakeholders really can make a difference and discuss ways to make engagement more effective.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are numerous policy issues in relation to ESG and product safety, with the recent introduction of EU rules regulating packaging, including in relation to tethered caps on single use plastic drinks containers and also, manufacturing processes used in the manufacture of consumer products. The EU Packaging Directive stipulates among other requirements that, by the end of 2024, EU Member States should ensure that producer responsibility schemes are established for all packaging. The EU Packaging Directive also sets specific targets for recycling, the EU Batteries Regulation ensures that batteries placed on the EU market are sustainable and circular throughout their whole life cycle and the EU Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) was recently amended to restrict the intentional use of microplastics in consumer products. This amendment is designed to enhance transparency in relation to potentially harmful chemicals / substances contained in consumer products.
Reparability, sustainability, durability have become key words in the products world. Authorities, NGOs and consumers want to have products' lifespan extended in an easy and cheap way, even when products present high technology. Consumers do not necessarily want to go to the manufacturer to get spare parts, want to choose where to repair their products and how, even when it relates to safety-related components. Once there is an issue, the brand manufacturer is however always the one whose liability is sought. But when is a product not anymore the initial product? When is the manufacturer not the manufacturer anymore? How far should manufacturers anticipate changes that can be done to their products?
Attendees will learn about newly available functional children's strength data gathered by University of Michigan through a project funded by CPSC. A diverse panel of representatives from the research study team, product standards and regulatory bodies, consulting, and industry will present the study methods and results, discuss how the research is aimed to be used for standards development, and how child strength data is used in product design or safety assessments. Minimal information on strength is available for children under age 6 years. To address this gap, 580 children ages 2 through 11 years participated in this study. Exertion tasks included standing pushing and pulling with one and two hands, seated pushes and pulls with one and two hands, seated pushing with both feet, and other hand strength measures. Interface forces were measured for an additional 170 children ages 6 to 23 months who interacted with toy-like objects.
This outcomes focused session will explore the opportunities for all types of stakeholders to participate and provide feedback at different stages of policy and law making in the EU, US and UK, and in the development of standards. The panel will explore the benefits of engaging, whether stakeholders really can make a difference and discuss ways to make engagement more effective.
The presentation will explore the complexities of consumer reporting standards and recall procedures for across the globe (United States, Canada, Europe, UK and Australia). Through a dynamic simulated crisis scenario, we will explore the intricacies of managing a product recall that spans multiple jurisdictions, highlighting the challenges and best practices for ensuring compliance and maintaining consumer trust. This session delves into legal obligations, notification requirements, communication strategies, and operational considerations essential for effectively handling recalls in diverse regulatory environments. Attendees will gain valuable insights into coordinating cross-border responses, understanding the nuances of varying regulatory requirements, and mitigating risks associated with international product distribution.
In today’s fast-paced world, understanding trends in consumer complaint data is essential for proactively addressing potential safety concerns. Effective data analysis, enhanced by AI-driven techniques such as natural language processing (NLP), enables quick identification of issues and the implementation of corrective actions. Thanks to advanced data visualization tools like AWS QuickSight, Power BI, and Tableau, handling and interpreting complex datasets is now more straightforward than ever. This session will demonstrate how these tools, combined with AI processing, can consolidate disparate data sources into a single, cohesive platform, enabling the creation of meaningful metrics and trend visualizations that drive informed decision-making and enhance product safety.
Consumer tech has been in the regulator's spotlight over recent years, with a significant amount of legislation being redrafted or created in order to manage some of the perceived threats and challenges in this area. Join us for a fact packed, insightful and fast paced discussion looking at some of the most recent landmark legislation which we consider will have (or has had) the biggest gamechanger in terms of the consumer tech product safety landscape - and help us decide which piece of legislation will have the biggest impact.
Despite only applying to products sold in California, the testing and labeling requirements of Proposition 65 impact consumer products sold world-wide. This session will be aimed at providing helpful information to individuals new to Prop65 as well to those who deal with it on a regular basis. We will review the chemicals that are commonly named in suits across different product categories, discuss ways to prioritize your product portfolio for evaluation, and consider the limitations of limited chemical testing and use of settlement values adopted for different products. We will also provide an update on new developments such as the increasing number of lawsuits involving PFAS and the proposed plans to alter the nature of the short form warning that is currently used by many companies.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & New Business Development, Five Below
Ron Masciantonio is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & New Business Development at FiveBelow, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE), one of the fastest-growing value retailers in the world. Catering to tweens, teens, andbeyond, Five Below offers high-quality, trend-right products through... Read More →
Join ICPHSO’s DEI Committee for a roundtable discussions\ on accessibility in product safety. This session will explore the integration of accessibility principles into product safety standards, ensuring that products are safe to use for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Millions of consumer products are used by individuals with unique abilities and needs each day. The roundtable discussion will focus on identifying barriers to implementing accessibility in product safety and best practices to enhance accessibility in product safety and promote inclusive and safe product designs. This session will foster continued collaboration and commitment to accessibility, driving innovation and improving overall product safety standards.
Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products are being impacted by laws regulating the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in their products. This area is rapidly developing as states create new laws or amend existing ones, and the penalties and litigation risks for non-compliance can be significant. With 13 states having enacted PFAS consumer product laws, and another 10 states having proposed PFAS consumer product laws, the patchwork of state compliance obligations is growing. This panel will provide practical tips on adapting product safety compliance programs to meet evolving PFAS regulatory requirements. Importantly, the panel will tackle the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) Section 8(a)(7), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reporting obligations for PFAS, discuss what evidence that reporting is creating for regulators, and how the Consumer Product Safety Commission might be able to use the information to begin regulating PFAS in products.
When leading physicians presented evidence regarding the prevalence and severity of injuries associated with removing hot food from microwaves, it was clear to relevant stakeholders that they needed to work together to address this challenge. Armed with the information from that data analysis, manufacturers, regulators, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders created a UL task force to revise the standard This is one of many examples of standard improvements based on strong data and through collaboration. Stakeholders hoping to address hazards will improve decision-making abilities, reduce risk, and increase efficiency by providing quality data. Most importantly, all parties must be willing to listen to the data, and each other, to collaborate on a solution. Those who were at the table will share lessons learned from their work to improve the microwave oven standard and provide advice on how stakeholders can work together to advance product safety.
Understanding the upcoming CPSC eFiling regulation is critical for when the requirement becomes mandatory. We will look at what is driving the CPSC's push for this transfer to digital filing of certificates and the impact on compliance, discuss the regulatory requirements and changes that have been implemented since last year along with upcoming compliance dates. By attending this session, participants will gain valuable insights into practical strategies and best practices in order to help navigate a successful launch of eFiling. We will also discuss how the voluntary period can help in preparation for the upcoming mandatory effective dates that are TBD.
Global Technical Account Manager/Engineer, Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services
Kelly Nasradinaj is the Director of Global Technical Account Management/Engineer for Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering and an MBA, both from the University at Buffalo.Kelly began her career in manufacturing... Read More →
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in product safety has the potential to revolutionize the way we extract and analyze learnings from publicly available databases. This panel proposal aims to explore the application of AI in enhancing product safety learnings by extracting insights from resources such as CPSC's NEISS, Clearinghouse, OECD recalls, CPSC recalls, and other product safety data repositories.
The panel will comprise of distinguished product safety stakeholders from industry, standards organizations, and regulatory bodies, bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise.
Through interactive discussions, the panelists will delve into the challenges, opportunities, and best practices associated with integrating AI in product safety learnings. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing, this panel aims to provide actionable insights and recommendations for organizations, including regulators, seeking to harness the power of AI in improving product safety learnings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As globalization has made it increasingly easy to sell products around the world, manufacturers often choose to limit where they sell because they simply can’t afford compliance with a patchwork of regulations that are similar, but not identical. This panel consisting of a manufacturer, a retailer, a lab, and a consumer advocate will discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of regulatory harmonization and even potential cross border recognition.
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
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!
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
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 →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most often ideas or specifications of how to design toys come from product engineers but the accessibility to play with that toy may not be part of the equation. But partnering with other stakeholders, like physical therapists, provides an opportunity for toys to be designed for as many children as possible to be able to play with it, no matter their abilities. Because of their knowledge of the body and the children receiving their services, physical therapists are a prime resource to provide parameters or specifications a child's physical disabilities. These parameters can then be used by design engineers to work to develop toys that can meet the needs of those children.
As with most inclusive design, it should be something that is easy for anyone to use. Using iterative prototyping to find the best fit solution provides an end result will allow more children an opportunity to enjoy playing.
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.
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 →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We propose an engaging discussion on how advocates and manufacturers can collaborate to enhance safety and develop innovative products. Featuring real-world examples, Reese Purpose and Parents for Window Blind Safety will share their collaborative journeys with manufacturers Energizer and [Window Blind Manufacturer], highlighting the tangible benefits derived from these partnerships. The interests of safety advocates and manufacturers frequently align, and taking the time to explore these intersections can unlock valuable opportunities for collaboration. Once established, these relationships enable both groups to gain a deeper understanding of the relevant challenges, opportunities, and solutions. Advocates gain insight into the practical difficulties surrounding safety innovations, while manufacturers receive early indications of consumer expectations regarding safety features, providing a competitive edge. Even if immediate collaboration is not feasible, the connections built will lay the groundwork for future discussions and potential partnerships.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 upcoming U.S election next month, 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.
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
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!
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
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 →
Senior VP, Standards and Regulatory Affairs, Toy Industry Association (TIA)
Joan Lawrence serves as the Toy Association’s Senior Vice President of Standards and Regulatory Affairs. Over her 30 years with the Association, she has managed product safety programs encompassing the development and harmonization of safety standards, as well as industry and consumer... Read More →
Executive Director - Chief Engineer, GE Appliances, a Haier Company
Kyran Hoff is Executive Director, Chief Engineer for GE Appliances, a Haier Company headquartered in Louisville, KY. Her career spans 25 years with GE Appliances in roles of increasing responsibility within the engineering organization. Kyran currently leads the Office of Chief... Read More →
Cheryl A. Falvey is co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Advertising & Product Risk Management Group, a member of the firm's Management Board, and the former general counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). An experienced trial lawyer, she defends class actions, unfair... Read More →
An up close look at what happens when a product safety concern travels through the ranks of becoming a law that must be implemented and followed by industry. Using the recent enactment of the button cell battery law known as Reese's Law, we will follow the implementation process from the different stakeholder perspectives (including consumer advocates, consumers not as dialed in to the product safety world, retailers, manufacturers, regulators, testing labs and other industry professionals.
By sharing some of the challenges, successes and impacts each stakeholder group faced might better aid us all in how we approach these initiatives in future and possibly identify areas where we can help one another since we all have the same common goal of safer products for all.
Danni Cugini is the Director of Product Compliance & Regulatory for Harbor Freight Tools, where she oversees product safety and regulatory chemical compliance for a wide range of consumer products. A product safety and compliance professional for over 10 years, Danni was with Barnes... Read More →
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 →
Lissie practices general corporate law and product regulatory compliance, representing companies in various industries at all stages of their life cycle. Her practice covers a wide range of general corporate advising, transactional matters and product risk management for multinational... Read More →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CPSC and DOJ have been focusing on companies’ product safety compliance programs (PSCPs) in consent decrees and deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs). But even companies that are not under investigation need a robust PSCP, and this panel, which includes an attorney, a manufacturer and service provider will explain why. Together the panel will discuss the 4 Cs of successful compliance program: Compliance, Communication, Culture, and Continuity. They’ll provide insights into how a company can implement or strengthen its existing PSCP in an effort to maximize the safety of its products and better withstand government scrutiny.
I am an attorney who protects my clients' products by helping them plan for new product development, recall existing products, or defend against product liability or consumer class actions.
Product safety and public health experts will discuss key issues facing us today: recalls, regulation, consumer behavior, to name a few. Through a interactive discussion, the panel will highlight differences in approaches and ways to measure impact and encourage more collaboration both between stakeholders and jurisdictions.
Nancy Cowles is the Executive Director of Kids In Danger (KID), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. KID’s mission is to save lives by enhancing transparency and accountability through safer product development, better education and stronger... Read More →
Nancy Cowles is the Executive Director of Kids In Danger (KID), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. KID’s mission is to save lives by enhancing transparency and accountability through safer product development, better education and stronger... Read More →
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 →
Reminder - 2025 North America Product Safety Training Workshop - June 17, 2025 @ Target Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
2025 International Symposium, in cooperation with UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards, October 14-15, 2025 and in conjunction with Electrical Safety First, October 16, 2025 at The Mermaid, London, England.
With 15 years’ experience, Chris is recognized as an expert in the recall industry and routinely speaks on best practices at trade shows, conventions, and conferences. Throughout his career, he has managed more than 1,200 recall and in-market remediations, including hundreds for... Read More →
David Kosnoff is Vice President of Product Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance for Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. His responsibilities include leading teams responsible for Product Safety, Health & Wellness Product Safety, Consumer Protection, and WIC/SNAP Compliance... Read More →
With 15 years’ experience, Chris is recognized as an expert in the recall industry and routinely speaks on best practices at trade shows, conventions, and conferences. Throughout his career, he has managed more than 1,200 recall and in-market remediations, including hundreds for... Read More →
