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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
