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.
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 →
Torine Creppy is the president of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting kids from preventable injuries.For nearly 24 years, Ms. Creppy has dedicated her career to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, especially the most vulnerable... Read More →
Amy Lane serves as Lovevery, Inc.'s Regulatory Compliance Director, overseeing adherence to stringent safety and integrity standards for their subscription-based offerings tailored to families with children aged birth to 4 years old. With a professional background spanning over 17... 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 →
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.
James is a partner in the Product Regulatory & Liability team at Mason Hayes & Curran LLP in Dublin, Ireland. He specialises in the regulation of consumer products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and food in the EU. James is qualified to practice law in both the EU and UK and has... Read More →
Director of Product Safety and Compliance Engineering for Hardware, Google LLC
John McNulty is the Director of Product Safety and Compliance Engineering for Hardware at Google LLC. He is an engineer with a Materials Science background with 35 years of experience in most end-use markets, covering Materials characterization, Fracture and fatigue testing, Failure... Read More →
Head of Global Regulatory Compliance Team, Compliance and Risks
Head of Global Regulatory Compliance team at Compliance and Risks. Manage a team of over 30 international lawyers and global regulatory compliance specialists who monitor, review and analyse global regulations and standards that multinationals must comply with including ESG reporting... Read More →
Vladimir Brajkovic joined IKEA of Sweden in 2016 as Product Requirements & Compliance Manager. Since then he was responsible for Development Function, Range & Product Engineering and Product Risk & Compliance. Since late 2021, he is the Risk & Compliance Manager at IKEA of Sweden... Read More →
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.
James is a partner in the Product Regulatory & Liability team at Mason Hayes & Curran LLP in Dublin, Ireland. He specialises in the regulation of consumer products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and food in the EU. James is qualified to practice law in both the EU and UK and has... Read More →
Director of Product Safety and Compliance Engineering for Hardware, Google LLC
John McNulty is the Director of Product Safety and Compliance Engineering for Hardware at Google LLC. He is an engineer with a Materials Science background with 35 years of experience in most end-use markets, covering Materials characterization, Fracture and fatigue testing, Failure... Read More →
Head of Global Regulatory Compliance Team, Compliance and Risks
Head of Global Regulatory Compliance team at Compliance and Risks. Manage a team of over 30 international lawyers and global regulatory compliance specialists who monitor, review and analyse global regulations and standards that multinationals must comply with including ESG reporting... Read More →
Vladimir Brajkovic joined IKEA of Sweden in 2016 as Product Requirements & Compliance Manager. Since then he was responsible for Development Function, Range & Product Engineering and Product Risk & Compliance. Since late 2021, he is the Risk & Compliance Manager at IKEA of Sweden... Read More →
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.
Lindsay Lorimer is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. Lindsay's practice is heavily focused on product liability defence and products related regulatory issues.Lindsay has extensive experience defending class actions and both individual and commercial product... Read More →
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.
Assoc. Professor, Business Information Technology, Virginia Tech
Dr. Alan Abrahams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Business Information Technology, Pamplin College of Business, at Virginia Tech. Dr. Abrahams's primary research interest is in developing text analytic techniques for detecting product safety concerns from online reviews... Read More →
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.
Dr. Tom Lewandowski is a toxicologist and chemist working in Gradient’s Seattle, Washington office. He has over 30 years of experience in product safety assessment, including evaluating the potential of various types of consumer products to cause adverse effects when in contact... 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.
Director of Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Federation of America
Courtney Griffin is the Director of Consumer Product Safety for the Consumer Federation of America. She advocates for consumer product safety in Congress and at regulatory agencies, communicates policy positions to the public and press, provides educational tools for consumers... 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 →
Cleo Manuel Stamatos is aconsumer and legislative outreach manager at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). She has more than 25 years of experience working in consumer outreach, public affairs, and legislative activities. Prior to joining ANSI in 2021, Stamatos was a... Read More →
Mr. Wei Wei has spent more than 20 years in the consumer electronics industry, with extensive experience in product failure investigations, risk assessment and management. He was trained in semiconductor physics and electrical engineering, which helped him navigate complex system... Read More →
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.
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 →
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.
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 →
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 →
Matt is the chair of Cooley’s North American product safety practice and a leading global consumer product safety and compliance lawyer who counsels manufacturers, retailers, distributors, trade associations and consumer product companies on issues within all aspects of a product’s... Read More →
Director, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Import Surveillance
James “Jim” Joholske is Director of the Office of Import Surveillance at the U.S. ConsumerProduct Safety Commission (CPSC). He began his career at CPSC in July 2000 in the agency’s Office ofCompliance and Field Operations. While in the Office of Compliance and Field Operations... Read More →
Compliance Director, Product Safety and Compliance, LEGO
Dave Smith is the Compliance Director at LEGO Systems, Inc., the US entity within the LEGO Group. In this role, he is responsible for ensuring that LEGO branded products are compliant with legislation and standards in North America and meet strict global LEGO safety and quality standards.Dave... Read More →
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.
The Bitter Gal aka VP Business Development, Market Actives, LLC
Kristin is currently the VP of Business Development for Market Actives, the exclusive US distributor of Bitrex® Safety Technology, providing comprehensive support to all US customers. Her responsibilities include the development of core Bitrex brand assets, product safety ingredient... Read More →
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.
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 →
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.
Jacob is co-founder of Qarma, which is a leading European company that provide a suite of digital tools to help brands, retailers and importers stay on top of quality, compliance and ESG across their supply chain. Jacob is driven by solving everyday problems, simplifying processes... Read More →
Vice President, Global Registration Services, Inc.
With over a decade of product-safety expertise, Deven is a results-driven professional based in Tucson, Arizona. Specializing in stuffed article licensing and labeling, Deven has seamlessly supported manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers. As a human-centered leader... Read More →
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.
Head of Content Strategy and Compliance Innovation, Compliance & Risks
Travis Norton is the Head of Content Strategy and Compliance Innovation at Compliance & Risks. Travis has worked in the consumer products industry for more than 30 years. He has been involved with service development and technical consultation for the certification and testing of... Read More →
Manny Dekermenjian is a product safety manager at Google focused on IoT connected products. He has experience investigating fires, product defects, engineering disasters, and incidents resulting in injuries or fatalities. He has worked on safety issues in various industries, applying... Read More →
