TIA's toy safety certification program goes live
-- Kids Today, 10/6/2009 8:31:00 AM
NEW YORK—Toy manufacturers are now able to apply for safety certification under the Toy Industry Association’s new Toy Safety Certification Program.
The TSCP is a comprehensive initiative to help assure compliance with the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and enhance the safety of toys sold in the United States. Toys certified under the program will begin to appear on retail shelves throughout 2010.
“In August 2007, the TIA board of directors took unprecedented steps by publicly supporting a federal law mandating product testing and committing to engage all stakeholders—toy companies, retailers, government, consumers, testing labs, factories and others—in the establishment of an industry-wide process to help assure that toys sold in the U.S. market comply with our stringent safety standards and laws,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president, on Oct. 1. “With today’s launch of the TSCP, that commitment has been fulfilled.”
Under the TSCP, toy manufacturers and importers must demonstrate that they have taken steps in the design and manufacturing process to assure that their toys meet U.S. safety standards, in addition to testing production samples pursuant to the requirements of new federal laws. TSCP certification signifies that manufacturers have performed an analysis of their toy designs to identify and correct safety issues, assessed quality control processes at production facilities, and performed the prescribed safety tests on product samples using accredited laboratories. Certificates are available for review and use by U.S. regulatory authorities, as required by federal law, and also by retailers. Eventually, consumer will have access as well.
The TSCP also fulfills the testing requirements that have been previously imposed by many retailers, thus mitigating the burden of redundant testing, according to TIA. Retailers have been involved in the development of the program. Several major retailers have pledged to accept TSCP certification to meet their overlapping requirements once the program has been fully implemented, something that’s expected to reduce redundant retailer demands for testing and certification, testing frequency requirements, and the risk of inspection and detention or seizure of import shipments by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the CPSC.
The CPSC’s five commissioners, including Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, are expected to hold a public meeting to review the TSCP in the near future. By Nov. 14, the CPSC must establish protocols and standards for ensuring that a children’s product tested for compliance with an applicable standard is subject to testing on a regular schedule and also when there has been a material change in the product’s design or manufacturing process.
“We have confidence in the TSCP and hope that Chairman Tenenbaum and her fellow commissioners will not only recognize its integrity and value, but also endorse its use by the toy industry,” said Elizabeth Borrelli, TSCP executive director. “This program is the toy industry’s solution to fulfill the requirements of the CPSIA in an effective, efficient and low-cost manner.”
The TSCP Oversight Council, a cross-sector group of stakeholders appointed to provide guidance and direction for the program’s development and implementation, unanimously voted to launch the TSCP for participants. The program was developed by TIA with assistance and support from independent safety authorities and input from consumer organizations. The TSCP will be administered by TIA. ANSI has sole responsibility for accrediting TSCP certification bodies.
