The 2012 International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in Orlando moved into Workshop Day yesterday.
Some of the topics that were addressed:
- Global regulatory outlook
- Comparing Canadian and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Law
- EU Directives related to toys
- Effective recalls
- Risk management
- Global product safety strategies
- Hazardous substance regulations
The most interesting workshop looked at what product safety agencies will be focused on in 2012.
The U.S. market was covered by Kenneth Hinson, Executive Director of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Following are staff-proposed 2012 priorities, although he emphasized that they have not yet been approved by the Commission.
Import surveillance. Expand Risk Assessment Methodology (RAM) pilot.
Global outreach to regulated community. Build capacity of regulators in producer nations. Lead standards harmonization efforts. Continue operations of Beijing office.
Market surveillance and enforcement.
IT modernization to bridge silos. CPSRMS (Consumer Product Safety Risk Management System) and ITDS RAM.
Key mandatory standards activities. Table saws, portable generators, durable nursery products, etc.
Connecting with consumers. NSN and CPCS 2.0 Social Media Initiative.
Work on potential testing and certification revisions. Opportunity to reduce 3rd party testing burden (P.L. 112-28). Small batch manufacturing exemption. ATV final rule.
A side note. The next ICPHSO meeting will be in Brussels, Belgium October 16-17, 2012. In 2013, there will be meetings in Arlington, Virginia and on the Gold Coast of Australia. Spain will host a 2014 meeting, followed by plans to return to Japan and China. ICPHSO organizers were encouraged by a successful Asia-Pacific Consumer Product Safety Symposium in Seoul, Korea in 2011.
If you are at ICPHSO, meet with us there. If not, feel free to contact us to discuss any product safety issues.
