In the 25 years since ICPHSO was founded, the world of consumer product manufacturing has changed profoundly. It has been almost ten years since passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and that has had a major impact on the rules – especially for children’s products. The percentage of consumer products made overseas has increased dramatically. The requirements for importation are complex, so manufacturers and retailers have to be far more sophisticated to comply with increasingly complex importation and certification rules. Whether you're a retailer or a manufacturer, it can be difficult to know how to meet all the requirements.
In addition to CPSIA, CCPSA, EN71, GHS, MSDS and other requirements, many retailers have their own compliance programs with unique platforms. Some of these platforms are proprietary; some retailers specify certification laboratories and dictate acceptance criteria.
Is there a practical global protocol out there that satisfies everyone? What are the experiences of firms trying to bring products into the United States? If you’re a retailer trying to reach a purchase agreement with a foreign manufacturer, do you seem caught in Catch-22 situations? Does it matter that the MSDS documents indicate that hazardous raw chemicals were used to make the finished product? Could CPSC do more to help firms understand what they need? Are there conflicts between CPSC certification requirements and others, such as GHS? What is U.S. Customs and Border Protection looking for when products come into the country? Where should a firm turn for help? What resources are available? What have we learned in 25 years?
