Agenda Announced for TIA’s External Affairs Strategy Meeting (Dec. 13-14)

October 25, 2016 | Agenda details have been announced for the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) upcoming Annual External Affairs Strategy Meeting, scheduled to take place on December 13-14, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. This meeting will provide TIA members and staff with a critical opportunity to discuss the toy industry’s legislative and regulatory priorities, strategize on short- and long-term issues, and outline effective communication plans related to these topics. 

>>> The Strategy Meeting is open to all TIA members
Contact TIA’s Molly Carroll to register <<<

Below is an overview of the meeting agenda; certain details about invited guest speakers and potential breakout sessions for in-depth of discussions of specific issues are still being finalized and will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, December 13th

  • Breakfast Briefing At 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, participants will gather for breakfast and a discussion about the political outlook for 2017 following the state and federal elections.
  • Strategic Discussion – TSCA The first strategic discussion, held immediately following the breakfast briefing, will provide members with updates on implementation of the reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and discuss strategies for working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on TSCA’s risk evaluation and prioritization process. An EPA official has been invited to participate in this discussion.
  • Strategic Discussion – IP Protection The second strategic discussion will focus on intellectual property protection, including several priorities impacting the toy industry (e.g.: counterfeit products, patent trolls, e-commerce challenges, etc.).
  • Lunch & Communications Update During the lunch break, TIA’s communications team will provide an update on current strategic communications initiatives and strategies for 2017. Topics will cover safety messaging year-round and during the holidays, The Genius of Play, grassroots/NGO strategies, and more.
  • Strategic Discussion – International Individual country and regional regulatory and standards issues will be raised during the third strategic discussion. Participants will brainstorm on the management of global issues monitoring, reporting and advocacy in 2017.
  • Strategic Discussion – Environmental Sustainability TIA staff will provide an update on retail sustainability issues and discuss revisions to TIA’s product/packaging materials sustainability impact matrix. This will also include an update on TIA’s supplier questionnaire and consumer research.
  • Strategic Discussion – CPSC A CPSC official has been invited to provide insight into the agency’s outlook for 2017; this will include a strategic discussion of key toy industry issues, such as testing burden reduction, the voluntary recall rule, etc., as well as the potential for creating new TIA/CPSC partnerships to educate consumers on toy safety. 

Wednesday, December 14th

  • Strategic Discussion – Emerging Issues The second day will kick off with an update on CPSC’s Emerging Issues Task Force and a discussion of new and developing issues, including drones, the Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, e-commerce, and 3D printing.
  • Strategic Discussion – Marketing to Children The marketing to children discussion will highlight key issues in the U.S. and will provide an update from Toy Industries of Europe (TIE).  Strategies will hone in on data privacy protection and how to work more collaboratively with the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Congress.
  • Strategic Discussion – Priority State Issues This final session will be split into two parts, with a working lunch held in between. TIA’s directors of state government affairs and TIA state lobbyists will present updates, strategies and messaging plans on priority issues in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, among other states. Discussions will cover regulations and legislation on chemicals, battery stewardship, toy guns/imitation firearms, and extended producer responsibility.

The meeting will include an informal networking dinner on the first day to provide TIA members with the opportunity to meet or reconnect with industry colleagues.

“We encourage all of our members to attend this important and mutually beneficial meeting,” said Ed Desmond, TIA executive vice president of external affairs. “It’s a critical opportunity for us to meet with member companies of all sizes and brainstorm on topics that are currently affecting – or projected to impact – the toy industry. We look forward to receiving everyone’s input and working together to ensure that we have strategically planned for the year ahead and beyond.”

For more information, or to register, contact TIA’s Molly Carroll. A block of hotel rooms at the Grand Hyatt has been reserved for meeting participants; details will be available soon.