The Toy Association™ Addresses Global Product Safety at International Symposium

February 26, 2024 | The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) held its 2024 Annual Meeting & Training Symposium from February 19 to 22 in Orlando, Florida, bringing together product safety professionals from around the world to discuss product safety compliance in the ever-changing global marketplace. The annual symposium features plenary and breakout sessions on international trends and developments in product health and safety.

The Toy Association attended the symposium for the 31st consecutive year as one of the founding members of ICPHSO, and staff was invited to speak on sessions during the conference. Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association and a former president of ICPHSO, provided insights during a session titled, “An Association’s Role in Creating Meaningful Regulatory Change,”, detailing how trade associations can advocate on behalf of their members to contribute to the regulatory process and improve regulations for both consumers and industry.

Jos Huxley, senior vice president of technical affairs at The Toy Association, spoke on the “Chemical Regulation Landscape and Effective Chemical Management for Toys” panel, which explored the toy chemical safety regulatory landscape and what is in store for the future. Panelists included case studies to illustrate how chemical requirements affect toy manufacturers and other parties in the supply chain.

“The ICPHSO Annual Symposium brings together product safety professionals from around the world to synergize efforts in safeguarding consumers on a global scale,” Huxley said. “For The Toy Association, it also provides a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration with members, regulators, advocacy groups, test laboratories, and other stakeholders related to toys, as well as discussion and information sharing with likeminded groups across other industries.”

Throughout the symposium, attendees also heard from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Health Canada, the European Commission, the United Kingdom’s Office of Product Safety Standards, various regulators, Toy Association members, and stakeholders across a range of industries. Keynote speeches were provided by KARV Communications, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, CPSC, and Amazon.

Created in 1993, ICPHSO is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on health and safety issues related to consumer products manufactured and marketed in the global marketplace. ICPHSO members represent U.S. and global government agencies, manufacturers, importers, retailers, trade associations, certification/testing laboratories, law firms, academia, standards writing organizations, consultants, media, and consumer advocacy groups.