Toy Industry Leaders Unite in Oversight Council for Toy Safety Certification Program

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NEW YORK- An oversight council has been appointed to the Toy Industry Association’s newly created Toy Safety Certification Program.

Developed as part of a partnership with the American National Standards Institute, the program is being designed to act as a verification system to ensure that toys entering the United States market comply with all relevant safety standards and regulations.

Applicants for toy safety certification will be responsible for meeting the basic requirements of the program, which are:

• Hazard and risk assessment for toy product design.
• Factory process control audits by an independent audit body.
• Production sample testing by an accredited laboratory to validate that the factory is producing toys that meet U.S. safety standards.

Upon successful completion of the certification process, a product or its packaging will bear a ‘toy safety mark,’ which is currently in the design process, according to an association spokesperson, who was unable to say when the mark would be available and ready to be put to use.

When the mark does go into use, the association says that it will be controlled by product certification bodies that are overseen by the ANSI.

The oversight council of the Toy Safety Certification Program itself will be responsible for a variety of tasks including monitoring and making recommendations for the development, improvement, and effectiveness of the program.

The 11-member oversight council will consist of top members of the toy industry, including:

• Myung Kang-Huneke- vice president and general counsel for Sesame Workshop, where she oversees the legal and government affairs departments; serves as secretary to the board of trustees; and oversees Sesame Workshop’s Product Safety Assurance Program.
• Alan Kaufman- vice president of quality assurance, safety, and compliance for Toys “R” Us, Inc., where he serves as a liaison with public and government oversight agencies on product safety issues, and is a key member of the company’s Safety Leadership Council.
• Jim Walter- senior vice president and chief regulatory officer of global product integrity for Mattel, Inc., responsible for worldwide product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

The Toy Industry Association’s ultimate aspiration for the council is that “its members will provide guidance as the program adapts to changes in the marketplace, ultimately making it easier to assure the safety of toys to consumers.” Further information about the program can be found at TSCP- The Official Site of the Toy Safety Certification Program.