Toy Industry Association appoints Oversight Council.
Press Release Summary:
Toy Industry Association has announced appointment of Oversight Council for Toy Safety Certification Program, an initiative organized by TIA in partnership with ANSI. Council will be responsible for monitoring overall development, implementation, and effectiveness of TSCP; proposing changes to program to increase value to stakeholders; and reviewing and adopting reasonable recommendations related to technical considerations and changes in marketplace.
Original Press Release:
Toy Industry Association Appoints Oversight Council for Toy Safety Certification Program
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) has announced the appointment of an Oversight Council for the Toy Safety Certification Program (TSCP), an initiative organized by TIA in partnership with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The Oversight Council will be responsible for monitoring the overall development, implementation, and effectiveness of TSCP; proposing changes to the program to increase value to stakeholders; and reviewing and adopting reasonable recommendations related to technical considerations and changes in the marketplace.
"This Council is unique because it brings together stakeholders with a broad range of skills and perspectives and a shared passion for enhancing toy safety," said Elizabeth Borrelli, executive director of TSCP. "We are honored that a cross-section of well-respected product safety experts, engineers, and government and consumer representatives will be helping to shape the program."
TSCP was created by TIA with the help of ANSI, consumer advocates, conformity assessment experts, toy companies, and retailers as a direct result of the toy recalls of 2007. The program works to improve toy safety, restore consumer confidence, and help to verify that toys entering the U.S. market comply with all relevant safety standards and regulations. [see related news item]
Members of the first TSCP Oversight Council include:
Tom Castino, former president and chief executive officer of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Anne Craigmyle, consumer representative on American Fireworks Standard Laboratory (AFSL) Standards Committee
Carol Dawson, former commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Gordon Gillerman, conformity assessment advisor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Myung Kang-Huneke, vice president and general counsel for Sesame Workshop
Alan Kaufman, vice president of quality assurance, safety, and compliance for Toys"R"Us, Inc.
Arthur Kazianis, senior vice president of global quality assurance at Hasbro, Inc.
Kathleen McHugh, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA)
Arnold E. Rubin, president and chief executive officer of Funrise Toy Corporation; former chairman of the TIA and the Toy Industry Foundation
Beth Schommer, vice president of product safety and compliance for Wal-Mart
Jim Walter, senior vice president and chief regulatory officer, global product integrity for Mattel, Inc; chair of the ISO working group responsible for the international toy safety standard
ANSI will be the official accreditor of TSCP's product certification bodies. The Institute's assessment of the competence of these bodies will be based on the requirements in the International Standard ISO/IEC Guide 65, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems, the associated International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Guidance Document, and program requirements for the TSCP. Applications for the new accreditation program will be accepted soon.
Additional information can be found on the TSCP website.
