US Toy Industry Association to strengthen toy safety certification

       US Toy Industry Association Toy Safety Certification Program recently launched the first phase, covering risk analysis procedures and review mechanisms, auditing manufacturing process controls and product safety testing. Imagine Toy Safety Certification Program began in August 2007, we hope to strengthen the toy production process of risk analysis and detection and inspection system to prevent dangerous toys into the US market.
       The program's first phase from February 2009 to implement, also introduced electronic authentication system, the US toy manufacturers and importers to comply with "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act" under the certification requirements. The benefits of electronic certification system include: the use of the site to meet the needs of all types of suppliers, retailers and regulatory agencies; site access, user identity verification and updating safety measures are; the industry can demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and to secret patents information. Toy Safety Certification Program is a voluntary measure implemented by the industry, not the federal Consumer Product Safety regulations.
Toy Safety Certification Program
       Toy Safety Certification Program includes hazard and risk assessment toy design, plant process control audits, production samples for testing.
       The program covers ASTMF 963 US toy safety standards as defined, to be in the US market of toys, irrespective of where toys are manufactured or assembled. ASTMF 963 was originally a voluntary standard, when subsequently "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act" provides, in February 10, 2009 became the consumer product safety regulations.
       Toy Industry Association, said toy toy safety certification program if they meet all applicable requirements, can be printed or security marks printed on the packaging. Security mark means: products meet all applicable US regulations and safety standards; production sample testing has been carried out; manufacturing facilities have been evaluated and shown to provide process control.
       Mark issued by a certification agency management, the authorities will set up a website to allow the public to know which toys to obtain certification. Mark held by the Toy Industry Association. Toy Safety Certification Program operating costs will be covered by third-party service provider fees; administrative costs of the application fee paid by the applicant to the program management institutions to pay.
Hazard analysis (risk assessment) file
       Toy Safety Certification Program Participants are required for risk analysis and risk assessment. Safety assessment should include ISO / IEC Guide50 and / or 51, "Made Safer Consumer Handbook" (Consumer Product Safety Commission, July 2006), the "non-food consumer goods Risk Assessment Guide" (European Commission) or any other similar criteria Assessment of the main content. Hazard analysis and risk assessment is the responsibility of the applicant, may be carried out by internal or a third party. Applicants are encouraged by the US government in the product design and manufacturing process early for risk analysis and risk assessment as possible, and to ensure that the applicant has the capacity to conduct assessments.
In addition, applicants are required to record the assessment results for each particular product. Including a list of standards and procedures used by the results of the assessment in the application submitted to the certification body.
Program Control Audit
       Program control audits aimed at assessing the sustainability of factory production of qualified products, the method is feasible to review their internal systems and technology planning is perfect. Factory program assessment will be (except for the initial audit) independent audit firm in without notice, according to the ISO / IEC17021 be. The auditor for the audit of each item on the list rate, namely: Acceptable. Full compliance with the requirements; needs improvement. Unqualified situation, but does not indicate a problem with the system, the possibility is very low that affect product safety; unacceptable. Show substandard system problems that could affect product safety.
        Factory shall need to improve or unacceptable project development and implementation of corrective plans. The auditor will assess program effectiveness, deciding whether to give a better rating. Deadline for corrective action by the auditing firm together with the factory settings. In the case of audit firm will be reviewed again without notice, about once a year. In addition, the certification body may be randomly audited, as an internal quality control program of a ring. Audit areas include quality control systems, plant facilities, resource management, feed control, process and production control, finished auditing, data traceability.
Factory audits at three levels
       Shall apply to the initial factory within six months after the audit companies to make assessments, audits will be based on the results of the workshop as one, two or three plants. Three plants means plants which have failed to prove effective basic process control system. Checklist in "critical" or "major" project, the factory has serious deficiencies. Product testing frequency is "C". Secondary plant means plant can demonstrate their effective basic process control system, meet the requirements of all the "key" project for achieve all the "major" project requires an acceptable corrective plan. Product testing frequency is "B". Level facility refers to plant demonstrate that they meet the requirements of all "critical" and "major" project, aiming to reach all the "minor" project requires an acceptable corrective plan. Product testing frequency is "A", that is, to detect at least annually or every 1,000,000.
        "The key" requirement means ensuring that the plant can continue to produce the necessary requirements for compliance with all applicable product safety standards. "The main" requirement, although not necessary, but helps to ensure continued production facility complies with all applicable safety standards. "Minor" requirements can help the plant continued to produce qualified products. Product information must be traceable, factory identification and date code shall be printed on the product and retail packaging. Ruoyin volume or size other reasons can not print on the product identification code, at least to be printed on the retail package.
Detection is subject to international recognition

       Since production testing alone does not guarantee continued production factory complies with all applicable product safety standards, the factory must continue to perform other tests (eg material testing, component testing) as part of the process control program. All tests shall be eligible for the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) authorized institution accredited laboratories comply with ISO / IEC 17025 standard of conduct. Detection detects pre-production or production samples can prove that the products meet certain requirements. Toy Safety Certification Program Profiles provide product samples tested guidelines and additional information on the frequency of testing.