Industry Deep Dive: Safety and Compliance
Have you ever looked at the back of a package and noticed a California Prop 65 warning? Or maybe you’ve seen it on car windows or even on the most random of products like candy! So, with everything seemingly marked with the warning, plus the other number of safety compliances and the FDA – how do you decide which products need to be tested, and which ones need the warnings? This guide is here to help!
Keep-It™ Chip Clip (6”) Item # 406 Evans Manufacturing | SAGE #50018 Navigating the legal requirements and best practices of product safety can be complex. While some recalls are due to non-compliance, sometimes product safety is not just a legal issue. A product may be in legal compliance, but if it still causes harm or is even just perceived to have that potential, the negative effects are the same. In addition, regulations can vary widely from state to state, and children’s products require extra scrutiny and knowledge. Product safety is an issue that affects everyone in the industry, and it costs time and money to address whether you take a proactive or reactive approach. If you don’t want your business or your clients to be liable for defective, non-compliant, or just poorly designed or manufactured products, then you will choose to be proactive. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you! The Amherst Journal By Trilogy Item # JT101 High Caliber Line | SAGE #64740 Fullerton SGC Stylus Pen Item # 7299 Evans Manufacturing | SAGE #50018 The Bogey Umbrella Item # 2500V Peerless Umbrella Company | SAGE #53091 Custom Apple™ AirPods 2 Wiredwith Charging Case Item # AIRPODS2SPECB SunJoy Group Inc | SAGE #68232 Source: The Food Lawyers The Breakdown It seems like every month or so, something is being recalled – from romaine lettuce to children’s toys and more. While most don’t get national attention – some do. Not to mention, those products are displayed on the news, on government websites, and more, and that can be seriously damaging for the end-buyer as well as the distributor and supplier. The vast majority of professionals in the promotional products industry want to do the right thing. You want clients and consumers to have quality products, and you want to work with responsible business partners. Examples of Products that May Contain a Warning
PPAI’s Product Safety Awareness Program Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), the standard-setting international trade association for the promotional products industry, is the premiere resource for product safety education. One of the easiest ways to arm yourself with knowledge is to enroll in their Product Safety Awareness Program to gain Product Safety Aware status for your company. Their four PSA required courses are between 60 - 90 minutes each, and once completed, your company will be added to PPAI’s Product Safety Aware company list. Additionally, PPAI hosts an annual Product Responsibility Summit, focusing on the most pressing business implications, challenges, and opportunities with compliance. The sessions will offer you a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of product safety, including legislation such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and California’s Prop 65, as well as voluntary standards to adopt. Finally, visit PPAI’s website for more resources including the PPAI Tracking Label Database, case studies, articles, and guides. Access these and more at www.ppai.org/corporateresponsibility/product-responsibility. For beginners and experts alike, PPAI is your perfect resource for self-education.
Top 15 Most Popular Standards in the Industry So, what are the most common standards? Well, we have an idea! This is our list of the topmost searched standards in SAGE Total Access for 2023, plus a short description of what they mean. 1. ISO 9001 ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management that companies must meet to create a new product or service. It’s important that organizations adhere to this standard to not only improve their performance but show their customers their commitment to quality. 2. Prop 65 While we all know it as Prop 65, California Proposition 65 is officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. The Act requires businesses to warn Californians when there may be exposure to toxic chemicals known to the state to cause cancer, birth defects, or any other reproductive harm. 3. CPSIA This Act, which was signed into law August 14th, 2008, is designed to allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to regulate the safety of products made in and imported into the U.S. 4. ANSI ANSI compliance indicates a product has been tested and meets the American National Standards Institute’s comprehensive standards covering design, testing, labeling, and user instructions. Products need re-qualification every five years or upon updates to standards to maintain compliance. 5. FDA The FDA is a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. It regulates the release of new foods, health related products, as well as products that touch food like drinkware and tableware. 6. ASTM The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international consensus standards. ASTM compliance signifies that a product adheres to the safety and consistency standards the organization has established. 7. ADA ADA compliance, under the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, ensures that products are accessible to people with disabilities and are designed to meet specific performance, size, and weight requirements as specified by the manufacturer. 8. RoHS The Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) restricts the usage of hazardous materials in electronics and electrical equipment to protect the environment and public health. Although this is a European Union Directive, many states have adopted their own RoHS laws. Hazardous materials can include lead, mercury, and others. 9. Energy Star A program run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy; it aims to provide information on energy consumption of products. 10. Food Grade Food grade means dinnerware, drinkware, and other items that come into contact with food and drink to ensure that it is safe and free of contaminants that might cause harm. 11. TTA The Trade Agreement Act or TAA is a compliance that allows you to sell your promotional products to the United States Government. 12. TSA The TSA or Transportation Security Administration ensures the safety of our planes, trains... well, you get the picture. All travel items should be TSA compliant in order to make it easier for customers to travel. 13. CE Conformité Européenne, which is French for European Conformity, is a test that ensures that all products are compliant with the European Union and its requirements for the safety, health, environmental, and performance. 14. Fair Trade Certified If a product is Fair Trade Certified, then it means that it is certified with Fair Trade USA™ to make sure that products improve the livelihoods of workers, builds transparent supply chains, and protects the environment. 15. FSC The FSC or the Forest Stewardship Counsel ensures that paper or wooden goods have been sourced using sustainable resources to protect our forests.
Example of Compliant Industry Products Recycle Write Notebook & Pen Item # WOF-RW10 Ariel Premium Supply | SAGE # 60462 Prop 65 Fullerton SGC Stylus Pen Item # 729 Evans Manufacturing | SAGE # 50018 Prop 65 Prop 65 Known to the State of California, this product has chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. ISO 9001 Sets standards for quality management practices that businesses must follow to achieve certification. DC112 Premium Trucker Cap Item # DC112 Direct Caps | SAGE # 69619 ISO 9001 Custom Sleeveless Dog Hoodie Item # PBCUSTOMSLEEVELESSHOODIE PrideBites Pet Products | SAGE # 51428 ISO 9001 CPSIA Allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to regulate the safety of products made in and imported into the U.S. Adult Classic Sunglasses Item # SUNCLA WOWLine | SAGE # 52510 CPSIA Waterproof Zipper Pencil Pouch Item # 124920 Rivers Promo Inc | SAGE # 68786 CPSIA Kilimanjaro™ Ratchet Hard Hat Item # HH26 Starline USA | SAGE # 53149 ANSI ANSI 2 Yellow Safety Vest Item # VNS2 High Caliber Line | SAGE # 64740 ANSI ANSI The America National Standards Institute oversees standards and conformity assessment activities in the U.S. FDA The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products. RTIC 30oz Tumbler Item # RTIC-30 HIRSCH | SAGE # 66296 FDA 16 oz. Imported Pint Glasses Item # A5139 BEL Promo | SAGE # 67337 FDA
Consumer Product Safety Commission The authoritative resource on product safety is, of course, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They provide a variety of highly accessible information online at www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Promotional-Products. Use the sidebar on the right to learn about CPSIA, children’s products, and tracking label requirements. You can follow their step-by-step business education guide showing you how to test, certify, label, and report on your products, and they provide a comprehensive list of product and materials topics to explore further. And if you have more questions, they even have a Small Business Ombudsman available to help you. How SAGE Can Help If you are a SAGE Total Access subscriber, you also have access to view safety certifications when sourcing products from suppliers. SAGE currently includes search options for over 90 different standards, so you are sure to find products with the specifications you need. Product Search When you conduct a product search, simply choose your required product safety certifications from the dropdown list under the Standards search field, and your results will be filtered to show only products meeting those standards. You can also select specific certifications like Product Safety Aware in the Other Filter Options. Add to a Group As you find suppliers who match your requirements, you may also want to add them to a preference group to make future searches more seamless.
How SAGE Can Help Show Compliance Warning Labels on your SAGE Website 1. Simply log onto your SAGEmember.com account and then click the “Settings” drop-down menu for your website. Product safety is an unavoidable concern in the promotional product industry, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or scary! PPAI and the CPSC provide many quality resources for education, and with SAGE, you have integrated tools to help you find the right partners and the safest products. Your diligence will pay off in the long run with fewer problems, lower costs, and safer products in the hands of consumers. And that’s what you call a safe bet! 1. 2. Then, scroll down until you see PromoSearch® Settings. Once you’re there, click on the Product Display tab, and then scroll down to number ten. 1. 2. 3. Then, just click the “Compliance Warning Label” toggle button, and save! 1. First, log onto your SAGE Online or Web account, and then navigate to the presentations module. 1. 2. Then, select the presentation you would like to add compliance information to. Next, click on “Options” on the left hand side. 1. 2. 3. Then select the “Item Formatting” tab, and under the “Item Print Options” section, check the “Print Warning Labels” option. Show Compliance Warning Labels on your SAGE Presentations
While the never-ending maze of compliances and warnings can be confusing – we hope this guide has helped and you’ll become a safety and compliance wizard in no time!
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