“Given China’s importance in the toy supply chain, TIA has been conducting these critical safety training programs for local manufacturers since 1996,” said Joan Lawrence, TIA vice president of standards and regulatory affairs. “We are pleased to announce that we will once again be hosting seminars in the region as part of TIA’s ongoing commitment to product safety education.”

The Nov. 17 session in Hong Kong will be co-presented by TIA, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Hong Kong Toys Council, with speakers from Mattel and The Federation of Hong Kong Industries. The Shenzhen session held on the following day will be co-presented by TIA, the State Administration for Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ), the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ) and the U.S. CPSC, with speakers from Mattel and the China Toy and Juvenile Products Association. TIA has partnered with Mattel in the planning of these events and Mattel will provide on-site logistical support for the events in China.

Detailed updates regarding ASTM F963-11, the U.S. specification for toy safety, as well as information about U.S. testing and certification requirements will be shared. Other tentative seminar topics (pending confirmation) include safe toy design, age-grading, necessary elements of a factory quality program, emerging issues and hazards and how they’re being addressed, and a review of U.S. CPSC requirements.