north american consumer product safety

North American Consumer Product Safety

BRC ATP/Certification Body ConferenceJanuary 2009

Who is RILA?• Retail Industry Leaders Association

• Trade association based in Washington, DC

• Service retailers and select product suppliers

What Does RILA Do?• Government Affairs

• Retail Operations

• Membership and Marketing

RILA Members• The largest….

RILA Members• The fastest growing…

RILA Members• The most innovative…

External Influences• High profile media safety incidents in 2007/2008• Congress overhauled the CPSC in Summer 2008 and

introduced strict new standards for children's products

• Consumer advocacy groups on heightened vigilance and emboldened by new law

• Increased use of sub-contractors for components in the manufacturing process, adding further product safety risk

• New product certifications being introduced (e.g. TIA and CPSIA)

• Further product safety legislation and regulations for consumer products are expected

Internal Trends•Retailers implementing tighter controls•Product safety integrated into holistic risk

management approaches•Retailers increasing the profile of risk

management and product safety within the enterprise and reporting hierarchy

•Retailers are working together•Retailers are taking a proactive approach to

regulations and legislation

Examples of Product Safety Issues

RILA Product Safety Vision

To proactively protect consumers and retail brands by partnering with suppliers to adopt and implement

industry-wide, global safety standards, while advocating effective legislation and regulatory compliance.

Special Announcement…

….not even to the press yet!!

2009 Business GoalsMission: Determine the future direction and content of global consumer product safety standards for suppliers of consumer products sold in North America

Develop North American consumer

product safety standards

infrastructure

1 Adapt existing BRC global

standards and sector-specific standards for

North American markets

2 Develop new global and

sector- specific consumer

product safety standards

3

Thank you!

My contact information:

Casey ChroustSr. Vice President, Retail Operations

+1-703-600-2014casey.chroust@rila.org