From Reactive to Proactive: Redefining Safety Standards in the Promotional Industry (A Four-Part Series)

For more on Proposition 65 and the CPSC Reform Act, read Promo Marketing Headlines next week for our series’ third installment on testing practices and regulations.

Right Ideas

In light of its recent bad press, many expect China, as a consequence of doing business with the United States, will impart stronger regulations on its offshore manufacturing enterprises. Ellis asserted, “My hope is that the market pressures now being brought to bear on China from firms like Mattel, Raytheon, Nike and others, will make China wake up to its shortcomings as a global player and force them to move toward a more equal footing with Western suppliers.”

Until then, however, suppliers and distributors would do well to remember, “The effects of the distribution of an item that has potential to be hazardous could be far more costly to the brand and reputation of a company than that added time to inquire about the production and manufacturing of an item,” Smith maintained.

In the spirit of sharing the task of improvement, here are a few things both suppliers and distributors can do to begin taking steps in the right direction:

For the supplier:

• Use stateside, independent labs. LaFichi reported, “We have become more proactive and … ordering our own testing domestically by independent labs.”

• Test statistically significant samples. As opposed to following the industry norm of testing the prototype, or on the other hand, blowing your budget examining every single item, let testing experts help you determine an adequate sample size in proportion to the volume of the order.

• Stall importing for further examination. “Since this has happened with Mattel … we’ve delayed all new, incoming shipments from China to have the products tested to make sure the lead is at an approved level,” said Arkin.