Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line's president and CEO Rick Brenner teamed with Arnold & Porter attorney Jennifer Karmonick to present a seminar on product safety and the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) on our industry at PROMOTIONS EAST two weeks ago in Atlantic City, NJ. The purpose of the seminar was to educate suppliers and distributors about how they can protect themselves and their customers through a better understanding of state and federal product safety legislation.
Topics included the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) proposed "enhanced" definition of what constitutes a children's product, a discussion of CPSC's new "reasonable testing program" guidelines, as well as discussion of the recent McDonalds glass recall for cadmium and a $400,000 penalty to Schylling for failure to report a lead paint violation in its toys. Brenner and Karmonick also discussed the impact of the WIMA (Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association) guidance, in which the CPSC addressed the issue of when writing instruments are considered children's products. Strategies for dealing with Proposition 65 in California were also discussed.
"It is encouraging to see so many suppliers and distributors who are distinguishing themselves by focusing on product safety and compliance," said Brenner. "To most of the largest promotional products buyers--the Fortune 500 companies like Disney, GE, Nike and the like--there is no more important topic. The recent McDonalds glass recall is a multi-million dollar example of how costly a mistake can be."
In addition to Mr. Brenner's seminar, Prime Line donated to SAAGNY the services of Prime's test lab technician to scan products for lead for any exhibitor at PROMOTIONS EAST.
About Prime Line
Prime Line, a QCA-certified and top-rated supplier in numerous industry publications, is one of the promotional products industry's most respected suppliers. For 30 years, Prime Line has focused on great service, a wide variety of innovative and powerful promotional products, safety and a commitment to form, function and fun. For more information, visit www.primeline.com.
About Promotions East
PROMOTIONS EAST is the largest and oldest promotional products industry trade show in the East, with nearly 800 exhibiting suppliers and more than 4,500 distributors in attendance. For more information, visit www.promotionseast.org.