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2021 Annual Virtual Meeting and Training Symposium has ended
Monday, February 22
 

10:00am EST

ICPHSO Board of Directors Meeting
ICPHSO quarterly Board Meeting.  Open to Board Members Only


Monday February 22, 2021 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

SPSP Associated Meeting
The Society of Product Safety Professionals® (SPSP) is an organization devoted to professional development in the product safety field (https://www.productsafetyprofessionals.org/).  If you are attending the 2021 Virtual ICPHSO Symposium, you are invited to attend the SPSP Associated Meeting to hear about all of our activities.

Monday February 22, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Kick Off Networking Event & Week Overview (Virtual Bag Stuffing Event) - Sponsored by Ferrero USA, Inc.
Join us for our Virtual Bag Stuffing event and hear about  the special networking opportunities we have planned for the Symposium.  Through the use of Remo we will be able to have real-time, face-to-face interaction making virtual networking feel natural and fun without the hassle of traveling and a hotel stay!  We look forward to seeing you and interacting with you on February 22.



Monday February 22, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

3:30pm EST

 
Tuesday, February 23
 

9:00am EST

Satellite Session - Navigating Consumer Product Safety & Compliance During a Global Pandemic - Sponsored and Hosted by Intertek
You must be registered for the ICPHSO Annual Symposium to attend.  Also, you must preregister for the session with Intertek here https://register.gotowebinar.com/#register/1403834868614878480

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly all aspects of our everyday lives. Whether it’s adhering to social distancing guidelines when in public, shifting from classrooms to e-learning from home or finding new ways to conduct business in a virtual world, we’ve all had to pivot to adapt to a new normal. This is particularly true for the consumer products industry:
• Many brands and retailers have added PPE like face masks, goggles and hand sanitizer to their product assortment
• Inspections and audits are being conducted remotely due to travel restrictions
• Products are sitting in warehouses for extended periods of time because of physical store closures
• As stores reopen, retailers are faced with increased sanitization measures In response to these challenges presented by COVID-19, Intertek has developed innovative services and capabilities to ensure continuity in supporting our consumer products customers. ICPHSO attendees are invited to join us for a brief discussion about the challenges you are facing and how Intertek’s solutions can help.


***Satellite Sessions are sponsored sessions. The views and any position expressed are those of the sponsor or presenter and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of ICPHSO.



Tuesday February 23, 2021 9:00am - 9:20am EST
Hosts Zoom Link

9:30am EST

Satellite Session - A Global View of Product Safety Policy and Enforcement in 2021 - Sponsored and Hosted by Cooley
***Satellite Sessions are sponsored sessions.  The views and any position expressed are those of the sponsor or presenter and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of ICPHSO.

Tuesday February 23, 2021 9:30am - 9:50am EST
Hosts Zoom Link

10:00am EST

Welcome and ICPHSO Updates
Welcome to ICPHSO's 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting and Training Symposium.  Before we kick off the Symposium, we will recognize founding ICPHSO member, board member, conference speaker, attendee, volunteer, and passionate advocate for consumer product safety, David Schmeltzer.  Chris Harvey, Sedgwick Vice President, Crisis Solutions has worked closely with David Schmeltzer while he was a consultant, and will give some brief remarks in recognition of his years of service.  Additional information about David can be found at: David Schmeltzer Tribute and  David Schmeltzer Founder Scholarship Fund.

Speakers
avatar for Marc Schoem

Marc Schoem

Executive Director, ICPHSO
Marc J. Schoem assumed the position of Executive Director of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) on October 15, 2015, after more than forty years at the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  His last position at CPSC was in a senior... Read More →
avatar for Chris Harvey

Chris Harvey

Vice President, Crisis Solutions, Sedgwick
Chris Harvey leads a team of recall strategists and works with clients to ensure flawless implementation and customer integration throughout the entire product recall process. Chris assists in the scoping, plan development, and recall execution for a diverse set of industries, including... Read More →
avatar for Rick Rosati

Rick Rosati

Vice Pres., Governmental Affairs & Industry Stds., Bureau Veritas
Rick Rosati is the Vice President of Government Affairs and Industry Standards in the Americas at Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services (BVCPS). His primary responsibilities are to lead the companies Technical Services Team in monitoring and communicating legislative and regulatory... Read More →
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 10:00am - 10:30am EST
Virtual

10:30am EST

10:40am EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking Break - Sponsored by Bureau Veritas

Tuesday February 23, 2021 10:40am - 11:00am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 1: Dawn of AI Laws - How Europe’s Move into AI Regulation Will Impact Consumer Safety Around the World
Europe has big plans for Artificial Intelligence, and is the first major region to move forward with broad ranging proposals for the regulation of AI. It has set itself the challenge of creating an ecosystem of excellence and trust to enable the development and use of AI to flourish whilst ensuring that adequate safeguards are in place to minimise and eliminate any perceived risks.
In this session, you will hear from experts in the field of AI talking about the latest policy developments in Europe, and what it may mean for consumer product safety. They’ll discuss where it may lead and consider the practical implications for companies in the international context.  Our moderator will host a fireside chat with the panellists, as they share their insights on, amongst other things:
  • the practical challenges of AI and emerging technologies that have led Europe down the path of regulation
  • the industry perspective on the regulation of AI in the context of consumer safety
  • the recent legislative proposals of the European Parliament on the regulation of AI, in particular the ethical framework, distinct category of “high-risk” AI, and strict liability proposals
  • an update on the status of the European Commission’s legislative programme
  • the international context of the European moves, including analysis of the opportunities and pitfalls moving forward
It will be an interactive session which will gather insights from the panel and audience on how to move forward on this challenging aspect of new technology.

Moderators
avatar for Michaela Herron

Michaela Herron

Partner, Mason Hayes and Curran
Michaela Herron advises clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device (including software medical device), healthcare, digital health, cosmetic and general consumer product sectors on various regulatory compliance matters, including regulatory approval, labelling, traceability, safety... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Alessandro Liotta

Alessandro Liotta

Senior Counsel, Google
Alessandro is Senior Product Counsel with Google’s consumer electronics legal team. Since he joined Google more than 7 years ago, he’s assisted the global launch of many innovative products and witnessed the growth of Google’s hardware division. He specialises in hardware regulations... Read More →
avatar for Pinuccia Contino

Pinuccia Contino

Head of Unit, Product Safety and Rapid Alert System, European Commission
Pinuccia Contino is the Head of Product Safety and Rapid Alert System in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commission (DG JUST). In this capacity, among other things, she is working on emerging issues such as connected devices and cybersecurity, on... Read More →
avatar for Rod Freeman

Rod Freeman

Partner, Cooley
Rod Freeman is an international products lawyer. He is routinely ranked as a leading product litigation lawyer in the major legal directories, where he is described as “the outstanding go-to specialist for product liability matters” and “without a shadow of a doubt the most... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 2: Product Quality Assurance in China and the USA
This session will give an insight of the product quality assurance system in China including the compulsory certification system, Chinese standards system, and post-market surveillance inspection system. It will focus on the recent regulatory developments and the impact on manufacturers.

The session will also give a comparison of the product quality assurance system in China and the USA. The USA product assurance system consists of regulations and policies from authorities overseeing different product categories. This part will focus on product quality control of household appliances, toys, apparels, and food contact materials in China and the USA to give the attendees better understanding of their obligations under different systems.

Moderators
avatar for Amy Chen

Amy Chen

Regulatory Consultant, Compliance & Risks
Amy Chen is a Regulatory Compliance Specialist with Compliance & Risks, specializing in environmental law for China and Taiwan. She keeps clients up to date on areas including REACH, RoHS, WEEE, energy labeling, energy efficiency, packaging, product safety, EMC, climate change, environmental... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for David Kosnoff

David Kosnoff

Vice President Quality Assurance, Hasbro, Inc.
David Kosnoff is Vice President Quality Assurance for Hasbro, Inc. Based in Rhode Island, USA, he leads teams responsible for Reliability Engineering, Vendor Quality Management, Product Regulatory and Technical Standards, and Chemical Management. Mr. Kosnoff is a mechanical engineer... Read More →
avatar for Sheila A. Millar

Sheila A. Millar

Partner, Keller and Heckman LLP
Sheila A. Millar is a partner at Keller and Heckman LLP, where she represents businesses and trade associations on a variety of public policy and regulatory issues, including product safety, privacy, data security, cybersecurity and advertising matters. She has been involved in a... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 3: Safety Information in a Virtual World
Even before COVID, more and more consumers were shopping online, making complaints through online forms, and conducting more of their daily lives virtually. Now, with a pandemic, that has intensified. Many purchases are made online with no opportunity to inspect the product and consumers must rely on online reviews and whatever information is provided by the seller to make a purchasing decision. What can we do to maximize safety information to help consumers both make informed decisions, and act if they have a safety issue with a product?

Moderators
avatar for Rachel Weintraub

Rachel Weintraub

Legislative Director and General Counsel, Consumer Federation of America
Rachel Weintraub is the Legislative Director and General Counsel for Consumer Federation of America (CFA). Previously, she was the Director of Product Safety. Rachel has worked with Consumer Federation of America since 2002. Her primary focus is advocacy on product safety issues... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Sharon Levi

Sharon Levi

Research and Evaluation Efsharibari, Ministry of Health, Israel / School of Public Health University of Haifa
Sharon Levi is responsible for research and evaluation for Efsharibari- Israel’s National Program for Active and Healthy Living at the Ministry of Health and is a research analyst in the Transportation and Safety Research Group at Westat. Previously she was director of research... Read More →
avatar for Nancy Cowles

Nancy Cowles

Executive Director, Kids in Danger
Nancy Cowles is the Executive Director of Kids In Danger (KID), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. KID’s mission is to save lives by enhancing transparency and accountability through safer product development, better education and stronger... Read More →
avatar for Mark Fellin

Mark Fellin

Senior Manager, Product Trust and Regulatory Compliance, Amazon
Mark S. Fellin is the Senior Manager for Product Trust and Regulatory Compliance at Amazon. Mark is responsible for leading Amazon’s efforts with regulators, legislators, NGOs, trade associations and Amazonians to continue Amazon's mission to be earth's most customer-centric company... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 4: Biomechanics Research to Improve Product Safety
This panel will explore the intersection of biomechanics with consumer product safety. Which sewing pattern for a mask is most effective at preventing water droplets from being inhaled? At what age is a child's skeletal system strong enough to withstand typical forces sustained by a seatbelt in a car crash? What are the potential injuries from a senior falling, and how does the severity of these injuries vary between falling onto a hard floor vs. carpet? These questions cannot be answered by your average safety professional because the answers require a deep understanding of how the human musculoskeletal and respiratory systems work. This panel will be focused on taking risk assessment to the next level by conducting biomechanical evaluations and the importance of doing so for innovative products.

The first part of the session will provide a summary of the field of biomechanics, the purpose of conducting a biomechanical study, and the steps to conducting one. The second part will walk through case studies, highlighting the steps along the way, the evaluation that was ultimately performed, and the conclusions.

Moderators
avatar for Brian Grochal

Brian Grochal

Director of Quality and Compliance, DockATot
BRIAN GROCHAL is the Director of Quality and Compliance for DockATot, a manufacturer of children's products. In this role, he oversees all matters related to quality, compliance, and safety. Prior to joining DockATot, he served as the Technical Services & Innovations Manager at UL... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Farid Bendjellal

Farid Bendjellal

Group Technical Director, Britax
Farid Bendjellal joined BRITAX Childcare as Group Technical Director in September 2003. He is in charge of Regulations, CAE-Testing, and New Car Assessment ProgramsAt present Farid seats in international committees: UN ECE GRSP – Working party for passive safety under the World... Read More →
avatar for Matthew Maltese

Matthew Maltese

Chief Innovation Officer, X-Biomedical, Inc.
Dr. Matthew Maltese’s research focuses on bioengineering, on such topics as translating traumatic brain injury mechanism paradigms from adults to children, development of medical devices to enhance pediatric resuscitation and critical care, and design of biofidelic (human-like... Read More →
avatar for Carolyn Roberts

Carolyn Roberts

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Virginia’s Center for Applied Biomechanics
Carolyn Roberts is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics. Prior to getting her Ph.D. at the UVa, Dr. Roberts worked in multiple research groups at Virginia Tech and NASA Langley Research Center. Her previous research experience... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:50am EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking Break - Sponsored by Mintz

Tuesday February 23, 2021 11:50am - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

1:00pm EST

Plenary 1: Safety for All! How Empowering Those with Disabilities to Use Technology is a Win for Consumer Health and Safety
The move towards design for all is building momentum, but how is that affecting consumer health and safety, and what approaches are regulators around the world taking to accessibility? The EU's new European Accessibility Act represents a landmark reform for designing accessible products, and a significant step forward in enabling better access to technology for those with functional impairments. Product manufacturers and other stakeholders should be looking at the impact of these new provisions, how they sit alongside other existing regimes, such as those in the United States, and considering how they will comply in a world where designing safe products for all consumers becomes a new reality.

This interactive panel discussion will examine the framework established by the European Accessibility Act including its overarching product requirements, and the central roles given to standards organisations to develop means of demonstrating compliance, and consumer organisations to help police this compliance. The European Accessibility Act is the culmination of more than a decade of campaigning, and now is the right time for the product safety community to look again at accessibility. The question the panel will be examining is how this and other existing regimes, including in the United States, can help to empower consumers with functional impairments, such as those with disabilities and the elderly, to use new technologies safely and effectively to radically improve their everyday lives.

Moderators
avatar for Ed Turtle

Ed Turtle

Associate, Cooley
Edward Turtle is a products lawyer, regulatory advisor and litigator with particular experience in the technology, healthcare and consumer product sectors.Edward helps clients with compliance and safety issues, including in the development, launch and marketing of new products. He... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Debbie Girolamo

Debbie Girolamo

Director and Associate General Counsel, Facebook
Debbie Girolamo serves as Director and Associate General Counsel, AR/VR Safety and Policy at Facebook. Her work includes ensuring Facebook’s full line of hardware products (including Oculus and Portal devices) are developed to be safe and positive experiences for their users. In... Read More →
avatar for Alejandro Moledo

Alejandro Moledo

Policy Coordinator, European Disability Forum
Alejandro Moledo coordinates EDF’s advocacy work towards the European Parliament, and focuses on policies concerning political participation and accessibility for persons with disabilities to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), as well as EDF involvement in standardization... Read More →
avatar for Suzy Rosen Singleton

Suzy Rosen Singleton

Chief, FCC’s Disability Rights Office
Suzy Rosen Singleton, a native user of American Sign Language, is the Chief of the Disability Rights Office of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Since 2016, she oversees rulemaking proceedings and stakeholder activities... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Breakout 5: Alone Yet Not Alone in a Post-Covid-19 World
As the world rapidly evolves to more isolated and self-distancing from city centers, offices, and other places, this has really had an impact on those in society who live alone. Those who live alone as well as aging in place may have limited social groups finding themselves seeking new ways to connect with society at large. This includes such technologies as Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality equipment as well as Consumer and Service Robots. This talk will be led by Underwriters Laboratories to provide further insights in the emerging trends, the benefits they bring and the risk profile they introduce.

Moderators
avatar for Boaz Green

Boaz Green

Of Counsel, Neal Cohen Law
Boaz Green practices in the areas of product safety and consumer protection, assisting on regulatory compliance, enforcement and policy questions. In his product safety practice, Mr. Green counsels clients on risk management and product safety strategies, responses to allegations... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Hyman

Elizabeth Hyman

Chief Executive Officer, XR Associate
Elizabeth Hyman is the Chief Executive Officer of the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the technology manufacturers that power the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality industries. XRA is dedicated to the responsible development and thoughtful advancement of... Read More →
avatar for Deborah Prince

Deborah Prince

Standards Program Manager, UL
Deb Prince started her career in Standards with UL in 1995. She worked in Standards operations for approximately 6 years, starting as a standards staff person writing safety standards. In 2001, she moved over to Global Standards where she was involved in implementing the STP standards... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Ellen Wang

Dr. Ellen Wang

Anesthesiologist, Stanford Children's Hospital
Ellen Wang, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Medical Director of Clinical Informatics for Perioperative Services at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She is board-certified in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Clinical Informatics, with... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Breakout 6: Sounds Good but Will it Work? Using Scientific Methods to Objectively Evaluate Product Warnings and Safety Information for Cutting Edge Products and Those Without Mandatory Warnings.
As product safety professionals we sometimes make assumptions about the efficacy and appropriateness of consumer product safety warnings and safety information. While there are long-established principles applicable to warnings, generally, and specific legal requirements for warnings on certain product categories, emerging technologies leading to the development of novel cutting-edge products can raise questions as to the appropriate means to communicate safety information and instructions for use, and whether consumers will be able to understand how to safely use these new products and minimize injury risk. This presentation will explore prior research and methods to scientifically and objectively study and evaluate consumer attention to and comprehension of specific product warnings and safety information. The presentation will include interactive participation with the audience, allowing them to "vote" on, react to and interpret myriad product warnings and safety information, and to compare their own impressions with the findings of systematic and published research.

Moderators
avatar for Cheryl Possenti

Cheryl Possenti

Partner, Goldberg Segalla
Cheryl Possenti is a founding partner of the firm and has more than 30 years’ experience in the defense of complex personal injury actions. With a practice that focuses on product liability matters and related litigation — and whose extensive experience includes defending high-profile... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jen Shecter

Jen Shecter

Senior Director, Content Impact & Corporate Outreach, Consumer Reports
Jennifer Shecter is the Senior Director of Content Impact & Outreach at Consumer Reports, reporting directly to the Vice-President & Chief Content Officer. In this capacity, she oversees CR's investigative journalism unit with a special focus on safety issues, helps lead outreach... Read More →
avatar for Joseph Sala

Joseph Sala

Principal Scientist, Exponent
Dr. Sala’s work focuses on the cognitive, perceptual, physical, and developmental human factors issues relating to accidents and injuries. Dr. Sala applies this expertise to the analysis of visibility, the effect of attention on human performance, lifespan and age differences in... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:01pm EST

Breakout 7: Private Labeling: Evaluating and Reducing Product Safety Risks
With the rise of retailers selling private label products, such companies are increasingly faced with compliance and product safety challenges. Through a case scenario and panel Q&A, this session will address key considerations in evaluating private label opportunities, understanding compliance obligations and risks associated with private labeling, and identifying practical steps to reduce product safety risks and protect brand reputation.

Moderators
avatar for Michelle Gillice

Michelle Gillice

Counsel, Arnold & Porter
Michelle Gillice has extensive experience as a product safety lawyer, both in private practice and for more than 9 years at CPSC. She assists companies with regulatory compliance at all stages of a product’s life cycle. Michelle represents manufacturers, distributors, importers... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jose Acosta

Jose Acosta

Vice President of Product and Engineering, Home Depot
Jose Acosta is Vice President, Product and Engineering for The Home Depot (THD). Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Jose oversees engineering, quality and packaging globally for THD Private Brands Portfolio. With over 15 years at THD in various leadership positions including Director of Import... Read More →
avatar for Jason Hertzberg

Jason Hertzberg

Corporate VP, Principal Engineer, Exponent
Dr. Jason L. Hertzberg is a Corporate Vice President and Principal Engineer at Exponent, Inc., leading the firm’s global product safety consulting offering. Exponent, Inc. is a leading engineering and scientific consulting firm consisting of more than 90 technical disciplines through... Read More →
avatar for Mary Toro

Mary Toro

Consultancy, Consumer Safety Consultancy
Mary Toro is a product safety consultant specializing in the requirements for consumer products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. After more than 30 years, Mary Toro retired from her role as Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division in the Office of Compliance... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 2:01pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:01pm EST

Breakout 8: Working Together to Solve Sustainability: A Case Study
There is a growing amount of pressure for companies to improve the sustainability within their organization, products, and supply chain because of increasing calls from both the general public and NGOs. Companies that try to meet these calls to action through individual efforts often find that improving sustainability is fraught with challenges and is met with resistance that seems insurmountable at times.

This session will cover how the apparel industry received such a call to action and how responding with collaborative action has resulted in monumental progress towards improving sustainability. In 2011, Greenpeace initiated their Detox campaign which challenged apparel companies to eliminate hazardous chemicals from wastewater discharge of the textile industry. The apparel industry responded by not just by taking individual action, but by forming the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) group, in order to foster collaboration and by extension coordinate efforts to reduce hazardous chemicals in waste water discharge of the textile industry.

Moderators
avatar for Matthew Nudell

Matthew Nudell

Senior Regulatory & Product Compliance Consultant, TUV Rheinland
Matthew Nudell is a Senior Regulatory and Product Compliance consultant at TÜV Rheinland that works with major consumer products companies and retailers to develop custom tailored approaches for ensuring compliance with chemical regulations for consumer products. He is currently... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Suneth De Silva

Suneth De Silva

Chemical Compliance Program Manager, MAS Holdings
Having joined MAS Holdings in 2013 as a member of the MAS’ Group Sustainability Team, Suneth drives the Chemical Sustainability stream within the company. His role involves the implementation of the MAS  Chemical Management strategy within MAS facilities and the wider supply chain... Read More →
avatar for Scott Echols

Scott Echols

Senior Programme Director, ZDHC Foundation
Scott Echols is an expert in sustainable materials and processes for the apparel and footwear industries. He has B.S and M.S. Degrees in chemistry and over 30 years of experience that has ranged from environmental chemistry to textile and footwear product chemistry. He is currently... Read More →
avatar for Nasim Mullen

Nasim Mullen

Chemical Compliance Program Manager, L Brands
Nasim has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley and has worked in the apparel and footwear industry for 7 years. She currently works at L Brands supporting the supply chain chemical management program for the Victoria’s Secret and Pink brands. She represents the... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Siva Pariti

Dr. Siva Pariti

Senior Technical Marketing Officer, Sustainable Textile Solutions
Dr.Siva Pariti holds over 11 years of work experience with Dystar Group and later with Bluwin STS. He has been an integral part of the STS Senior Management Team and engages with the industries’ stakeholders developing the most practical solutions to complex challenges. Being a... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 2:01pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:50pm EST

Highlights - Courtesy of Cooley LLP
Planning Chair and President Elect, Andy Church will give a brief summary of the highlights from today's sessions, courtesy of Cooley LLP.

Speakers
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Tuesday February 23, 2021 2:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

3:00pm EST

Satellite Session - Mitigating CPSC Enforcement Risks - Sponsored and Hosted by Crowell & Moring LLP
Sponsored by Crowell & Moring LLP



****Satellite Sessions are sponsored sessions. The views and any position expressed are those of the sponsor or presenter and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of ICPHSO.


Tuesday February 23, 2021 3:00pm - 3:20pm EST
Virtual

3:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking
Tuesday February 23, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Virtual
 
Wednesday, February 24
 

9:00am EST

Satellite Session - CPSC Under the Biden Administration and Full Democratic Control: What to Expect From the Agency for the Next Four Years and How Regulated Parties Can Prepare - Sponsored & Hosted by Mintz
By Invitation:  This event is sponsored and hosted by Mintz. (Mintz will send out Invitations)





***Satellite Sessions are sponsored sessions. The views and any position expressed are those of the sponsor or presenter and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of ICPHSO.


Wednesday February 24, 2021 9:00am - 9:20am EST
Hosts Zoom Link

9:00am EST

Early Morning Exhibit and Networking
Wednesday February 24, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Virtual

9:30am EST

Satellite Session - Amazon’s Machine Learning-Powered Safety and Compliance Capabilities - Sponsored and Hosted by Amazon
 Daniel Kingdon, Director, WW PTRC and International Compliance, Amazon

****Satellite Sessions are sponsored sessions.  The views and any position expressed are those of the sponsor or presenter and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of ICPHSO.

Wednesday February 24, 2021 9:30am - 9:50am EST
Hosts Zoom Link

10:00am EST

Welcome & Ross Koeser Award -
The Award is given annually in honor of ICPHSO's founding member and first Executive Director, Ross Koeser. The recipient of the award is an ICPHSO member recognized for their significant contributions to the organization..  Previous recipients include:  Ross Koeser, Joan Lawrence, David Schmeltzer, Carol Pollack-Nelson, Marc Schoem and Nancy Cowles.

The 2021 Award Recipient is Sean Oberle, Publisher, Product Safety Letter.  Last years recipient, Nancy Cowles, will present the award to Sean.

Speakers
avatar for Marc Schoem

Marc Schoem

Executive Director, ICPHSO
Marc J. Schoem assumed the position of Executive Director of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) on October 15, 2015, after more than forty years at the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  His last position at CPSC was in a senior... Read More →
avatar for Nancy Cowles

Nancy Cowles

Executive Director, Kids in Danger
Nancy Cowles is the Executive Director of Kids In Danger (KID), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. KID’s mission is to save lives by enhancing transparency and accountability through safer product development, better education and stronger... Read More →
avatar for Sean Oberle

Sean Oberle

Publisher, Product Safety Letter
Sean Oberle is a journalist who has covered product safety for more than 30 years. He began in 1989 as a proofreader for the company that originally published Product Safety Letter plus newsletters on FDA and other regulators. By 1992, he was the managing editor of the company’s... Read More →



Wednesday February 24, 2021 10:00am - 10:15am EST
Virtual

10:15am EST

CPSC Keynote Presentation
Speakers
avatar for Robert S. Adler

Robert S. Adler

Acting Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Robert S. Adler is a Commissioner at the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and is currently the Agency’s Acting Chairman (October 2019 to present). He began serving as a Commissioner August 18, 2009, was renominated by President Obama on May 14, 2014 and confirmed... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 10:15am - 10:40am EST
Virtual

10:40am EST

Update from the CPSC Executive Director
Speakers
avatar for Mary Boyle

Mary Boyle

Executive Director, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Mary T. Boyle is the Executive Director of CPSC. Before joining the Commission, Ms. Boyle worked for the City of Gaithersburg, where she wrote legislation and regulations to establish an affordable housing program in the City. Prior to her work for the City, she worked in the Washington... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 10:40am - 10:45am EST
Virtual

10:45am EST

Dynamic Communications with the CPSC
This session will be broken into three parts: Part One will focus on priorities in FY2021 for the Office of Communications, Part Two will discuss the new role of the Consumer Ombudsman and highlight available resources online to help facilitate consumer engagement with CPSC rulemaking, and Part Three will preview upcoming improvements being made to the Section 15 reporting portion of saferproducts.gov, of particular interest to Fast Track case filers.

Speakers
avatar for Shelby Mathis

Shelby Mathis

Small Business Ombudsman, CPSC
Shelby Mathis serves as the Small Business Ombudsman at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Through her office, Shelby aims to provide information to small businesses that is clear, easy to understand, and consistent with agency policy. Before joining the CPSC, Shelby worked... Read More →
avatar for Phil Bermel

Phil Bermel

Assistant Division Director of the Resource Management Division, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Phil is in his second year at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, serving as Assistant Division Director of the Resource Management Division and is head of the Fast Track Recall Team.  The Fast Track Recall team at CPSC helps business remove potentially unsafe consumer products... Read More →
avatar for Joe Martyak

Joe Martyak

Director of Communications, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Joseph Martyak is the Director of Communications for CPSC under Acting Chairman Robert S. Adler. Mr. Martyak has extensive communications experience in several government, private sector, and non-profit positions, including: Vice President of Communications for the Hawaii Community... Read More →
avatar for Jonathan Midgett

Jonathan Midgett

Consumer Ombudsman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Jonathan Midgett, Ph.D. is the Consumer Ombudsman at the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Midgett has been with the CPSC since 2001 evaluating emerging hazards, describing consumer behaviors, and contributing to the creation of voluntary and mandatory... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 10:45am - 11:05am EST
Virtual

11:05am EST

What to Expect from Compliance in FY21
Director Kaye will review the priorities anticipated for the Office of Compliance in FY2021, and will take questions from attendees.

Speakers
avatar for Rob Kaye

Rob Kaye

Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Robert Kaye has been the Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations since March 2017. He comes to CPSC after serving as Chief Enforcement Officer for the Office of Federal Student Aid at the Department of Education. Prior to that position, Mr. Kaye worked for more than... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 11:05am - 11:25am EST
Virtual

11:25am EST

Ask the CPSC Session
Senior CPSC Leadership will provide updates on priorities within their organizations and take questions from attendees.

Moderators
avatar for DeWane Ray

DeWane Ray

Deputy Executive Director for Operations, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
DeWane Ray, Deputy Executive Director for Operations, oversees the Commission’s programs for Compliance and Field Operations; Import Surveillance and Inspection; Hazard Identification & Reduction; Human Resources; Information & Technology Services; Financial Management, Planning... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Duane Boniface

Duane Boniface

Assistant Executive Director, Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Duane Boniface is the Assistant Executive Director, Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction at the CPSC. Mr. Boniface has over 30 years of experience in government and private practice addressing safety, security and environmental protection issues for a wide variety of government... Read More →
avatar for Jim Joholske

Jim Joholske

Director of the Office of Import Surveillance, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Jim Joholske began his career at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in July 2000 in the agency’s Office of Compliance and Field Operations.  While in the Office of Compliance and Field Operations, he primarily focused on enforcement of mandatory regulations governing... Read More →
avatar for Rob Kaye

Rob Kaye

Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Robert Kaye has been the Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations since March 2017. He comes to CPSC after serving as Chief Enforcement Officer for the Office of Federal Student Aid at the Department of Education. Prior to that position, Mr. Kaye worked for more than... Read More →
avatar for Jen Sultan

Jen Sultan

Acting General Counsel, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Jennifer is currently serving as Acting General Counsel for the CPSC, prior to which she served as Deputy Director in the Office of Compliance.  Jennifer joined the agency in October 2019 from the Department of Homeland Security where she served as Programs Branch Manager in the... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 11:25am - 11:55am EST
Virtual

12:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking Break - Sponsored by Cooley

Wednesday February 24, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

1:00pm EST

Plenary 2: What Is "Misuse?"
This program will examine one of the most frequently used but rarely examined topics in product safety: Misuse. What does it mean to "misuse" a product? Why do people "misuse" products? What should the implications be?

Moderators
avatar for Mike Gentine

Mike Gentine

Counsel, Keller and Heckman
Mike Gentine counsels manufacturers, retailers, and other commercial clients on legal and regulatory matters particularly in the area of consumer goods and product safety. Drawing from his federal government, private practice, and in-house experience, Mike advises on compliance strategies... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Remington Gregg

Remington Gregg

Counsel, Public Citizen
Remington Gregg is Counsel for Civil Justice and Consumer Rights, working on a portfolio that includes promoting a fair and accessible justice system, consumer rights, and product safety. Previously, Remington was as an attorney at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest... Read More →
avatar for Joe Mohorovic

Joe Mohorovic

Senior Managing Consultant, ESI
Joe Mohorovic has a distinguished background as an executive and public servant, operating at the intersection of business and government, culminating in his service as a Commissioner on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) A board-certified product safety expert, Joe... Read More →
avatar for Carol Pollack-Nelson

Carol Pollack-Nelson

Independent Safety Consulting, Owner
Carol Pollack-Nelson, Ph.D. is a human factors psychologist specializing in consumer product safety. She works as a consultant and researcher, providing guidance to manufacturers, retailers, attorneys, test labs, consumer groups, and the government on product safety issues including... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Breakout 9: Is This The Right PPE For Me?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become an important part of our lives and our businesses. Join this discussion to learn about the sourcing, safety, compliance, and promotion challenges companies are facing as well as best practices to avoid them. Determine what products are appropriate for you, your company and your customers.

Moderators
avatar for Karolyn Helda

Karolyn Helda

Managing Director, QIMA
Karolyn Helda is the Managing Director of QIMA’s Laboratory in Buffalo, New York.  She has worked in the consumer products safety, compliance and quality assurance industry for over 30 years. Her knowledge and direct experience span the categories of toys and children’s products... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Tom Blewitt

Tom Blewitt

VP and Chief Technical Officer, UL
Tom Blewitt has been with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for over 40 years, based out of UL’s Melville LI NY site.  He is a William Henry Merrill Society member and Corporate Fellow and is responsible for technical consistency, integrity and engineering quality for UL's standards... Read More →
avatar for Nathan Cotter

Nathan Cotter

Vice President of Compliance, Hit Promotional Products, Inc.
Nathan Cotter is the Vice President of Compliance at Hit Promotional Products, Inc. The Compliance Team at Hit is responsible for regulatory compliance and product safety across a diverse product offering, as well supply chain social responsibility. Nathan holds a BA from Monmouth... Read More →
avatar for Lesley Fair

Lesley Fair

Senior Attorney, Federal Trade Commission
Lesley Fair is a Senior Attorney with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. For more than 20 years she litigated false advertising and fraud cases. She now specializes in industry outreach and serves as the primary author of the FTC’s Business Blog, which... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Breakout 10: Testing Comparison US-EU
The Panel will discuss the product safety challenges in a global market. The focus is on a comparison between Product Safety/Testing in the US and the EU markets.

Moderators
avatar for Ann Minzner Conley

Ann Minzner Conley

Vice President, Risk Engineering, Chubb Ltd
Ann Minzner Conley is Vice President for the Loss Control Services Division of Chubb Commercial Insurance.  In her role as Executive Liability Specialist, Ann’s responsibilities include assisting prospective and existing insureds in assessing their product liability risk management... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Richard O'Brien

Richard O'Brien

Director of International Programs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commisson
At the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Richard. O’Brien oversees the regulatory agency’s international activities. This includes coordinating with foreign product safety agencies and providing training on U.S. requirements to foreign suppliers and to overseas buyers for U.S... Read More →
avatar for Jay Howell

Jay Howell

Sr. Director, Product Safety and Compliance, Walmart Inc.
Jay Howell is Senior Director; Product Safety and Compliance at Walmart. Prior to joining Walmart, Jay held various roles at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and served as Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations, at Cooper Industries.
avatar for Dave Panning

Dave Panning

Technical Director, BIFMA
Dave Panning is Director of Technical Services of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) for the past ten years.  Dave is also Chairman for the U.S. Technical Advisory Committee for Furniture in International Standards (ISO).  Dave has extensive... Read More →
avatar for Stephan Pesch

Stephan Pesch

Local Field Manager, TUV Rheinland
Stephan Pesch joined TUV Rheinland of North America Inc. as Local Field Manager P.02 Hardlines and established a furniture lab in Grand Rapids to offer services for the local office furniture manufacturers and BIFMA members (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer Association... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Breakout 11: Embracing the Future of Virtual Safety Resources
When employees and families were required to stay within the confines of their own homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer product safety and education were threatened due to a lack of virtual resources. Companies had to quickly adapt to make their customer service teams functional while safety programs and consumer education shifted to online platforms. For example, car seat checks across the country were offered virtually and organizations began curating more safety content for their YouTube channels and social media sites. Hear stories from companies and stakeholders about lessons learned and how to create more flexible programming in order to share safety information with consumers and effectively use your resources in a post-COVID world.

Moderators
avatar for Meredith Birkhead

Meredith Birkhead

Product Safety &Certification Associate, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
Meredith Birkhead is the Product Safety & Certification Associate with the Juvenile ProductsManufacturers Association (JPMA). She has been integral in growing the Certification Program andJPMA’s role with ASTM. Meredith has also supported JPMA’s other advocacy efforts and regulatoryactivity... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Michael Del Negro

Michael Del Negro

Managing Counsel, Product Safety & Compliance, GE Appliances, a Haier company
Michael is Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Counsel at GE Appliances, a Haier company headquartered in Louisville (“GEA”). He is a trusted business advisor in safety-related regulatory and litigation matters and responsible for the corporate compliance and ethics program... Read More →
avatar for Mark Simon

Mark Simon

Executive Director, Brixy, Inc
Mark Simon has over 20 years of experience in the juvenile industry in specialty retail and product development.  He is currently the Executive Director of Brixy.  Brixy is the trade and buying association for independently owned juvenile retail stores in the USA and Canada.
avatar for Eric Childs

Eric Childs

Director, Global Product and Regulatory Compliance, Ergobaby
Eric Childs is the Director of Global Product and Regulatory Compliance at Ergobaby, most notable for their global presence in the baby carrier and stroller markets. In his current role, he oversees the compliance and safety of all product offerings from Ergobaby and Baby Tula, as... Read More →
avatar for Denise Donaldson

Denise Donaldson

Safe Ride News Publications, Owner
Denise Donaldson is owner of Safe Ride News Publications, publisher of educational materials to support the child passenger safety field, including the LATCH Manual, the School Bus Safety Handbook, and a bi-monthly newsletter for child passenger safety technicians.   She holds a... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

Breakout 12: Pioneering the Path to Successful Use of Sustainable Materials
Tackling plastic waste is critical to successfully moving toward a more circular economy. With the proliferation of plastics in consumer products including food packaging, children’s products, health and beauty, apparel, and electronics, leaders are seeking ways to reduce use of virgin plastic materials, increase the use of sustainable materials, and divert plastics waste from landfills and oceans. However, safe and effective use of sustainable materials is more complicated than meets the eye.

With demand that outpaces supply, manufacturers must first identify sources of sustainable materials and ensure that suppliers are capable of consistently providing materials that are safe and effective for use. Given the complexity of supply chains today, how can manufacturers ensure that materials are of the promised integrity? In addition, how can designers and manufacturers ensure that sustainable materials are safe for use in the intended application and how can manufacturers reliably communicate their progress in this area?

The majority of sustainable materials suitable for use as alternatives to conventional virgin plastic resins fall into one of four main categories: bio-sourced materials, post-consumer recycled resins, industrial compostable materials, and home compostable materials. 

Each of these presents specific challenges to product safety and in this session, we’ll address the various issues faced by manufacturers, designers, and other stakeholders in the industry when it comes to the use of different types of sustainable materials. We’ll consider strategies for addressing a triumvirate of performance issues including quality, safety and sustainability. We’ll explore the options for effective characterization of sustainable materials as well as verification of the stability of supply stream and quality in complex supply chains. In addition, we’ll discuss issues related to design, testing, and stability of products made with sustainable materials vs. traditional resins. A manufacturer aggressively tackling these issues will also discuss the problem of consumer acceptability of recycled products. 
With this truly comprehensive approach, manufacturers will understand the challenges and critical success factors to successfully pioneer a path toward safe and effective usage of sustainable materials. 

Moderators
avatar for Andrew Gaynor

Andrew Gaynor

Global Head of Toy Quality, Ferrero
Andy Gaynor is Global Head of Toy Quality for Ferrero. Based at Ferrero’s corporate headquarters in Luxembourg, he oversees a global team involved in quality, safety, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction activities from new product ideation to in market issues and customer... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Holli Alexander

Holli Alexander

Strategic Initiative Manager of Global Sustainability, Eastman
As Strategic Initiatives Manager in Eastman’s Global Sustainability Organization, Holli Alexander helps translate the complexity of sustainability into tangible and actionable efforts.For the last 10 years, she has focused on plastics, recycling and sustainability. In 2012, Holli... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer DuBuisson

Jennifer DuBuisson

Senior Director Government and Public Affairs, Americas, LEGO Group
As the Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Americas, Jennifer is responsible for setting the public policy agenda at national, subnational, and international levels across North and South America. In this role, she supports the LEGO Group’s mission to inspire... Read More →
avatar for Catherine Sheehy

Catherine Sheehy

Global Lead of Sustainability Partnerships, UL’s Environment and Sustainability group
Catherine Sheehy is the global lead for sustainability partnerships at UL. Catherine’s wealth of knowledge in measurement, reporting, and data-driven change management coupled with her passion for sustainability has positioned her to successfully steward collaborative partnerships... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Virtual

2:50pm EST

Highlights - Courtesy of Cooley LLP
Planning Chair and President Elect, Andy Church will give a brief summary of the highlights from today's sessions, courtesy of Cooley LLP.

Speakers
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual

3:00pm EST

Satellite Session - Solving the Last Mile Challenges: Managing product and package integrity to protect your brand and bottom line - Sponsored and Hosted by Bureau Veritas
****Satellite Sessions are sponsored sessions.  The views and any position expressed are those of the sponsor or presenter and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of ICPHSO.

Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:00pm - 3:20pm EST
Hosts Zoom Link

3:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking
Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Virtual
 
Thursday, February 25
 

7:00am EST

Early Morning Exhibit and Networking
Thursday February 25, 2021 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Virtual

8:00am EST

Welcome
Speakers
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 8:00am - 8:15am EST
Virtual

8:15am EST

Plenary 3: Practical Strategies for Business Continuity, Ongoing Product Safety, and Increased Visibility
Ensuring supply chain continuity while managing risk and disruption has become a key priority globally. Practices that ran smoothly before COVID-19 must now be reassessed, with the need to evaluate vendors and suppliers more carefully and develop processes that protect resilience. Traditional onsite product controls have been challenged by ongoing travel restrictions, budget constraints, lack of transparency, and more, compelling businesses to adapt and find new ways to safeguard continuity.  
Securing product safety and quality in this ‘new normal’ requires visibility over the entire supply chain to better understand its composition and processes for greater traceability. With the help of advanced technologies and adaptable tools, teams can also remotely monitor this improved transparency to ensure product safety and quality in an unprecedented era.

Moderators
avatar for Anne Stone

Anne Stone

Director, Public Affairs, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)
Anne Stone is the director of public affairs for Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). In this role, she is responsible for guiding PPAI’s legislative and government relations efforts—including taking a contingent of PPAI members to Washington, D.C. to advocate... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Gaby Morris

Gaby Morris

Director, Quality Assurance & Responsible Sourcing, At Home Stores
Gaby Morris is the Director of Quality Assurance and Responsible Sourcing at At Home Stores. With her team, she has established the company’s Product Compliance and Quality program and is responsible for its execution. She also oversees the Ethical Sourcing program and works closely... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Miller

Jennifer Miller

Senior Director Business Development, North America, "Senior Director Business Development, North America,, SgT, a company of Worms Safety
Jennifer Miller is currently the Senior Director of Business Development, North America at SgT, the sole player in quality management 100% specialized in apparel, footwear and accessories, and able to leverage 30 years of textile industry experience. Jennifer oversees risk management... Read More →
avatar for Randy Rankin

Randy Rankin

Global Client Development Director, North America CPT Assurance, Eurofins Consumer Products Assurance
Randy Rankin is currently the Global Client Development Director, North America in the Consumer Products Testing Assurance Services practice at Eurofins. In this role, Randy is responsible for developing client relationships and leading service teams responsible for supporting client... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 8:15am - 9:00am EST
Virtual

9:00am EST

Breakout 13: Machine Learning - Changing the Game for Product Safety
Artificial intelligence (AI) touches every industry and machine learning, a subset of AI, is being incorporated into business processes to help streamline and improve the ability to see patterns and be agile. In manufacturing, machine learning has practical applications in assisting product designers in identifying risks to safety early in the design process and make the necessary corrections. In testing, inspection and certification (TIC), machine learning can help identify safety trends, applicable safety requirements, and streamline the testing, inspection, and certification process.

In this interactive discussion, panellists will discuss their use of machine learning to support the design and ensure the safety of products and we will explore the risks and benefits of using machine learning and artificial intelligence to ensure safer products.

Moderators
avatar for Karin Athanas

Karin Athanas

Executive Director, TIC Council Americas
As Executive Director of the TIC Council Americas, Ms. Athanas oversees advocacy and outreach for the Americas branch of the TIC Council. Karin is a standards and conformity assessment expert with over ten years of experience working with industry and government agencies on issues... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jozef Jamrich

Jozef Jamrich

CTO, ReposiTrak
Jozef Jamrich is the Chief Technology Officer at Park City Group, the parent company of ReposiTrak.He is one of the original architects of ReposiTrak’s cloud-based platform on which solutions like compliance management and audit management operate.He translates the company strategy... Read More →
avatar for Mahmood Tabaddor

Mahmood Tabaddor

Global Manager, UL LLC
Mahmood Tabaddor is the Global Head for Predictive Modeling and Analytics at UL where he is responsible for advancing the responsible use of digital predictive modeling technologies in support of regulatory decisions.  He has given talks via panels, conferences, and webinars on topics... Read More →
avatar for Allyn Shultis

Allyn Shultis

Executive Director, Global Retailer & Manufacturer Alliance, Inc
Allyn is the Executive Director of the  GRMA and is charged with providing leadership and management over the GRMA’s Certification Program. He also serves as an ex-officio member of all GRMA committees. Allyn has decades of experience within OTC, Cosmetics, Medical Devices, and... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 9:00am - 9:50am EST
Virtual

9:00am EST

Breakout 14: Navigating International Product Safety Regimes
This interactive session provides practical tips for organizations with international reach on how to successfully navigate the increasingly complex and divergent product safety regimes across the world. Using specific product examples, panelists will discuss the difficulties encountered across key aspects of the product lifecycle, namely (a) new product launch (b) regulatory changes (c) communications with regulatory agencies, and (d) corrective action or recalls.   The multistakeholder discussion will provide insight from authorities, companies, and international lawyers. The session integrates live demonstrations of how the CPSC robot provides advice and solutions available to facilitate compliance and alleviate some of the hurdles facing the industry.

Moderators
avatar for Lindsay Lorimer

Lindsay Lorimer

Partner, McMillan (Canada)
Lindsay Lorimer is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group.  Lindsay's practice is heavily focused on product liability defence and products related regulatory issues.Lindsay has extensive experience defending class actions and both individual and commercial product... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Sarah-Jane Dobson

Sarah-Jane Dobson

Partner, Kennedys Law LLP
Sarah-Jane is an international products lawyer. She works on regulatory, litigation and policy matters across the complete product life cycle. She has expertise in a broad range of sectors, including consumer products, tech products, life sciences, industrial products, chemicals and... Read More →
avatar for Shelby Mathis

Shelby Mathis

Small Business Ombudsman, CPSC
Shelby Mathis serves as the Small Business Ombudsman at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Through her office, Shelby aims to provide information to small businesses that is clear, easy to understand, and consistent with agency policy. Before joining the CPSC, Shelby worked... Read More →
avatar for Alexander Murph

Alexander Murph

Director Product Safety & Compliance, Step 2
Alexander Murph is the Director of Product Safety and Compliance at The Step2 Company. He has worked in Step2’s product safety department for 11 years and is responsible for global product compliance. In this role he oversees the day to day operations of the lab, trade agreement... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 9:00am - 9:50am EST
Virtual

9:00am EST

Breakout 15: The Science Behind a Recall
Science. Terrifying for some. Rational thought at its evidence based finest for others. Properly evaluating the nature of a potential recall is critical to public safety as well as a company’s brand because it can help companies decide whether or not they should launch a recall. But what role does and should scientific methodology play in evaluating risk and launching a recall? And how can we make effective use of science in decision making? This session will explore, from both scientist’s and non-scientist’s viewpoints, how to make effective use of science when evaluating the risk posed by a consumer product and determining whether or not to launch a product recall. In particular it will consider:
- The 101 on scientific methodology in the context of consumer products: what is it, how does it work and what can it tell us?
- The interplay between the law and the science.
- What can you do to make effective use of science – considering techniques and strategies
- Potential pit falls and how to overcome them (including the absence of data)
- The continuing role of scientific methodology once a recall is launched.

Moderators
avatar for Claire Temple

Claire Temple

Special Counsel, Cooley
Claire Temple is a Special Counsel in international law firm, Cooley's product compliance and liability team. She specialises in advising clients on regulatory risk, compliance and litigation issues. She helps clients who deal with products and consumers. Claire works with them to... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Dr.  Ben Hoffman

Dr. Ben Hoffman

Chair, American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury Violence and Poison Prevention
Ben Hoffman is a nationally recognized expert in child passenger safety, and a leader in the field of community health and advocacy training for pediatric residents. He is a  Professor of Pediatrics at Doernbecher Children's Hospital and Oregon  Health and Science University. There... Read More →
avatar for Justin Bishop

Justin Bishop

Principal Engineer, Exponent
Dr. Justin Bishop is an electrical engineer who uses his knowledge of product failure modes to help clients solve complex technical issues. He routinely provides his services to consumer product industry clients as well as industrial clients with issues related to electro-mechanical... Read More →
avatar for Vanja Lane

Vanja Lane

Senior Counsel, Midea Group
Vanja Lane is Senior Counsel with Midea, a Global Fortune 500 corporation in the Home Appliance and Robotics industry. As an attorney Vanja has developed extensive experience serving as counsel to leading consumer goods corporations. Vanja has enjoyed a long standing membership with... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 9:00am - 9:50am EST
Virtual

9:00am EST

Breakout 16: Social Media and Dealing with Unintended Use: The Manufacturer's Perspective
Nowadays the increasing role of social media and in particular the influence of bloggers can affect how products are used to a far reaching audience. Should influencers or social media display products being used in a certain way, then this use will attract significant attention which is no fault of manufacturers or within their contemplation. Recently product misuses have attracted significant attention largely as a result of consumers seeking viral internet fame. Bloggers attempt to find alternative uses of products to differentiate themselves, while video "challenges" posted on the internet have encouraged people to consume laundry detergent or to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon. The unintended use of products in this way can impact the safety of the product and have harmful effects on the consumer.

The session aims to use a worked example of a product misuse and go through the obstacles manufacturers face in trying to prevent such abuse and where there is no support from social media stakeholders. We will discuss what manufacturers can do to try and maintain the product’s safety when they become aware of such a misuse of their product and consider in what circumstances manufacturers could be held liable for any injury caused by such a misuse and how to mitigate that risk. Such a discussion will allow for recommendations that the ICPHSO community is uniquely positioned to address.

The session will be presented from the brand/product perspective, beginning the life cycle at the market access phase, continuing into the advertising and marketing phase. We will learn about the unintended use and investigate what collaboration or support facilities are available from social media platforms that have content advertising this misuse of the product. We will encourage an open discussion to determine the extent of manufacturer’s liability whereby they have become aware of this misuse but are unable to get the content removed. On our panel, we will have a representative from a product safety representative from a consumer product manufacturer, a representative from an online retailer, a representative from a social media platform, a representative from a consumer regulator and a product liability lawyer (moderator) who will engage the audience in this interactive case study, presenting the difficult challenges manufacturer’s face with regard to unintended use of their product and social media. The audience will play a key role in the panel as we will elicit questions and responses from them to capture their perspectives from outside of the retailer.

Moderators
avatar for Lisa Joyce

Lisa Joyce

Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran
Lisa Joyce is a Products & Regulatory Partner at Mason Hayes & Curran LLP. She advises public and regulatory bodies, as well as entities operating in regulated sectors, on regulatory requirements and compliance, investigation and enforcement. This includes advising on EU and Irish... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Dev Gowda

Dev Gowda

Assistant Director, Kids in Danger
Dev has been the assistant director of nonprofit organization Kids In Danger (KID) since 2018. Dev received his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School where he also worked in an international... Read More →
avatar for Vladimir Brajkovic

Vladimir Brajkovic

Head of Development Function, IKEA
Vladimir Brajkovic joined IKEA of Sweden in 2016 as Product Requirements and Compliance Manager. Since 2017 he is the Development Function Manager, responsible for Enabling engineering capabilities, Requirements development, Packaging, Product verification, Material management, Product... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 9:00am - 9:50am EST
Virtual

9:50am EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking Break
Thursday February 25, 2021 9:50am - 10:30am EST
Virtual

10:30am EST

Keynote - Carletta Ooton, Vice President for Health and Safety, Sustainability, Security and Compliance at Amazon
Speakers
avatar for Carletta Ooton

Carletta Ooton

Vice President for Health and Safety, Sustainability, Security and Compliance, Amazon
Carletta Ooton is Amazon’s Vice President for Health, Safety, Sustainability, Security & Compliance. She oversees the company’s EHS, Food Safety, Trade Services, Product Safety & Recalls, Customer Packaging Experience, Social Responsibility, Energy & Environment, Sustainability... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 10:30am - 11:00am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Plenary 4: The Anti-Counterfeiting Tool Chest: How Manufacturers and Retailers Can Combat Dangerous Products
The ICPHSO community works tirelessly to make consumer products safe. Counterfeiters recklessly undermine our efforts by selling dangerous products masquerading as the genuine article. While e-commerce has revolutionized the way goods are bought and sold, it has also opened a direct-to-consumer channel for counterfeiters and copycats who simultaneously threaten public health and safety, hurt innovation and unfairly compete with legitimate manufacturers.

In this session you will hear from speakers tasked by a manufacturer, a retailer and a regulator to identify and remove counterfeits (and knock-offs) about their efforts to prevent these goods from reaching unsuspecting consumers. We will also hear the consumer’s perspective, all with the goal of providing actionable takeaways and proactive strategies throughout the entire process from monitoring to identification to enforcement of rights and prevention.

Moderators
avatar for Jeremy Richardson

Jeremy Richardson

Partner, Freeborn & Peters LLP
Jeremy Richardson leads Freeborn’s Consumer Products Industry Team, is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, and a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group.  Jeremy works primarily with consumer product manufacturers and, in particular, the juvenile products... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Anna Dalla Val

Anna Dalla Val

Director, Global Brand Relations, Amazon
Anna Dalla Val is the Director of Global Brand Relations at Amazon where she leads a global team dedicated to working with brands, industry associations, government regulators, and law enforcement to advance Amazon’s brand protection program.Anna most recently served as VP and Global... Read More →
avatar for Brian Weinhaus

Brian Weinhaus

The Unit Chief, National IPR Center
Brian Weinhaus is a Unit Chief at the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPRC) where he oversees the Intellectual Property and Intelligence Sections. His unit provide leads, oversight, and expertise on all the national... Read More →
avatar for Sean Beckstrom

Sean Beckstrom

Chief Product Safety and L&D Segment Counsel, Newell Brands Inc.
SEAN BECKSTROM is Chief Product Safety Counsel and Learning & Development Segment Counsel at Newell Brands Inc. He is responsible for product safety and regulatory legal issues for the entire Newell Brands portfolio globally and general legal matters for the Learning & Development... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

12:00pm EST

Breakout 17: Cannabis-Derived Products, Successfully Riding the Wave of Emerging Science and Regulation
In many countries, cannabis-derived products have the potential to reach large numbers of consumers.  These products include cannabidiol (CBD)-based products sold in a wide range of forms (e.g., textiles, personal care products, pet products, supplements and foods) as well as newer products touting other cannabinoids (e.g., cannabigerol).  The pace at which such products have reached the market (with or without regulatory approval) varies by country, with some jurisdictions  (e.g., Canada, the Netherlands, some US states) out in front and others (e.g., the UK) well behind.  At times, the cannabis product market can seem like a free-for-all, with some products making questionable claims, lawsuits for false labeling on content and claims and an uncertain regulatory landscape.   Standards that can be used to ensure the safety of cannabis products  are in many cases still under development.  Moreover, how such products will be used (or mis-used) is still uncertain.  In this session, we’ll survey the current legal status of the various cannabis-derived products in different jurisdictions, summarize what the science says about potential health claims and adverse effects of CBD and related chemicals, and discuss steps manufacturers and retailers can take to protect consumers. The potential for regulatory movement in the US (particularly for CBD products) will also be discussed in light of the incoming US administration.  The session will consist of brief (10-15 minute remarks) with ample time for Q&A. One initial polling question during the first few minutes of the session will ask audience members to list the top 3 concerns about cannabis products; the speakers will use this to guide their presentations and subsequent discussions. Additional polling questions may be used during the rest of the session as appropriate. 

Moderators
avatar for Susan Kirsch

Susan Kirsch

Director, Regulatory Affairs & Compliance, RILA
Susan Kirsch leads RILA’s Consumer Products and Environmental Compliance Committees and supports RILA’s advocacy and engagement with stakeholders and regulators at the federal and state levels. Prior to joining RILA in early 2020, she served as a Government Affairs advisor at... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Cecile Burgess

Cecile Burgess

Managing Associate, Addleshaw Goddard
Cecile Burgess is a Managing Associate within AG's Litigation Group based in London. Cecile has extensive experience of acting for global product manufacturers in relation to product liability claims and risk management. Cecile focuses on life sciences (pharmaceuticals and medical... Read More →
avatar for Tom Lewandowski

Tom Lewandowski

Principal, Gradient
Dr. Tom Lewandowski is a toxicologist and chemist working in Gradient’s Seattle, Washington office. He has over 30 years of experience in the areas of product safety evaluation, pharmacokinetics, metals toxicology, and developmental toxicology. He helps companies navigate the world... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Virtual

12:00pm EST

Breakout 18: Customization: The Key to Best Practices and Unique Approaches When Evaluating Consumer Product Safety
Consumer products typically contain many different types of chemicals, which presents an opportunity for concerns regarding adverse reactions as a result of product use. Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring product safety falls on the manufacturer. While various trade associations and agencies provide recommendations, there is a lack of formal testing requirements or standardized testing strategies to evaluate the safety profile of personal care and cosmetic products and/or their ingredients. Traditionally, the safety of these products and ingredients has been evaluated using animal studies, however, recent worldwide regulations and recommendations have sought to reduce and replace animal testing with alternative test systems. While there are standard best practices for evaluating product safety, the testing strategy must be customized to the specific product and use scenario. In this session, best practices and unique testing strategies will be presented for all stages of a products life-cycle, from initial testing during product formulation, safety testing of the formulated product, to post-market surveillance. To this end, case studies demonstrating the utility of combining both traditional and unique product testing solutions will be presented, along with strategies for customizing product testing to meet the fluid demands of ensuring product safety along the product's entire life-cycle.

Moderators
avatar for Ernest Fung

Ernest Fung

Managing Health Scientist, Cardno ChemRisk
Dr. Ernest Fung is a board certified toxicologist with 10 years of professional experience in the areas of toxicology, pharmacology, and human health risk assessment. As a consultant, Dr. Fung’s primary areas of practice include personal care and consumer products, medical devices... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Anne Dickinson

Anne Dickinson

Emeritia Professor of Translational and Clinical Medicine, New Castle University
Alcyomics technologies represent the fruits of over 30 years’ research activity on transplantation and graft versus host disease in the research laboratories of  Anne Dickinson ( Emeritia Professor of Translational and Clinical Medicine ) at Newcastle University, where she used... Read More →
avatar for Bryan Sullivan

Bryan Sullivan

Partner, Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae
Bryan M. Sullivan advises and represents his clients as a legal strategist in all their business affairs, assisting them in achieving their business goals while ensuring that they receive the utmost level of protection along the way. Bryan's goal is to obtain for his clients a net... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Virtual

12:00pm EST

Breakout 19: The Circular Economy and Product Safety - State of New Approaches and Product Design Considerations
Circular economy initiatives are hot on the agenda for policy and law makers around the world. Proposed measures focus on increased reparability, longer lasting products, enhanced consumer information, and material safety and transparency. These all have the potential to fundamentally change the way in which consumer products are designed, marketed and used - impacting product safety. This session will provide an update on international circular economy initiatives with a focus on key product design considerations and new technologies. The speakers will explore impacts on consumer health and safety, challenges product safety professionals may face, and the opportunities for companies that get this right.

Moderators
avatar for Matt Howsare

Matt Howsare

Special Counsel, Cooley LLP
Matt Howsare is the chair of Cooley’s North American product safety practice and a leading global consumer product safety and compliance lawyer who counsels manufacturers, retailers, distributors, trade associations and consumer product companies on issues within all aspects of... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Scott Cassel

Scott Cassel

CEO & Founder, Product Stewardship Institute
Scott Cassel has over 35 years of experience addressing waste and recycling issues in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. As Founder and CEO of the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), Scott developed the stakeholder engagement and consensus-building process that led to the... Read More →
avatar for Pär Stenmark

Pär Stenmark

Chief of Regulatory Affairs, IKEA of Sweden
Mr. Pär Stenmark is the Public affairs manager at IKEA Range & Supply. He leads the strategic plan for public affairs with the scope of products, materials, product innovations, product information, technology for production and distribution of products. Pär started in IKEA in year... Read More →
avatar for Bobbi Wilding

Bobbi Wilding

Deputy Director, Clean and Healthy New York
Bobbi Wilding, MS, Deputy Director of Clean and Healthy New York, has been a passionate advocate for environmental health protections for over two decades. She directs the national Getting Ready for Baby campaign, a collaboration of over 100 organizations, which engages retailers... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Virtual

12:00pm EST

Breakout 20: EU New Market Surveillance Regulation: How Does it Impact E-commerce in the European Union and How Could it Influence Future USA Regulations?
E-commerce has taken the global retail market by storm. Regulations are being developed to keep up with this ever-evolving and fast-growing marketplace.  This ICPHSO session will explore the new EU market surveillance regulations: Regulation 2019/1020, how it impacts e-commerce in the European Union, and how it could trigger the potential development of similar regulatory concepts in the USA. 

Moderators
avatar for Richard Stern

Richard Stern

President, Product Safety Services, LLC
Mr. Stern has spent his entire 30+ year professional career working in product and process safety, with more than 20 of those years on consumer product safety. He has more than 16 years working in a manufacturing environment for the U.S. Department of Energy, Whirlpool Corporation... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Tim Mattulke

Tim Mattulke

Vice President, Technical Services and Consultancy, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services
Since joining BVCPS in 2009, Tim has held various positions; most recently responsible for technical services and consulting activities for BVCPS in the Americas region. These teams provide specialized services to help clients meet the challenges associated with global expansion while... Read More →
avatar for John Kupsch

John Kupsch

Senior Vice President, Party City Holdings, Inc. (PCHI)
John Kupsch is Senior Vice President of Party City Holdings, Inc. (PCHI) and Chief Product Compliance Officer located in Elmsford, New York, and is responsible for global product safety and quality assurance. PCHI’s business includes the design, manufacturing, distribution, and... Read More →
avatar for Helene Largement

Helene Largement

Consumer Goods and Retail Sales Director, SGS France
Helene has worked in the consumer goods industry for 19 years, 13 of those with SGS. She spent her first 6 years as the laboratory director in France and is currently a Director for SGS Consumer Goods and Retail in France.


Thursday February 25, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Virtual

12:50pm EST

Highlights - Courtesy of Cooley LLP
Planning Chair and President Elect, Andy Church will give a brief summary of the highlights from today's sessions, courtesy of Cooley LLP.

Speakers
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Thursday February 25, 2021 12:50pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

1:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking
Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Virtual
 
Friday, February 26
 

9:00am EST

Early Morning Exhibit and Networking
Friday February 26, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Virtual

10:00am EST

Welcome & Passing of the Gavel
As in ICPHSO's tradition, the Symposium Planning Chair & President Elect, Andy Church, will virtually receive the gavel from President Rick Rosati and assume the Presidency of ICPHSO for 2021, effective March 16, 2021.

Speakers
avatar for Rick Rosati

Rick Rosati

Vice Pres., Governmental Affairs & Industry Stds., Bureau Veritas
Rick Rosati is the Vice President of Government Affairs and Industry Standards in the Americas at Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services (BVCPS). His primary responsibilities are to lead the companies Technical Services Team in monitoring and communicating legislative and regulatory... Read More →
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 10:00am - 10:15am EST
Virtual

10:15am EST

Plenary 5: Next Generation of Consumer Product Safety
This panel will explore the experiences of the younger generations of consumer product safety professionals to elicit feedback from them on how they view and approach consumer product safety. As our seasoned professionals are retiring and passing the baton to the next generation, it's relevant to explore this younger generation’s views, and what they need from experienced experts to be successful in carrying effective consumer product safety values into the future. Emerging technologies, online commerce, and social media have all changed the way consumers shop, review/rate products, and respond to product defects. The younger generations value this transparency. This panel will attempt to answer questions such as, What knowledge does this generation need from experienced safety professionals in the room to best respond to consumer product safety? How does the younger generation effectively reach its fellow generation of new parents and consumers with information like product safety recalls? How do we engage this younger population in standards development activities? What can the younger generation teach our manufacturers/retailers/regulators about effectively engaging with today's consumers? What is the biggest learning curve for the younger generation entering this field?

Moderators
avatar for Molly Lynyak

Molly Lynyak

Manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International
Molly Lynyak is a manager in the Technical Committee Operations Division of ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world.In her role, Lynyak has direct responsibility for the standards development activities within Committee F15... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Barbarisi

Jennifer Barbarisi

Senior Regulatory & Product Compliance Consultant, TUV Rheinland North America
Jennifer Barbarisi is part of TÜV Rheinland’s North America Retail team.  In her role as a Senior Regulatory & Product Compliance Consultant, Jennifer supports North American based clients with compliance to national and international regulations affecting the toy and promotional... Read More →
avatar for Anna Carter

Anna Carter

Safety & Compliance Engineer, Iron Mountain
Anna Carter is the Safety & Compliance Engineer at Iron Mountains, LLC, a juvenile product design house.With a background in biomedical engineering, she brings a unique perspective to juvenile product safety industry. She is heavily involved in the ASTM Committee F15 Consumer Products... Read More →
avatar for Oriene Shin

Oriene Shin

Policy Counsel, Product Safety, Consumer Reports
Oriene Shin is a policy counsel in Consumer Reports’ Washington, DC office. Her work focuses on public policy and advocacy issues related to household products, including unstable furniture and unsafe infant sleep products, and vehicle safety. Prior to joining CR, Oriene served... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 10:15am - 10:45am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 21: Can Personal Products Against COVID-19 Remain Both Safe and Sustainable?
The COVID-19 outbreak took place at a time that policymakers and consumers were systematically trying to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic items.

Moreover, there was scarcity in certain single-use products used to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as face-masks or cleaning wipes.

Therefore, regulators recommend the use of more sustainable alternatives, such as fabric face-masks or using cloth wipes for surfaces, instead of disposable ones. Nevertheless, several consumers remain concerned about the health and safety risks of reusing masks and cloth wipes.

This panel will explore if there are health risks associated with the use of cloth face-masks and wipes, as well as which are the solutions for minimising such risks. It will also address how third-party conformity assessment plays a role in assessing the conformity of durable personal protective equipment and its ability to protect consumers for COVID-19.

Speakers
avatar for Jeffrey Courey

Jeffrey Courey

CEO, George Courey Inc / ARTA
Jeff Courey is the President and CEO of George Courey Inc, a 110 year-old institutional textile business specializing in manufacturing and distributing reusable healthcare products to laundries across North America. Jeff works extensively with manufacturing partners from around the... Read More →
avatar for Matthew McGarrity

Matthew McGarrity

Senior Technical Manager - Medical PPE, SGS North America
Matt has been with SGS since 2010.He specializes in regulatory, industry requirements, and quality testing. Matt’s focus is on Medical PPE, Environmental Exposure, Accelerated Aging.Matt actively participates in standards development organizations such as ASTM.
avatar for Eva Sinkovic

Eva Sinkovic

Policy Officer, European Commission
Eva Sinkovic works in Brussels, Belgium at the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers as Policy officer in the unit Product Safety and Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. She is dealing with standards for consumer products as well as with... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 22: Transparency, Clarity, and Consistency of the General Prohibitions under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
As a means of balancing product safety and the economic sustainability of consumer product businesses, governments can play their part by ensuring that safety expectations are clear, transparent, and consistent. Health Canada has recently published information for regulated parties on the enforcement approach for the general prohibitions under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. This tutorial will provide attendees with a description of how Health Canada proposes to apply the General Prohibitions in particular contexts and Health Canada’s expectations from regulated parties.

Moderators
avatar for Trish Heffernan

Trish Heffernan

Senior Advisor to the Director, Risk Assessment Bureau, Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate, Health Canada
Trish Heffernan is the Senior Advisor to the Director of the Risk Assessment Bureau in the Consumer andHazardous Products Safety Directorate at Health Canada. She supports the Director on issues related torisk assessment, consumer product testing, and the identification and assessment... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Dinah Bowden

Dinah Bowden

Acting Manager, Compliance and Enforcement Division in CHPSD’s Risk Management Bureau
Dinah Bowden is the acting manager of the Compliance and Enforcement Division. She has beenworking in various positions within the Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate (CHPSD)for almost 10 years. Prior to joining CHPSD, Dinah held various regulatory roles covering a... Read More →
avatar for Nick Shipley

Nick Shipley

Director, Risk Management Bureau in Health Canada’s Consumer and Hazardous Products Directorate
Nick Shipley is the director of the Risk Management Bureau within Health Canada's Consumerand Hazardous Products Safety Directorate (CHPSD) and was previously the manager ofcompliance and enforcement. Prior to joining CHPSD in 2015, Nick held a variety of roles in theregulation and compliance and enforcement of health products, such as drugs, natural healthprod... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Breakout 23: Compliance in a Circular Economy - Post-consumer Content Requirements
One of the defining goals of a circular economy is the inclusion of recycled content in consumer products, as this keeps materials cycling through the economy for a longer period of time and simultaneously decreases the need for the introduction of new materials into the economy.

As pressures increase for manufacturers to become "greener" and work toward a more circular economy, production of goods containing recycled or post-consumer materials is becoming more common, and even a factor that consumers demand.

Different markets are in various stages of addressing this general movement. This panel seeks to:

- Highlight those markets that are paving the way, such as:

-- US: Washington State enacted bills to require reusable plastic bags to contain a minimum percentage of post-consumer content; and California's State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) statutes require all state departments, boards, commissions, offices, state universities, and District Agricultural Associations to procure products and materials containing a minimum amount of post-consumer recycled content.

-- France: National Assembly adopted new circular economy measures, which include the abolition of the practice of destroying non-food unsold goods -- companies would have to reuse, redistribute, or recycle unsold or returned apparel, cosmetics, hygiene products, electrical goods, and other products.

- Present a case study of a company that produces at least one product line incorporating recycled content; and

- Discuss safety concerns and/ or obstacles producers may experience.

The case study portion of the panel is an opportunity for audience participation. We will set up certain obstacles that the company would have encountered and ask the audience what they would do in each situation (multiple choice). We will subsequently inform on how the company handled each obstacle.

Moderators
avatar for Beth McCalister

Beth McCalister

Senior Regulatory Consultant, Compliance & Risks
Beth has 13 years of experience as a research consultant -- monitoring, selecting, and summarizing international consumer products regulations; compiling customized products to address strategic business needs for retailers and manufacturers, including entering new geographic markets... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jennifer DuBuisson

Jennifer DuBuisson

Senior Director Government and Public Affairs, Americas, LEGO Group
As the Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Americas, Jennifer is responsible for setting the public policy agenda at national, subnational, and international levels across North and South America. In this role, she supports the LEGO Group’s mission to inspire... Read More →
avatar for Jonathan Cocker

Jonathan Cocker

Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Jonathan provides advice and representation to multinational companies on a variety of environmental and product compliance matters, including extended producer responsibilities, dangerous goods transportation, GHS, regulated wastes, consumer product and food safety, and contaminated... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Keesson

Jennifer Keesson

US Sustainability Manager,, IKEA
Jennifer is the IKEA US Sustainability Manager, enabling the ongoing transformation and growth of the IKEA business by meeting the needs of people today, without compromising the needs of future generations.  Providing strategic and dynamic leadership, working through and across... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Virtual

11:50am EST

Exhibit Hall & Networking Break
Friday February 26, 2021 11:50am - 12:30pm EST
Virtual

12:30pm EST

Keynote - Linda Hubbard, President and Chief Operating Officer
Speakers
avatar for Linda Hubbard

Linda Hubbard

President and Chief Operating Officer, Carhartt, Inc.
Linda Hubbard is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Carhartt, Inc. In her role at Carhartt, she is responsible for leading Carhartt’s Senior Leadership Team in the execution of the Company’s business plan. Linda develops and executes current and long-range corporate... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 12:30pm - 1:00pm EST
Virtual

1:00pm EST

Plenary 6: Speed or Safety? How to Ensure Agility without Sacrificing Safety
In today's environment, external factors are forcing companies to search for solutions to get product to market quickly to maintain business continuity. Whether it's during times of crisis or reacting to ever-changing consumer preferences. Using a pre-conference diverse survey, this panel will provide tangible advice for improving speed to market while keeping safety at the forefront.

Moderators
avatar for Keith Rhoades

Keith Rhoades

Global Director, Intertek
Keith Rhoades is the Sr. Manager of Research, Engineering, & Innovation at Product Assurance - Intertek. In this role, Keith works with all sorts of companies and clients to answer their toughest questions. Often, Keith is asked to combine his passion for engineering and design to... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jared Fry

Jared Fry

Section Manager Toy Development & Safety, Mondelez International
At Mondelez International, Jared Fry develops toy and premium offerings to be distributed alongside chocolate, biscuit, and snack items around the globe. His responsibilities include ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction of these premiums throughout the complete... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Virtual

1:50pm EST

Highlights - Courtesy of Cooley LLP and Conclusion and Thank You!
Planning Chair and President Elect, Andy Church will give a brief summary of the highlights from today's sessions, courtesy of Cooley LLP and Closing the Symposium.

Speakers
avatar for Andy Church

Andy Church

Founder & CEO ICPHSO Symposium Planning Chair, Insight Quality Services
Andy Church founded Insight Quality in 2014 after 12 years living in Shenzhen, China and working in the quality assurance testing and supply chain support industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with Chinese operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Qingdao, Insight provides companies... Read More →


Friday February 26, 2021 1:50pm - 2:00pm EST
Virtual

2:00pm EST

2022 Annual Meeting Planning Committee
Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Virtual
 
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