An Overview of The JPMA Certification Program Frederick

An Overview of The JPMA Certification Program Frederick Locker, Esq. Locker Greenberg & Brainin PC 420 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10018

• ASTM International develops and publishes the standards. • ASTM International is the largest voluntary standards development organization in the world, and is a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. • JPMA and industry members, consumer groups, juvenile product retailers and staff from the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are involved in the development of the standards. • JPMA Certification Program started in 1976 with high chairs.

Committee F 15 on Consumer Products ASTM Committee F 15 on Consumer Products was formed in 1973. The Committee, with a current membership of approximately 900 participants on 50 technical subcommittees, has jurisdiction of over 80 standards, published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards.

Committee F 15 on Consumer Products • The 50 subcommittees of F 15 each serve a different product area (for example juvenile products, toys, playground equipment, candles, pool safety), and meet independently on different schedules depending upon level of activity and need. • The juvenile products subcommittees meets twice annually (spring & fall) at ASTM Headquarters in West Conshohocken, PA.

Committee F 15 on Consumer Products Developed by a unique mixture of representatives from industry, government, testing laboratories, retailers and the ultimate consumer, the F 15 standards have and continue to play a preeminent role in reducing the number of injuries and deaths associated with the use and performance of consumer products based on identified hazards.

• To become JPMA Certified, a product must be tested by an independent testing facility for compliance with the specific ASTM standards. • A manufacturer must submit samples from each product family to one of two accredited labs JPMA works with, either BV or Intertek (BV is the administrator of the program). • If a product passes the initial tests, JPMA allows the manufacturer to label it with the JPMA Certified Seal. Product testing is ongoing, both quarterly and through the Random Retail aspect of the testing program.

Maintaining Certification Quarterly Testing • 25% of basic models must be tested quarterly by the independent labs, with the goal that all models are tested at least once a year. • Manufacturers can either perform the quarterly testing in their certified lab and send the reports to the either of the official labs, or have an accredited lab do the testing for them. • If the manufacturer is performing the quarterly testing in their own lab then one of the official labs will do a site visit once a year to verify the manufacturers’ capability of performing the tests.

Maintaining Certification Random Testing • Bureau Veritas will test random production samples • 25% of the participants will be targeted for each quarter • Samples from each certification program for each participant will be tested each year; the # is dependent upon the # of models a co. produces.

Maintaining Certification • Annual “audit” by either lab of manufacturer/distributor’s facility (who perform in-house testing) • Inspect product from production line or stock • One to 5 models per program will be witness tested annually

More than 2, 000 products are JPMA Certified in 20 categories: • • • bassinets/cradles bath seats booster seats children’s folding chairs portable bed rails infant bouncers high chairs play yards/non-full size cribs walkers carriages/strollers • • • gates/enclosures full-size cribs portable hook-on chairs infant swings hand-held infant carriers soft infant carriers stationary activity centers frame infant carriers changing tables toddler beds

• The programs are open to all manufacturers, both members and non-members of JPMA, and to firms that market private brand models. Participation in the programs is on a voluntary basis. • Future activity will focus on incorporating CPSIA requirements into the ASTM standards (lead content, phthalates, etc. – 16 CFR 1303 testing for lead in paint and surface coatings already required).

Directory of Certified Products The Directory of Certified Products contains the names of manufacturers with products currently in the Certification Program. Twice a year, retailers receive the directory.

Program Efficacy In a 2007 Senate hearing on the reauthorization of the CPSC, authorities cited an 84% and 89% reduction in fatalities and injuries due to the establishment and effectiveness of ASTM Standards for baby walkers and cribs, respectively.

• ASTM F 977 “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers” • Originally published in 1986 • Revised in 1997 to include stair-fall hazard requirements to address the issues associated with the injury data. The results: • Approximately 3, 500 emergency room injuries to children under 15 months old (down from 20, 000 in 1995) • The number of estimated injuries has declined steadily since the addition of the stair-fall requirements in the ASTM voluntary standard to which the JPMA Walker Certification Program tests.

Result: The Commission voted to terminate the open rulemaking on baby walkers: • Substantial reduction in injuries due to walker related incidents • An adequate voluntary standard to address the hazards (ASTM F 977) and • High degree of industry compliance with the voluntary standard • Dec. 2005 letter to industry regarding compliance with ASTM standard

JPMA promotes the program in Baby. Talk, New Parent and American Baby Magazines

For more information on the Certification Program, Contact: JPMA 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Or e-mail jpma@jpma. org