CSA Group, a leading standards development organization and testing and certification services provider, hosted a final meeting on September 24-25 aimed at completing the new international standard ISO 10377, Consumer Product Safety: Practical Guidelines for Suppliers.

The need to apply basic risk assessment principles throughout the consumer product supply chain was the catalyst for the Consumer Policy Committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to propose that an international guidance standard be developed. CSA Group was named International Secretariat of Project Committee 243 (ISO PC 243), working on guidelines for suppliers. Simultaneously, PC 243 also worked with a committee to provide guidance on consumer product recalls.

“The increased number of recorded unsafe products on the market has become a concern for many countries and for their regulating bodies,” says Bonnie Rose, President, Standards, CSA Group. “There are numerous product recall processes in the global marketplace, but these vary across sectors, jurisdictions and industries, even in Canada. We are delighted to have contributed to the development of the international guidance document that will assist suppliers in the consumer product supply chain.”

The objective of ISO PC 243 was to create a document that would be helpful for those in the supply chain to prevent the occurrence of unsafe products. ISO PC 243 also worked closely with another committee developing the product recall document to help ensure they could be used together by suppliers. The guidance document does not cover food, drugs, medical devices or automobiles.

Health Canada was the leading sponsor to support Canada as the International Secretariat and funded the work of both the Chair and the Secretary from CSA Group. The work of ISO PC 243 has taken approximately two years, consisting of seven international meetings. The ISO 10377, Consumer Product Safety: Practical Guidelines for Suppliers document has reached the Draft International Stage and is expected to be finalized in October and considered for publication by ISO by December. Other countries that have contributed to the international guidance document include the U.S., Chile, China, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, and Russia.

About CSA Group

CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit member-based association dedicated to advancing safety, sustainability and social good. We are an internationally-accredited standards development and testing & certification organization. We also provide consumer product evaluation and education & training services. Our broad range of knowledge and expertise includes: industrial equipment, plumbing & construction, electro-medical & healthcare, appliances & gas, alternative energy, lighting and sustainability. The CSA mark appears on billions of products around the world.

Contact

Anthony Toderian
Manager, Corporate Affairs
CSA Group
416-747-2620
[email protected]