A Guide to Product Safety Standards

What are Product Safety Standards?

Product safety standards are regulations and guidelines established to ensure that products are safe for consumers and meet specific safety requirements before marketing. These standards specify materials, design, and product performance requirements to minimize risks such as injury, illness, or damage.

Government agencies, industry organizations, or independent bodies set product safety standards and monitor compliance through testing and certification processes. Adhering to these standards protects consumers, helps manufacturers build trust in their brands, and avoids legal liabilities resulting from unsafe products.

Benefits

Manufacturers must prioritize product safety during the design and production stages to ensure their products are safe for consumers. One of the best ways to do so is by following laws and regulations dedicated to the safety of products.

Here are the top benefits of adhering to these standards:

• Protection for Consumers: Product safety standards exist to keep consumers safe from harmful or unsafe products. These standards include warning labels, child-proof packaging, and stricter rules for items like toys, electronics, and household appliances.

• Increased Transparency: Product safety standards provide clear rules for manufacturing, ensuring transparency throughout the process and reinforcing it through product traceability. They allow consumers to make informed choices and hold manufacturers accountable for meeting these standards.

• Improved Quality Control: Manufacturers must follow product safety standards using quality control measures during production. It helps catch and fix safety issues early, ensuring products are safer and higher in quality before reaching consumers.

• Enhanced Brand Reputation: Adhering to product safety standards can boost a company’s reputation by demonstrating a commitment to consumer safety and responsible manufacturing. It helps foster trust and brand loyalty among customers.

• Reduced Legal Liability: Failure to follow product safety standards can result in legal issues for manufacturers, such as lawsuits, product recalls, and fines. In the US, for example, fines related to violations of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) codes amounted to USD 55.3 million. Companies can avoid these problems by meeting these standards and protecting their finances and reputation.

• Global Market Access: Product safety standards play a crucial role in international trade agreements and regulations, making compliance essential for companies aiming to grow their markets. Meeting these standards ensures that manufacturers can sell their products in different countries and regions.

Different Product Safety Standards and Regulations

Different countries have product safety standards and regulations, which vary in scope, requirements, and enforcement. Here are some examples of product safety standards in different regions:

United States

• Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA): The CPSIA amended the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) in 2008, giving the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) more authority for regulation and enforcement, including stricter rules for children’s products.

• Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA): This act requires hazardous household products to carry warning labels about safe use and storage and allows the CPSC to regulate or ban dangerous substances to protect consumers, particularly children.

• Child Safety Protection Act: This law mandates warning labels on toys and other items that present choking hazards for small children.

• Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA): The FFA regulates the manufacture of flammable clothing and fabrics and aims to protect people from burns, fires, and other injuries.

• Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA): The PPPA requires certain products to be packaged in a child-resistant way to protect children from hazardous substances.

Australia

• Australian Consumer Law (ACL): The ACL provides a national consumer protection framework, including product safety provisions. It allows for the imposition of mandatory safety standards, bans on unsafe products, and the requirement for recalls when necessary.

United Kingdom

• Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA): CPA provides a framework for product liability, holding manufacturers and suppliers accountable for defective products that cause injury, damage, or death. It allows consumers to claim compensation for harm caused by unsafe goods.

European Union

• General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR): The GPSR requires that all consumer products are safe for their intended use or any reasonably foreseeable use. This law applies to all products made available on the EU market, including new, used, repaired, or reconditioned products.

Other Product Safety Standards

• General Product Safety, Federal Law No. 10, 2018: This law applies to the United Arab Emirates and ensures product safety and compliance with relevant regulations, including labeling and product warnings.

• Safety of Consumer Products Act, c. 21, 2010: This law applies to Canada and sets out requirements for protecting consumer products, including labeling, warnings, and restrictions.