2018 ICPHSO International Symposium

Navigating different global regulatory regimes has become increasingly difficult as products are distributed globally and some become interconnected raising questions of both safety and security. Companies offering digital products and the retailers selling those products often use innovative digital technologies to collect large amounts of data for many different purposes. 
Equally important is looking ahead to the different European initiatives in the context of EU’s Digital Single Market Strategy. GDPR directly affects the use of data collected by and about consumer products as consumer complaint data now needs to be manage to meet cross order privacy protections.  The EU’s Internet of Things Policy and the proposed European cybersecurity certification framework for ICT products and services are two more examples that will definitely play a critical role in increasing security and consumer trust. The panelists will tackle all of these issues in an interactive dialogue.
Lastly, we will discuss the enforcement risks within this regulatory framework. Companies will also have to reconsider their liabilities and related compliance strategy both in view of the new safety risks posed by the digital technologies and the scope of mass harm situations which, in a digital world, are likely to cross borders.  The trend toward representative actions in the EU, and the potential implications of the proposed new “Goods Package” will be highlighted by the panelists. 

Regulators and stakeholders often seek better alignment of product safety regulations across jurisdictions to improve health and safety outcomes – preventing or reducing the incidence of traditional product safety hazards, such as mechanical defects and exposure to chemicals and hazardous substances – and/or eliminate unnecessary costs and complexity.  These efforts take on many forms, from mutual recognition of conformity assessment bodies and reliance on international standards to sharing information at the pre-regulatory stage and equivalency arrangements.  As more consumer products become part of the Internet of Things, the free flow of data across borders, data protection and privacy rules, and cybersecurity will become bigger issues for the product safety community, with the potential to improve product safety but also introduce new product safety risks.  As the generation, storage, and use of data and the provision of services become an integral part of everyday products, the alignment of product safety rules internationally becomes more important, and also potentially more challenging.  More regulators may become involved, with different governing legal regimes and different standards being applied.  The rules addressing digital and service issues at the international level (e.g., the World Trade Organization and other free trade agreements) differ from the rules that cover products.  And the major jurisdictions – the European Union, China, and the United States – have very different views on how to regulate the digital economy.  How can the international product safety community best navigate this issue in the coming years?  

While products are typically designed and manufactured to be sold into large diverse communities, the risk profile of those products can vary from person to person within those communities. Best practices in product design dictate that pre-market risk assessments should take into account particular risks that may be presented to more vulnerable members of society, in particular children, the elderly and those with disabilities.  At the same time, there are strong imperatives to ensure that, wherever appropriate, groups in the community are not shut out of access to the benefits and enjoyment of products, and not exposed to additional risks, by reason of their particular differences or vulnerabilities.
 
This session will explore the concept of inclusivity in product design, and considering ways in which safety can be managed within that concept.  It will include a discussion of “applied anthropometry”, a tool used to guide the design of products by reference to the variations in physical characteristics of people.
 
By focusing on diversity and inclusion in a more holistic way, the concept of product safety can be taken to new level. This session will consider these issues from a number of perspectives, providing expert insights and perspectives from a range of stakeholders into ways in which the key objectives can be met.
 

Customer concerns captured in viral video. Product advisories. Recalls. Civil and criminal penalties. EU Single Market. EU General Product Directive. Every company that manufactures, sells or distributes consumer products throughout the world faces the possibility of a product safety crisis that erodes their corporate reputation, brand preference and bottom line. Are you prepared to lead in this crisis? Don’t miss this exciting and interactive "crisis simulation lab".

Attendees will gain practical insights and best practices in product safety from the 360-degree perspectives of international regulatory compliance and legal strategy, engineering science, recall management and global crisis communications. Together with our expert panel, you’ll be immersed in multiple simulated scenarios designed to expose the operational and reputation risk and seek alignment in a divergent product safety landscape.