Contact Information: Contact: Amy Blumenthal Blumenthal & Associates 617-879-1511
ANSI ISO/IEC Guide 65 Accreditation Awarded to STR-Registrar, LLC
STR-Registrar, LLC to Offer Accredited Product Certification Services to the Toy Industry and Grant the Use of the TIA's Toy Safety Certification Program Safety Mark on Certified Products or Packaging
| Source: STR-Registrar
STROUDSBURG, PA--(Marketwire - October 21, 2009) - STR-Registrar, LLC recently became one of
the first product certification bodies to be granted ANSI ISO/IEC Guide 65
Accreditation within the scope of TIA/TSCP®. This accreditation enables
STR-Registrar to certify toy products in accordance with the Toy Industry
Association's (TIA) Toy Safety Certification Program (TSCP®) and grant
use of TIA's toy safety certification mark that will be required on toy
products or packaging that have met the specific TSCP® program safety
requirements. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) assesses
the competence of product certification bodies like STR-Registrar using
requirements found in international standards and guidance documents
ISO/IEC Guide 65, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product
Certification Systems, associated International Accreditation Forum
Guidance Documents, and program requirements set forth by the TSCP®.
The TSCP® is a voluntary program created to improve toy safety, restore
consumer confidence in toy products, and help manufacturers and retailers
comply with federal legislation that toys be tested by an accredited lab
and subsequently be certified to demonstrate that they meet rigorous
national safety standards and regulations. The program builds on the
requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to help
assure the safety of toys entering the U.S. marketplace. The TSCP® was
created by TIA with the input of ANSI, conformity assessment experts, toy
companies, retailers, consumer groups, U.S. government bodies, toy testing
labs, and factory auditing companies, as well as officials and industry
representatives from China and the European Union.
"Companies that choose to certify their toy products under the TSCP® are
demonstrating a commitment to safety that goes beyond the federal
requirements of the CPSIA," said Bryce E. Carson, Sr., President and CEO of
STR-Registrar, LLC. "Both manufacturers and retailers are embracing the
program as an opportunity to reassure customers that their toy products
have met the highest standards of safety."
Toy companies that apply for TSCP® certification must: conduct and
document a hazard and risk assessment for toy product design; have factory
process controls assessed by an independent audit body accredited to ISO
17021; and ensure that production sample testing is performed by an ISO
17025 accredited laboratory to validate that the factory is capable of
producing toys that meet U.S. safety standards. Once these three
requirements are met and verified by accredited certification bodies such
as STR-Registrar, LLC, the product and/or packaging may bear the TSCP®
toy safety certification mark. As an ANSI accredited certification body
under the TSCP® program, STR-Registrar, LLC has oversight responsibility
for issuance of the TSCP® certification mark.
About ANSI
ANSI is a private non-profit quasi-government organization whose mission is
to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by
promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary
standardization and conformity assessment system. ANSI is also actively
engaged in accrediting sector specific programs that assess conformance to
national and international standards -- including globally-recognized
cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000
(environmental) management systems.
About STR-Registrar, LLC
STR-Registrar, LLC is an ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
accredited international provider of management system certification and
registration services. In addition to ANSI ISO/IEC Guide 65 Accreditation,
STR-Registrar, LLC maintains accreditations and offers ISO 9001, AS9100,
and AS9120 management system certifications as well as ANSI/AIHA Z10 and
OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety management system
certifications. Further accreditations held include SA8000, Social
Accountability International granted by Social Accountability Accreditation
Services (SAAS). STR-Registrar, LLC is a subsidiary of Specialized
Technology Resources (STR), which provides testing, audit, and responsible
sourcing services to help ensure that consumers, customers and retailers
have the highest level of confidence in the quality, safety, and social
standards of their products and systems. Based in Enfield, CT, STR
maintains sophisticated laboratories and offices in over 30 countries
across five continents, and the reach to provide audit services in over 140
countries around the world. Visit STR at http://www.STRQuality.com.