Understanding The JPMA Certification Program
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) was signed into law by President Bush on August 14, 2008. This legislation, also known as H.R. 4040, has serious implications for the juvenile products industry.
JPMA is proud to provide a certification program that provides a turnkey solution to the mandated third party certification of compliance to federal regulations for children’s products. In fact, JPMA currently offers 20 product categories – including all 12 durable infant products specifically named in the legislation. The following is a list of Frequently Asked questions regarding the JPMA Certification Program which provides a better understanding of the program and ASTM Standards. For more information, please visit http://www.jpma.org/.
How many juvenile products are currently certified through the JPMA Certification Program?
Approximately 2,000
How long does a certification last?
Until the company chooses to leave the program or if they no longer pass the testing.
Do companies have to renew each year?
Yes, companies must renew each year to continue participation in the program.
How often are products re-tested?
There are quarterly testing requirements for the program. Each product model has to be tested at least once a year through the quarterly testing. Also, the program includes random retail testing where the test lab will purchase the product at the retail level and test the product. This is in addition to the quarterly testing.Why would a company not want to certify their product?
Sometimes they can’t get certified because there is not a program for that type of product/category.
What product categories are available for JPMA Certification?
Currently there are 20 product categories in the JPMA Certification Program: bassinets/cradles, bath seats, booster seats, carriages and strollers, changing tables, children’s folding chairs, frame infant carriers, full-size cribs, gates and enclosures, hand-held infant carriers, high chairs, infant bouncers, infant swings, play yards/non-full size cribs, portable bed rails, portable hook-on chairs, soft infant carriers, stationary activity centers, toddler beds, and walkers. JPMA is currently working on adding commercial cribs and infant bath tubs to the program.
Why doesn't JPMA offer more categories?
The development of a certification program for a product is based upon several factors. JPMA adds new categories to the certification program as new standards are developed by ASTM. The development of standards is typically driven by incident data provided by the CPSC. If there is data which demonstrates performance or safety issues with a product, ASTM will facilitate the establishment of a standard.
Is the certification international or domestic only?
The products are tested to U.S. standards.
Is the whole line of strollers etc. certified or just those that were tested?
If a manufacturer wants to participate in the carriage/stroller certification program, then all of their carriage/stroller models must be tested and pass the ASTM standard prior to certification being granted.
Why are car seats not part of the certification program?
All car seats manufactured today must be designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the Federal government. In fact, child restraints sold in the United States are required to satisfy the rigorous performance standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and are certified by their manufacturers as compliant before they can be offered for sale.
What does “ASTM standard” mean?
The testing is done to voluntary standards that are developed and published by ASTM International (formerly The American Society for Testing and Materials). Participants in the development of standards for juvenile products within ASTM include representatives from the federal government, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, along with manufacturers, retailers, test labs, consumer advocate groups, and individual consumers.
How are the ASTM standards developed?
The ASTM standards are developed for juvenile products based on hazard data, which provides each of the subcommittees insight into how the products are used by consumers and, in some cases, misused. Some products even have comprehensive federal mandatory standards that all manufacturers of those specific products must meet in order for the products to be sold in the U.S. Each standard’s requirements are specific to the individual product. The testing requirements reflect “real world” injuries and are intended to address typical use as well as reasonably foreseeable abuse of the product(s).
For example, the following are some requirements incorporated into ASTM standards for cribs that go beyond mandatory federal requirements of full-size baby cribs (16 C.F.R. 1508), and non-full-size baby cribs (16 C.F.R. 1509):
• Cribs
— Corner post vertical extensions
— Dynamic impact testing for crib structural integrity
— Crib interior dimensions and component spacing
— Impact testing of crib side rails
In addition, each of the standards contain specific requirements for labeling and marking of both the product and packaging. These warnings/markings are intended to alert parents/caregivers to specific issues involving each product.
What is the process for developing or revising an ASTM Standard?
ASTM subcommittees are responsible for the development and/or revision of an ASTM standard. The subcommittees via meetings and appointment of task groups work on the requirements included in the standard. Proposals are sent out to ballot to ASTM members to vote on and then those comments are considered by the subcommittee and either included in the standard or it is determined that additional work needs to be done. ASTM subcommittees include representatives from the federal government, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, along with manufacturers, retailers, test labs, consumer advocate groups, and individual consumers and must have a balance of official voting members.
Has there been any indication that voluntary standards work?
Yes, in fact, in a 2007 Senate hearing on the reauthorization of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (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.
If the standards work, then how can a JPMA Certified product be recalled?
When products are tested, they are assembled and used in accordance with the manufacturers stated intent as embodied in the assembly and use instructions. If the instructions are not followed, risks associated with use of any product may be exacerbated. Not all recalls occur because of a violation of a regulation or product standard. In addition, recalls do not account for certain factors typically not measurable in a lab, such as wear and tear over time.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) was signed into law by President Bush on August 14, 2008. This legislation, also known as H.R. 4040, has serious implications for the juvenile products industry.
JPMA is proud to provide a certification program that provides a turnkey solution to the mandated third party certification of compliance to federal regulations for children’s products. In fact, JPMA currently offers 20 product categories – including all 12 durable infant products specifically named in the legislation. The following is a list of Frequently Asked questions regarding the JPMA Certification Program which provides a better understanding of the program and ASTM Standards. For more information, please visit http://www.jpma.org/.
How many juvenile products are currently certified through the JPMA Certification Program?
Approximately 2,000
How long does a certification last?
Until the company chooses to leave the program or if they no longer pass the testing.
Do companies have to renew each year?
Yes, companies must renew each year to continue participation in the program.
How often are products re-tested?
There are quarterly testing requirements for the program. Each product model has to be tested at least once a year through the quarterly testing. Also, the program includes random retail testing where the test lab will purchase the product at the retail level and test the product. This is in addition to the quarterly testing.Why would a company not want to certify their product?
Sometimes they can’t get certified because there is not a program for that type of product/category.
What product categories are available for JPMA Certification?
Currently there are 20 product categories in the JPMA Certification Program: bassinets/cradles, bath seats, booster seats, carriages and strollers, changing tables, children’s folding chairs, frame infant carriers, full-size cribs, gates and enclosures, hand-held infant carriers, high chairs, infant bouncers, infant swings, play yards/non-full size cribs, portable bed rails, portable hook-on chairs, soft infant carriers, stationary activity centers, toddler beds, and walkers. JPMA is currently working on adding commercial cribs and infant bath tubs to the program.
Why doesn't JPMA offer more categories?
The development of a certification program for a product is based upon several factors. JPMA adds new categories to the certification program as new standards are developed by ASTM. The development of standards is typically driven by incident data provided by the CPSC. If there is data which demonstrates performance or safety issues with a product, ASTM will facilitate the establishment of a standard.
Is the certification international or domestic only?
The products are tested to U.S. standards.
Is the whole line of strollers etc. certified or just those that were tested?
If a manufacturer wants to participate in the carriage/stroller certification program, then all of their carriage/stroller models must be tested and pass the ASTM standard prior to certification being granted.
Why are car seats not part of the certification program?
All car seats manufactured today must be designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the Federal government. In fact, child restraints sold in the United States are required to satisfy the rigorous performance standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and are certified by their manufacturers as compliant before they can be offered for sale.
What does “ASTM standard” mean?
The testing is done to voluntary standards that are developed and published by ASTM International (formerly The American Society for Testing and Materials). Participants in the development of standards for juvenile products within ASTM include representatives from the federal government, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, along with manufacturers, retailers, test labs, consumer advocate groups, and individual consumers.
How are the ASTM standards developed?
The ASTM standards are developed for juvenile products based on hazard data, which provides each of the subcommittees insight into how the products are used by consumers and, in some cases, misused. Some products even have comprehensive federal mandatory standards that all manufacturers of those specific products must meet in order for the products to be sold in the U.S. Each standard’s requirements are specific to the individual product. The testing requirements reflect “real world” injuries and are intended to address typical use as well as reasonably foreseeable abuse of the product(s).
For example, the following are some requirements incorporated into ASTM standards for cribs that go beyond mandatory federal requirements of full-size baby cribs (16 C.F.R. 1508), and non-full-size baby cribs (16 C.F.R. 1509):
• Cribs
— Corner post vertical extensions
— Dynamic impact testing for crib structural integrity
— Crib interior dimensions and component spacing
— Impact testing of crib side rails
In addition, each of the standards contain specific requirements for labeling and marking of both the product and packaging. These warnings/markings are intended to alert parents/caregivers to specific issues involving each product.
What is the process for developing or revising an ASTM Standard?
ASTM subcommittees are responsible for the development and/or revision of an ASTM standard. The subcommittees via meetings and appointment of task groups work on the requirements included in the standard. Proposals are sent out to ballot to ASTM members to vote on and then those comments are considered by the subcommittee and either included in the standard or it is determined that additional work needs to be done. ASTM subcommittees include representatives from the federal government, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, along with manufacturers, retailers, test labs, consumer advocate groups, and individual consumers and must have a balance of official voting members.
Has there been any indication that voluntary standards work?
Yes, in fact, in a 2007 Senate hearing on the reauthorization of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (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.
If the standards work, then how can a JPMA Certified product be recalled?
When products are tested, they are assembled and used in accordance with the manufacturers stated intent as embodied in the assembly and use instructions. If the instructions are not followed, risks associated with use of any product may be exacerbated. Not all recalls occur because of a violation of a regulation or product standard. In addition, recalls do not account for certain factors typically not measurable in a lab, such as wear and tear over time.
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