Despite the fact that toys are well-regulated for safety by five federal statutes and numerous standards, several states are currently implementing — or will soon attempt to pass — chemical regulation laws that impact the toy industry. During nearly 70 meetings with Senators, Representatives and their staffs on Wednesday, September 17th, Fly-In participants described how a unified federal approach to the modernization of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would prevent multiple, overlapping state and local chemical regulatory programs and eliminate impediments to interstate commerce that increase product costs for consumers.
The meetings resulted in raising awareness of The Chemical Safety Improvement Act (S. 1009), a bipartisan bill to reform and update TSCA that has the support of TIA. Fly-In participants advocated for additional support of TSCA legislation in the House of Representatives.
“One of our primary areas of focus for this year’s Fly-In was TSCA reform. That our conversations with Members of Congress led to additional cosponsors for the bill and support from many others is reflective of just how important members’ voices are in raising awareness on Capitol Hill,” said Ed Desmond, TIA’s executive vice president of external affairs.
The day wrapped up with a dinner and well-received keynote speeches from Consumer Product Safety Commissioners Marietta Robinson and Joe Mohorovic, who addressed and fielded questions on a variety of CPSC-related issues, including third-party testing burdens; proposed changes to the voluntary recall system; and recommendations made in the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) Report.
The 2014 Fly-In concluded on the morning of Thursday, September 18th with a breakfast featuring special guest Bruce Andrews, deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce. Andrews emphasized the agency’s National Networking of Manufacturing initiative and other available resources designed to assist companies with issues related to international trade, intellectual property, regulatory cooperation standards, and more.
“I think it was very beneficial to hear from Deputy Secretary Andrews about plans to boost global sales opportunities and, importantly, for him to learn more about the problems faced by our industry competing in foreign markets,” said participant Rick Locker of Locker Greenberg & Brainin LLP.
Following Andrews’ presentation, several Fly-In participants attended the CPSC’s Certificate of Compliance Workshop, where panelists Alan Kaufman, TIA’s senior vice president of technical affairs, and Nancy MacPherson, director of external affairs at LEGO Systems, Inc., educated regulators on the impacts that changes to the Certificate of Compliance Rule would have on toy companies.
“The Fly-In continues to be one of TIA’s most significant advocacy opportunities,” said TIA President and CEO Carter Keithley. “This year’s event provided our nation’s leading legislators with critical insight into some of the most important issues facing the toy industry, and generated meaningful conversations that will continue to carry momentum.” | 
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