The Toy Association™ Meets with CPSC Chairman & Government Officials on Key Industry Priorities

October 4, 2024 | On October 3, Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association, and staff from the Association’s global government & regulatory affairs team met with government officials from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and House Speaker’s office to address issues facing members and the broader toy industry.

In a meeting with CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Toy Association staff discussed recent events and rulings, emphasizing the need for more collaboration with key stakeholders and greater reliance on data, science, and thorough risk assessment throughout the decision-making process. The Association reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to putting children's safety first and called for a return to deeper partnership with the CPSC to address issues surrounding counterfeit, illegal, and unsafe products.

“Both The Toy Association and the CPSC share a commitment to children’s safety. During a discussion with CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric and his staff, we focused on the importance of strengthening our partnership throughout the rulemaking process using recent and pending rulings as examples,” Ahearn said. “Moving forward, we are eager to work more closely with the CPSC on establishing clear guidelines that will protect consumers. Our shared focus must continue to be safety policy decisions, which are driven by data and science.”

Toy Association staff also met with William Ball, senior policy advisor for the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Speaker Mike Johnson, to emphasize the risks associated with potential future tariffs and discuss trade relations with China. The conversation covered the importance of passing the SHOP SAFE Act and the ongoing legislative and regulatory efforts concerning product safety.

Meetings throughout the day also included discussions with a lead at the U.S.-China Business Council and members of the National Association of Manufacturers, focusing on continued collaboration between the organizations and future policy strategies.

Toy Association members interested in becoming involved with the Association’s year-round advocacy efforts are encouraged to reach out to Ed Desmond, executive vice president of global government and regulatory affairs.