Toy Association Represents Toy Industry at International Consumer Product Health and Safety Workshop

June 24, 2025 | The Toy Association participated the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) North American Product Safety Training Workshop held at the Target headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 17.

The daylong workshop brought together global health and safety professionals from across North America for a series of panel discussions focused on advancing the safety of consumer products worldwide. Attendees included regulators, consumer and parent advocates, manufacturers, retailers, test labs, consultants, lawyers, health officials, and academics.

Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association joined industry colleagues to discuss important regulatory updates and engage in timely conversations about emerging issues in product safety. Sessions included updates on Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s latest activities, a cross-country look at evolving U.S. state-level product safety regulations, and a discussion on how AI and automation are reshaping compliance and safety management. The workshop also featured a session on packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements and lessons learned from states already implementing them.

“ICPHSO’s workshops are an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from regulators and industry experts, share challenges and solutions, and keep our industry aligned on best practices,” Lawrence said. “Engaging in these conversations helps us better support our members in navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape while keeping safety at the forefront.”

Participants also had the opportunity to join a post-workshop tour of 3M Corporation’s Innovation Center in Saint Paul on June 18, exploring hands-on demonstrations of 3M’s advanced technologies and learning how the company drives innovation across a wide range of industries, from aerospace and medical devices to electronics and consumer goods.

Created in 1993, ICPHSO is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing forums for the exchange of ideas and information on health and safety issues related to consumer products manufactured and marketed in the global marketplace. ICPHSO members represent U.S. and global government agencies, manufacturers, importers, retailers, trade associations, certification/testing laboratories, law firms, academia, standards writing organizations, consultants, media, and consumer advocacy groups.