New Product Safety Information Act to have big impact

10 Feb '09

3 min read

When the new Product Safety Information Act of 2008 takes effect this month, thousands of manufacturers and retailers of children's footwear and apparel will be impacted in ways that are still unclear to many in the industry. The WSA Show is stepping up to help participants, including exhibitors and attendees of Materials at WSA, better prepare for these new laws with an informative product safety seminar - “New Safety Rules for Children's Shoes: What You Need to Know.”

“We realized there was an immediate, overwhelming need for more information on how this new safety law would affect the different areas of our customers' businesses,” says Celeste Boehm, director of Retail Relations for The WSA Show. “Putting such laws in place is necessary, but without the proper explanation, they are subject to individual interpretation. We're hoping to provide some strong direction and clarity for manufacturers and retailers dealing with children's products.”

Over 150 guests have already registered for this special, newly-added session, which underscores the confusion surrounding the new safety rules. The seminar will address the following issues:

-What “defines” a children's shoe under this act?
-Deadlines for addressing lead in paint, lead in substrates and phthalates?
-Third party and supplier testing
-Importer certificates: what is required?
-Tracking labels on product and packages
-CPSC and other enforcement
-Retroactivity: Existing Inventory

The seminar will be conducted by Peter T. Mangione, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Mangione is a specialist in government relations and international trade. His experience extends to years of practicing law with one of the largest law firms in the U.S., testifying in hearings before the U.S. Congress, and regularly speaking in the national press on U.S. footwear trade issues.

“Establishing industry standards is never easy,” says Mangione. “Changing industry standards can be even more challenging since companies are being asked to adapt to new rules and practices, and that can take some time. It also takes a lot of communication. This seminar will be extremely beneficial to everyone being affected.”

The seminar, free to exhibitors and attendees, will take place Friday, February 13, 7am – 8am at the Mandalay Bay, Ballroom B. Complimentary refreshments will be served. Space is limited.

The WSA Show will take place in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the Sands Expo & Convention Center February 12-14. The Collections at WSA will run alongside The WSA Show in its new, 3-day format February 12-14 at the Venetian Hotel. For more information, please visit www.wsashow.com or www.thecollectionsatwsa.com.

About The WSA Show:
The WSA Show is the world's largest and most comprehensive footwear, handbags, and accessories marketplace, offering a 360-degree viewpoint of thefootwear industry. The semi-annual event in Las Vegas attracts participants from 95 countries and features 1,500 exhibiting companies showing thousands of brands.

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