The whole story

The word Kitemark is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “an official kite-shaped mark on goods which are approved by the British Standards Institution”. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

Kitemark schemes may be developed for products, processes or services, based on publicly available specifications, such as British Standards, international standards or industry standards recognized nationally. TheKitemark is applied to more than 2,600 products under licence and has more recently been extended to cover services schemes including automotive garage services, vehicle body repair, print services, electrical installers, window installers and fire alarm installers.

Each Kitemark scheme involves an initial assessment of conformity to the relevant standard and an assessment of the quality management system operated bythe supplier. Successful Kitemark licensee is regularly audited and undergo surveillance visits to provide feedback and monitoring.

Internet: <www.bsi-global.com>.

The whole story

The word Kitemark is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “an official kite-shaped mark on goods which are approved by the British Standards Institution”. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

Kitemark schemes may be developed for products, processes or services, based on publicly available specifications, such as British Standards, international standards or industry standards recognized nationally. TheKitemark is applied to more than 2,600 products under licence and has more recently been extended to cover services schemes including automotive garage services, vehicle body repair, print services, electrical installers, window installers and fire alarm installers.

Each Kitemark scheme involves an initial assessment of conformity to the relevant standard and an assessment of the quality management system operated bythe supplier. Successful Kitemark licensee is regularly audited and undergo surveillance visits to provide feedback and monitoring.

Internet: <www.bsi-global.com>.

The whole story

The word Kitemark is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “an official kite-shaped mark on goods which are approved by the British Standards Institution”. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

Kitemark schemes may be developed for products, processes or services, based on publicly available specifications, such as British Standards, international standards or industry standards recognized nationally. TheKitemark is applied to more than 2,600 products under licence and has more recently been extended to cover services schemes including automotive garage services, vehicle body repair, print services, electrical installers, window installers and fire alarm installers.

Each Kitemark scheme involves an initial assessment of conformity to the relevant standard and an assessment of the quality management system operated bythe supplier. Successful Kitemark licensee is regularly audited and undergo surveillance visits to provide feedback and monitoring.

Internet: <www.bsi-global.com>.

How to determine whether a product requires labeling

The Federal Hazardous Substances Act covers products that, during reasonably predictable buying, storage, or use, may be brought into or around a place where people live. Products used or stored in a garage, garden shed, carport, or other building that is part of the household are also covered.

The Act requires hazardous household products to show labeling that alerts consumers to the potential hazards that those products present and that tells them what they need to do to protect themselves and their children from them. Whether a product must be labeled depends on its contents and the likelihood that consumers will be exposed to any dangers it presents.

To require labeling, a product must first be toxic, corrosive, flammable or combustible, an irritant, or a strong sensitizer, or it must generate pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means. Second, the product must have the potential to cause substantial personal injury or substantial illness during or as a result of any customary or reasonably predictable handling or use, including reasonably predictable ingestion by children.

Federal hazardous substances act – US Consumer Product Safety Comission, p. 1.

How to determine whether a product requires labeling

The Federal Hazardous Substances Act covers products that, during reasonably predictable buying, storage, or use, may be brought into or around a place where people live. Products used or stored in a garage, garden shed, carport, or other building that is part of the household are also covered.

The Act requires hazardous household products to show labeling that alerts consumers to the potential hazards that those products present and that tells them what they need to do to protect themselves and their children from them. Whether a product must be labeled depends on its contents and the likelihood that consumers will be exposed to any dangers it presents.

To require labeling, a product must first be toxic, corrosive, flammable or combustible, an irritant, or a strong sensitizer, or it must generate pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means. Second, the product must have the potential to cause substantial personal injury or substantial illness during or as a result of any customary or reasonably predictable handling or use, including reasonably predictable ingestion by children.

Federal hazardous substances act – US Consumer Product Safety Comission, p. 1.

How to determine whether a product requires labeling

The Federal Hazardous Substances Act covers products that, during reasonably predictable buying, storage, or use, may be brought into or around a place where people live. Products used or stored in a garage, garden shed, carport, or other building that is part of the household are also covered.

The Act requires hazardous household products to show labeling that alerts consumers to the potential hazards that those products present and that tells them what they need to do to protect themselves and their children from them. Whether a product must be labeled depends on its contents and the likelihood that consumers will be exposed to any dangers it presents.

To require labeling, a product must first be toxic, corrosive, flammable or combustible, an irritant, or a strong sensitizer, or it must generate pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means. Second, the product must have the potential to cause substantial personal injury or substantial illness during or as a result of any customary or reasonably predictable handling or use, including reasonably predictable ingestion by children.

Federal hazardous substances act – US Consumer Product Safety Comission, p. 1.

Chinese toymakers wow quality drive

China’s toy factories have been affected by a succession of product recalls involving toys, prompting the country to reassure western consumers by opening up a toy-testing lab to foreign journalists yesterday. Some of the officials have described the scandal surrounding Chinese-made goods^c as politically motivated and unfair. Others have guaranteed they would improve standards.

China is facing pressure to clean up its manufacturing after scandals involving products ranging from poisonous pet food ingredients to low-quality toys and adulterated toothpaste. It has promised to punish manufacturers who do not meet standards but said designers and importers should also take responsibility. Li Changjiang, head of China’s quality control agency, had blamed differing national standards, misleading statistics and lack of communication for some safety scares.

Lin Zhongjian, general manager of Ball Star Toys, says the industry has been treated unfairly. “With every kind of product, we cannot be 100% certain it will pass the grade, even with stricter and stricter quality controls”, he said. “We try our best to make it 100%, but even with luxury cars, they could not make it perfect and had some recalls”.

Internet: <www.guardian.co.uk> (adapted).

Chinese toymakers wow quality drive

China’s toy factories have been affected by a succession of product recalls involving toys, prompting the country to reassure western consumers by opening up a toy-testing lab to foreign journalists yesterday. Some of the officials have described the scandal surrounding Chinese-made goods^c as politically motivated and unfair. Others have guaranteed they would improve standards.

China is facing pressure to clean up its manufacturing after scandals involving products ranging from poisonous pet food ingredients to low-quality toys and adulterated toothpaste. It has promised to punish manufacturers who do not meet standards but said designers and importers should also take responsibility. Li Changjiang, head of China’s quality control agency, had blamed differing national standards, misleading statistics and lack of communication for some safety scares.

Lin Zhongjian, general manager of Ball Star Toys, says the industry has been treated unfairly. “With every kind of product, we cannot be 100% certain it will pass the grade, even with stricter and stricter quality controls”, he said. “We try our best to make it 100%, but even with luxury cars, they could not make it perfect and had some recalls”.

Internet: <www.guardian.co.uk> (adapted).

Chinese toymakers wow quality drive

China’s toy factories have been affected by a succession of product recalls involving toys, prompting the country to reassure western consumers by opening up a toy-testing lab to foreign journalists yesterday. Some of the officials have described the scandal surrounding Chinese-made goods^c as politically motivated and unfair. Others have guaranteed they would improve standards.

China is facing pressure to clean up its manufacturing after scandals involving products ranging from poisonous pet food ingredients to low-quality toys and adulterated toothpaste. It has promised to punish manufacturers who do not meet standards but said designers and importers should also take responsibility. Li Changjiang, head of China’s quality control agency, had blamed differing national standards, misleading statistics and lack of communication for some safety scares.

Lin Zhongjian, general manager of Ball Star Toys, says the industry has been treated unfairly. “With every kind of product, we cannot be 100% certain it will pass the grade, even with stricter and stricter quality controls”, he said. “We try our best to make it 100%, but even with luxury cars, they could not make it perfect and had some recalls”.

Internet: <www.guardian.co.uk> (adapted).