Highlights from JPMA Summit 2024

As relatively new members of Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), Global Registration Services and American Law Label were excited to attend the organization’s annual Summit for the first time. 

The Summit is held each year in Washington, D.C. and presents an opportunity to connect in-person to discuss hot-button issues pertaining to the juvenile industry. 

Our team found the Summit to be particularly informative across several different areas. This was echoed by industry partners throughout the event — but also demonstrated by the fact that our group filled the entire meeting space and then some! 

Props to the JPMA team for a great event. If you weren’t able to attend (or forgot to take notes!) and want the highlights, check out our summary below. 

Truth In Advertising

Lesly Fair of the FTC gave a very informative presentation about Truth in Advertising. Here are some key takeaways:

• Advertisers are responsible for all claims, direct or implied, that a reasonable consumer could take from their ads. This includes claims made on social media. 
• Fine print or buried disclosures won’t fix a deceptive ad.
• Advertisers must be able to substantiate all objective claims before advertising.
• The established standards apply to all new products, new marketing media, and to promises made regarding customer service, data security, and privacy.

You can learn more about Truth in Advertising on the FTC’s website.

Juvenile Product Litigation Updates

Brandon D. Cox and Bardia Sergent of Greenburg Trauig, LLP and Jonathan Judge of ArentFox Schiff LLP provided updates regarding juvenile product litigation. They also provided some best practices for juvenile product manufactures, such as: 

• Stay up to date on the latest standards laws.
• If you can, retain a lawyer or consultant.
• Keep written standards and operating procedures for everything.
• Keep a written record or paper trail of rationale for decision-making.

If you would like to learn more we encourage you to reach out to the presenters listed below.

CPSC eFiling

Richard Rosati from Bureau Veritas led a panel that gave a comprehensive overview of CPSC eFiling and urged companies to take part in their pilot program. 

You can read more on eFiling, and request to be part of the pilot program, on the CPSC’s website.

PFAS and Chemical bans

The JPMAs State affairs representative spoke about state bans of PFAS and other chemicals in children’s products.

To learn more about PFAS, including what they are and how they will be regulated moving forward, head over to the GRS blog.

CPSC Recalls and Unilateral Press Releases

Don Mays from Product Safety Insights discussed common mistakes in product development that lead to CPSC recall and unilateral press releases and explained the 3-step design safety hierarchy. 

1. First, design out hazards. 
2. If hazards cannot be designed out, then add guards to protect against the hazards. 
3. If hazards cannot be eliminated or guarded against then add warnings to alert the user of the hazards.

And That’s A Wrap!

Here at GRS and ALL, there’s nothing we love more than attending industry events like JPMA Summit. It was a great chance to meet so many new people, and see familiar faces in our clients and industry partners.

If you have any questions about anything discussed in this article, or about stuffed article compliance for juvenile products in general, our team is here to help!