Intertek Launches iComply™ to Facilitate Compliance with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act’s Forthcoming 15-Month Rule

As the promulgation of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act’s (CPSIA) Certification and Testing Rule (also known as the 15-Month Rule) quickly approaches, U.S. manufacturers and importers of record will be required to comply with more stringent protocols and standards around the testing and certification of certain children’s products sold in the United States. In anticipation of the enormous impact of the industry-changing 15-Month Rule, Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world, has developed iComply™, an automated artificial intelligence application to help regulated entities ensure and demonstrate compliance.

iComply™ is a simple, user-friendly solution built on sophisticated technology that takes a sequence of product-specific information entered by the importer or manufacturer, produces a production test plan and then generates a General Certificate of Compliance (GCC). iComply™ offers 24/7 availability and serves as an easy-to-access, single source that stores the records and reasonable testing program information that importers and U.S. manufacturers are required to furnish quickly upon request from retailers, distributors and regulatory agencies.

"The requirements of the 15-Month Rule place a heavy burden on U.S. manufacturers and importers of record to have detailed documentation surrounding consumer products sold in the United States at their fingertips to furnish upon the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s request, or they may face significant delays in getting their products to market,” said Gene Rider, President of Intertek Consumer Goods North America. "Drawing upon Intertek’s vast experience in consumer goods safety, testing, inspection and auditing, we built iComply™ to fulfill a real and immediate need that enables importers of record and U.S. manufacturers to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain.”

The functionality of iComply™ enables importers and manufacturers to:

• Capture compliance documentation of multiple products and multiple manufacturers
• Create a production test plan with applicable test requirements and periodic testing guidelines
• Generate a GCC based on a reasonable testing program, which is required to be furnished to retailers and distributors upon request
• Manage a robust compliance program without the need for additional quality assurance or other employees
• Track both material change and remedial actions across the global supply chain
• Store in an easy-to-access 24/7 single source all required record-keeping documentation, including the GCC

Intertek (www.intertek.com) is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers’ products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 26,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.