News from ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries)

London, 6 November 2003. The International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) announces today the accreditation and appointment of five independent auditing firms for industry use in monitoring compliance with the ICTI Code of Business Practices among toy factories world-wide.

"This marks the latest step in our ethical manufacturing initiative, which began with the approval of the ICTI Code of Business Practices by its 18 national member associations and has progressed through the development of an auditing protocol and guidelines and auditor training programmes," said David Hawtin, President of ICTI. "Our initial focus is on factories in China," added Hawtin, "as 70% of the toys marketed in Europe and America are manufactured there."

Five Firms Accredited
The five firms just accredited were put through a rigorous, 5-month selection process over-seen by an Industry Accreditation Panel of experts. It began with a public call for applications, selection of firms as qualified to enter the process, then a series of presentations, training, examinations and observation audits, leading to today’s announcement that the following five firms have been certified:

• Benchmarks Company Limited (BM)
• Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI)
• Cal Safety Compliance Corporation (CSCC)
• Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA)
• Intertek Testing Services HK Limited (ITS)

It is expected that more firms will be certified soon.

Factory Audits Begun
With certification complete for the first five firms, audits have already begun in Guangdong Province including facilities owned by Jetta, Smile, Wynnewood and Radica. ICTI’s goal is to have 500 audits completed the first year.

ICTI’s ethical manufacturing initiative represents an active continuation of the international toy industry’s dedication to ensuring that children’s toys are not only fun and safe, but also are produced in factories that are safe and respectful of the rights of their workers.

ICTI Factory Certification Seminar

London, 24. November 2003. Toy manufacturers, toy vendors, toy suppliers and agents are being invited to attend an ICTI factory certification seminar in Hong Kong on Tuesday 9th December 2003 from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

The main areas to be covered are:

• ICTI application procedures
• Highlights of the ICTI code requirements
• Benefits of ICTI certification and why it will become increasingly relevant to toy factories supplying the world’s retailers and manufacturers.

The venue is:

Intertek Testing Services HK Limited
2/F, Garment Centre
576 Castle Peak Road
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2173-8884
Fax: 852-2743-1311

Registration: there is no registration fee.
Seats are limited and offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

Contact: Farook Bazarwala on: farook.bazarwala@intertek.com

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