Product Safety & Quality

Product safety ensures products do not pose unreasonable risks to consumers during normal use.

Regulatory Framework

Consumer Product Safety — CPSC (US), CPSA (Canada), General Product Safety Directive (EU)
Food Safety — FDA (US), EFSA (EU), Codex Alimentarius (international)
Pharmaceutical Safety — FDA, EMA, ICH guidelines

Product Safety Management

Design Phase

Risk Assessment — Identify potential hazards in product design
Safety Standards — Comply with applicable safety standards
Testing — Conduct safety testing before market release

Manufacturing Phase

Quality Control — In-process inspections and testing
Traceability — Track materials and components
Supplier Management — Ensure supplier compliance with safety requirements

Post-Market Phase

Surveillance — Monitor product performance and incidents
Complaint Handling — Investigate and respond to consumer complaints
Recalls — Rapid response to safety issues

Product Recalls

Voluntary Recalls — Company-initiated removal of unsafe products
Mandatory Recalls — Regulator-ordered recalls
Recall Effectiveness — Measure % of products successfully removed from market

Emerging Issues

Chemical Safety — REACH (EU), TSCA (US), California Prop 65
Cybersecurity — Connected products and data security
Nanotechnology — Novel materials with unknown long-term effects

From ESG Library

• ESG & GRI Reporting Made Simple — Product responsibility disclosure

View all books →

Key Resources

• ISO 10377 Consumer Product Safety
• EU Product Safety Regulation

Part of ESG Hub | Curated by Ascent Partners Foundation