XOS Attends CPSC 2009 China Summit on Product Safety

October 30, 2009 – XOS is pleased to report that it was selected as one of twenty (20) stakeholders in the US delegation to the 3rd Biennial United States – China Consumer Product Safety Summit between the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and its counterpart agency, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) held in Wuxi, Jinhua, and Beijing, China, October 21-26, 2009.

Berry Beumer, XOS VP of Marketing & Sales, attended the Summit on behalf of XOS. The CPSC selected a diverse range of US-based stakeholder interests for the China Summit using criteria such as the nature of the stakeholder’s connection to the safety of imported consumer products (under CPSC jurisdiction) from China; and CPSC’s desire to assemble a delegation reflecting a diverse cross section of key stakeholder organizations.

XOS develops and markets a key analytical solution (HDXRF) relevant to testing toys and consumer products for lead and other toxins – and was the only analytical instrument manufacturer selected as a stakeholder. Other stakeholders selected include product manufacturers (Mattel, JC Penney); third party test labs (Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas); product certification labs (UL); and attorneys and other professionals specializing in product safety. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum lead the delegation along with about 15 CPSC staff members including engineers, coordinators, directors, and counsel. CPSC’s China counterparts at AQSIQ also attended.

As Chairman Tenenbaum mentioned in her closing address on October 26:

“We now expect companies to implement proven best practices, such as factoring misuse into design, strict controls on components and other inputs, and enough sampling and testing to ensure that all of the product coming off the line is safe for consumers.

CPSC and AQSIQ will push companies to build safety into the product at every stage of the production and the distribution chain. Suppliers and importers need to understand that this is now our expectation.”

Berry Beumer of XOS attended all stakeholder sessions and was able to gain valuable insight into the philosophies of CPSC and AQSIQ. He was also able to discuss the unique value proposition of XOS’ HDXRF line of analyzers with the regulatory, manufacturing and legal attendees of the Summit. Beumer states “I was impressed by the breadth of knowledge and expertise of the CPSC, AQSIQ, and the stakeholders, regarding the vital regulatory challenges facing the consuming public and the manufacturers on which they rely;” adding, “XOS is pleased to offer its HDXRF line of instruments and technology as an important tool going forward for more cost effective, easier, and accurate compliance testing to this community.”

The Summit was a success, and should lead to greater awareness of, and solutions to, the unique problems facing enforcement efforts in US and China.