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2019 ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium has ended
avatar for Joan Lawrence

Joan Lawrence

The Toy Association
Senior Vice President of Standards and Regulatory Affairs
Joan Lawrence is Senior Vice President of Standards and Regulatory Affairs for The Toy Association. A 25+year veteran of The Toy Association, Ms. Lawrence's role includes managing the Association's product safety programs -- including leading efforts in the development of U.S. and international safety standards for toys, and industry and consumer safety education programs to ensure safe play.
Ms. Lawrence is chairperson of the Subcommittee on Toy Safety of ASTM International that oversees the ASTM F963 toy safety standard, the mandatory requirement for all products sold in the U.S. The multi-stakeholder technical subcommittee, comprised of government officials, medical and child development experts, engineers and designers, consumers, testing labs and industry, is known for its risk-based approach to standards development -- and its ability to identify and quickly address emerging hazards in the standard. In 2008, Congress recognized the ASTM F963 standard and the work of the Subcommittee by mandating compliance with, and maintaining the technical committee’s role in the standard -- for all toys sold in the US. In 2013, the Subcommittee, under Ms. Lawrence's leadership, was awarded the prestigious CPSC Chairman's Safety Commendation Award for the Subcommittee's leadership in "preventing countless deaths and injuries" over its history.

Recognizing that toys should be safe no matter where there are made or sold, Ms. Lawrence helps lead Association efforts to encourage consistent, protective, risk-based toy safety standards worldwide -- and its industry educational programs on standards -- and is a tireless advocate for children's product safety. In that effort, Ms. Lawrence also chairs the U.S. technical advisory group to the ISO technical committee on toy safety. As a mother of three children and expert on toy safety, Ms. Lawrence also helps to develop consumer information on safety and standards, as well as offering guidance on how to choose appropriate toys and ensure safe play via the Association’s consumer-facing website www.PlaySafe.org.
Ms. Lawrence is a former Board member and past-President of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPSHO) -- an independent, multi-stakeholder forum for communication and collaboration related to consumer safety and health – and has been recognized for her volunteer support of the organization as recipient of its 2016 Ross Koeser Award. In 2015, she received the “Wonder Woman” award for Social Responsibility from the organization Women in Toys, in recognition of her efforts in product safety. She is also a recipient of the ANSI President’s Award for collaboration on a public-private sector effort, along with representatives from US CPSC and USTR, to encourage harmonization of international safety standards among countries in the Asia-Pacific.