Product Induction / Policies & Procedures

Product Induction Policies and Procedures

If a product or service is inducted, the following rules for promotional use of the Seal of Approval or any other seals and award(s) will apply;

• TWO sample products are required for evaluation.


• A product or service is received, tested / reviewed, inducted and induction notification published into The Toy Man® News & Reviews for NO COST and with NO PREJUDGEMENT.


• Information in reference to any product or service which fails our testing and evaluation will NOT be provided for public view.  It is provided for the company which submitted the product only. 


• The results from the evaluation will include specific details of why it failed and what must be done to bring the product or service to a level to meet our standards to qualify for induction and must be re-submitted for evaluation once those changes have been made.

• If the company which submitted the product/service desires to use the Seal of Approval and any award(s) in ANY manner, an OPTIONAL licensing fee of $150 USD for the first year of licensing is required.  Renewal of licensing is based upon a $25.00 USD annual rate after first year of induction certification.


• This licensing applies to unlimited usage of the seal until expiration. Award(s) are free with unlimited use yet can only be used with a licensed copy of the Seal of Approval.

• Provision for recording certification of independent lab testing for a product is available and is OPTIONAL at this time.  This form is based on an honor system, but if the independent lab testing information is provided, the inducted product or service analysis summary will note the independent testing laboratory and corresponding reference designation as confirmed, not just designated on the form.


• Proof of independent lab testing can be provided via;


• A scanned copy of the original certification report from the lab testing OR
• The URL to an online verification from the independent testing lab who performed the testing of the product.
• The URL to the independent testing lab who performed the testing of the product and the reference designation corresponding to the product test results.


• The seal and any award(s) must have the year of issue showing beneath the seal and any award(s).


• Whether or not the licensing option is chosen, the seal, and any award(s) received will will be published and remain published in this publication indefinitely.


• All awards are to be assigned with no form of charge to ensure no inflection of bias.


• A unique Induction Certificate Number (ICN) and expiration date is assigned to each product or service when it is inducted. The ICN number helps buyers be aware of product licensing being expired.


• If any upgrade or changes are made to the product, the new product must be submitted for new certification approval.

* LeadSafe™, PhthalatesSafe™, and BPASafe™ Certifiication program information will be avaiulable soon.

* For companies with mass volume of product offerings, we have a VIP program with reduced rates and streamlined process for high volume product submissions.  For further information, please contact us directly for more details.

Supplemental Information

Our product evaluation process is completed by in-house staff, and independent qualified industry professionals to ensure nothing but the very best in accuracy and consistency in the product evaluation results. This includes random public hands-on evaluation, independent evaluator reports, analysis of functionality and psychological response results in addition to multiple other evaluation elements which are exclusive to our product evaluations.  

Due to this extensive evaluation procedure, evaluation and testing is generally completed within a MAXIMUM of 30 business days following reception of product. This is depending upon complexity and/or type of design of product / service, and number of items under evaluation at the time of your product reception.

*Samples can be submitted for evaluation and fall under two different groups;

• Products which are in final form but packaging or other details are not yet finalized.
• Products which are being submitted for our evaluation only to get suggestions for improvements.

These samples do not fall under our normal evaluation time periods and are subject to delay pending on volume of products under evaluation at that particular time. 

Post Induction Procedures

Publishing of evaluation report summary is generally completed within a MAXIMUM of 30 business days following reception of licensing payment. 

* Limited exceptions to this can occur due to the volume of information contained in the evaluation reports for same product or online service.

Guides / Policies

It is our policy to provide the highest quality of unbiased evaluation and testing of products / services submitted to us for review under the following conditions:

• As safety standards change in the industry, so must our product submission policy as well. As we make any changes to our guidelines, we will make that noted here. Latest evaluation guidelines update: 01/14/2013.


• PLEASE NOTE: If your product is one which is soon to be released and you need evaluation completed before a specific deadline date, please make a note of that in the note space onthe product and service submission form. You can also contact us directly via telephone at 646.875.4541.


• Both professional and non-lab testing procedures will be implemented, adopting use of ASTM F963, CPSC, EN71, European Council Directive, UL, European ISO 14000 series, and JPMA evaluation/certification standards for reference in all product evaluation.  This will be combined with use of the most current evaluation guidelines used and monitored by the The Toy Man® Product Guide.
  

• To ensure we uphold a credible and objective method of product evaluation, we publish lengthy and in-depth evaluation report summaries.  These evaluation report summaries are provided at no charge for inducted products and online services which hold an active license for unlimited use of our Seal and awards. The license is on an annual renewal cycle.


• The licensing is purely optional


• We use malls, schools, libraries, airports, and other public locations for spontaneous unbiased hands-on consumer evaluation of products. Participants sign up to participate in the product evaluation and fill out a consumer evaluation form which is submitted upon completion.


• Participants are notified that their participation provides no reward for their effort outside of knowing they contributed in our providing a fair and accurate review of each product /online service. By signing the Consumer Evaluation Feedback Form, they agree to allow us to use quotations from any hands-on evaluation participant in our reviews with a condition of no full name or private information used without consent.


• We do NOT publish / release any information provided from independent lab testing results outside of the name of the copmpany which did the testing. The independent lab testing results are used to validate the independent testing laboratory and corresponding reference designation as confirmed, not just designated on the form.


• We DO evaluate prototype products. (Special mandatory guidelines are enforced to remain consistent with Federal and State regulations to ensure no risk of injury to a child or liability issues.)


• We do NOT return products which are submitted, (unless arrangements have been made PRIOR to start of product evaluation.) Products are generally donated with all appropriate manuals, etc. to children's wards at hospitals, schools, off-continent urgent concerns, special needs children, or charities for disadvantaged children.


• Upon request and formal approval by authorized staff, products can be returned. Any and all expenses for the return fall upon the company / individual who submitted the product(s).

Submission Guidelines

Just as with the evaluation process for the "Good Housekeeping Seal", which has continued to remain so popular and trusted for many years, a product must include excellent production values, universal ethical values, appeal to children, be consistent with age appropriateness, and innovative value in order to be considered for acceptance by The Toy Man® News & Reviews to become a recipient of The Toy Man® Seal of Approval.

The Toy Man® News & Reviews staff look for products that not only entertain, but also teach simultaneously with an added edge. The products must actively stimulate a child's imagination, and contribute to further creative skill development in the age group for which they are designed.

A product must be easy for them to use, consistent with current safety standards, as well as interesting. Products should contribute to a child’s development, mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally, while also being something they can have fun playing with. The product should have a strong durability level for extensive periods of play time and not break in the child's hands with reasonable use in their active play.

A very vital part of the scenario is that the company which produces the toy should be dependable and stand behind its product. It should have tested it with children to validate age appropriateness and match descriptive information, age guidelines, and suggestions for use. It should also be independent lab tested if applicable.

PLEASE NOTE: Results of product evaluations which fail to meet our guidelines will not be released, except to the manufacturer who submitted the product for review.  We do not return products which are submitted, (unless arrangements have been made prior to start of product evaluation.)

Products are generally donated with all appropriate manuals, etc. to persons in the target market for which the product has been designed, children's wards at hospitals, schools, off-continent urgent concerns, special needs children, or charities for disadvantaged children for most beneficial use from the contribution of the product.