The Global Standard for Consumer Products Helping Retailers Supply Safe Products

Background The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Home of the worlds largest and most successful retail companies RILA membership includes more than 200 member companies, representing more than $1.5 trillion in sales RILA benefits its members through unique educational forums, effective public policy advocacy, and its advancement of the retail industry The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Lead trade association for the UK retail industry Represents retailers ranging from large department stores to smaller independents Promotes and defends retailers’ interests, advise retailers of threats and opportunities, and offer services to add value to the retail industry

Partnership RILA has partnered with the BRC to develop and implement the Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 The partnership advances the retail industry’s objective of complimenting existing product safety requirements by addressing safety protocols for manufacturer and supplier operations The harmonized Standard specifies requirements for the production, packaging, storage, and distribution of safe consumer products Retail-Led Global Product Safety Standard RILA BRC

The Global Standards Program for Consumer Products Requirements for use by manufacturers to supply retailers worldwide as a framework to assist the production of safe products Seeks to ensure that suppliers conduct a holistic hazard and risk management assessment of the products they are producing, with a focus on quality (size, color, reliability), safety (physical, flammability, chemical, biological), and legality (international, national, local) A manufacturing site must pass a third party audit successfully to receive certification. Once certified the suppliers are registered on the BRC Directory, a database of certificated suppliers that is searchable publicly A general guideline will be developed to help manufacturing sites to successfully reach the Standard requirements Development of sector specific guidelines (toys, electrical, health & beauty, textiles, furniture, jewelry) will assist product specific sites in order to obtain Standard certification

Framework for the Standard Program Companies Implement BRC/RILA Provides scheme & support Retailers Encourage use Feedback Certification Bodies Infrastructure & delivery Need all parties for success

North America European Union Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. John Lewis Partnership Costco Wholesale Corporation Sainsbury’s Dollar General Corporation Asda J.C. Penney Company, Inc. The Co-operative Michaels, Inc. Tesco Sears Holdings Corporation B&Q Best Buy Co., Inc. Booker Limited Brands, Inc. Home Retail Group The Home Depot, Inc. Waitrose Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Royal Ahold Target Corporation Metro Walgreen, Co. Technical Advisory Committees Top RILA members have convened to form the North American Technical Advisory Committee (NATAC) Their mission is to develop and guide the North American version of the Standard for consumer products, in cooperation with the BRC's TAC for the European Union The NATAC seeks collaboration with and welcomes input and suggestions from consumer product suppliers

Timeline of Activities Print Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 goes to print Implementation Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 is implemented Implementation Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 is implemented Adoption Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 is adopted Adoption Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 is adopted Publication Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 is published Publication Global Standard for Consumer Products, Issue 3 is published (Targeted) Begins Sept., 2011 Dec., 2009 (Targeted) March, 2010 (Targeted) Sept., 2010 Draft Issue 3 is being drafted Draft Issue 3 is being drafted Current – Fall 2009 We are here

Audit Frequency Minimum frequency will be 12 months, can vary according to performance of company based on their grade Certification awarded every 24 months, but will require an interim surveillance audit at 12 months, only covering fundamental requirements Usual Low risk, simple products

BRC Global Standards Directory A searchable resource of all suppliers who have achieved BRC certification Automatically updated in real-time Allows customers to run management reports and view certificate details of their suppliers Immediate upload of supplier’s certification details and reports onto the Directory when process is complete Supplier controls access of audited reports Marketing opportunities for certificated supplier sites

BRC/RILA Global Standard for Consumer Products Attainable Affordable Adds value Helps retailers to meet their requirements Cuts duplication & minimises cost to supply chain

Future Plans Continue TAC drafting process of Issue 3 Include external parties: suppliers, trade associations, accreditation bodies, certification bodies Develop accompanying standard guideline Develop accompanying sector specific guidelines