Frequently Asked Questions

What is ICTI?

The International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) was formed in 1974 as an association of toy trade associations from around the world. The products of its 20 member countries encompass the full range of toys, playthings and related merchandise. In 1995, ICTI adopted a Code of Business Practices and, in 1996, it expanded this Code and also adopted a Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Guide to encourage safe conditions in toy factories around the world. Since then, ICTI members have twice revised the code and will continue to do so in future as needed.

The ICTI CARE Process is the next step in promoting fair labor standards in toy production. The program moves beyond simply setting standards to evaluating whether toy factories comply with them.

Why should consumers feel confident in CARE certification?

A factory will receive an ICTI CARE Seal of Compliance only if it can demonstrate that it is committed to compliance with the ICTI Code of Business Practices by establishing effective, verifiable, systems to satisfy the Code's provisions. This evaluation will be performed after a rigorous review by an independent third party monitor that has itself been accredited by the ICTI CARE Technical Advisory Board (TAB).

To forestall potential conflicts of interest among monitors, factories and brands, The ICTI CARE Process has installed several checks to minimize or eliminate the risks of conflicts of interest.

First, the process is overseen by the ICTI CARE Foundation, an organization whose Governance Board is charged with leading the ICTI CARE Process, approving guidelines and reviewing decisions, as needed.

Second, the ICTI CARE Foundation, on the advice of the Technical Advisory Board (TAB), will be charged with accrediting independent auditing firms to evaluate factory conditions and determine whether a facility should receive an ICTI CARE Process Seal of Compliance. One of the conditions of accreditation is that an auditing firm must not maintain any consulting relationship with the same factory that it will audit on social compliance issues.

Finally, the Governance Board of the ICTI CARE Foundation will have the authority to impose additional requirements on factories, monitors, and brands to address any conflicts, real or perceived, which may arise from the operation of the ICTI CARE Process.

How is the CARE process independent of industry?

Isn't having ICTI oversee the process a bit like having the fox guard the henhouse? The toy industry has a long and successful history of taking effective action on important public policy issues, including product safety, product marketing and worker safety. By promulgating the ICTI Code and supporting development of the ICTI CARE process, the toy industry has reinforced its commitment to operate in a socially responsible manner. As the ICTI CARE Process is now up and running, ICTI’s role in the operation and oversight of the process will diminish. The ICTI CARE Foundation, a non-profit foundation that is independent of industry, has assumed this role.

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