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Oct11
Tylenol Drops and Pediacare Recalls: Is Your Business Affected by Standards?
This morning's news was filled with recall notices again. This time the affected products were infant medications made by Johnson & Johnson. The list includes:
  • Concentrated Tylenol Infants Drops Plus Cold
  • Concentrated Tylenol Infants Drops Plus Cold and Cough
  • Pediacare Infant Drops (wide variety of types)

You can read the press release from Johnson & Johnson. You can also read the FOXNews.com story.

If you currently have these products in your medicine cabinet, you may wish to discard them. You can also contact the McNeil Consumer Healthcare Consumer Relationship Center at 1-877-895-3665 (English) or 1-888-466-8746 (Spanish). If you have any specific questions about your child's health you should always contact your physician. tylenol-recall.JPG

As I began to look into the recall news I fully expected to find another saga of carelessness in the manufacturing process. However, in this case it appears (at least from the Johnson and Johnson press release) that this recall is due to a change in the United Stated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. The FDA is now considering banning the use of cough and cold medications in young children.

While Johnson & Johnson is a large company, this latest Tylenol recall reminds us that standards can affect businesses. Standards are important, of course, to protect consumers from dangerous products and from unscrupulous vendors. However, for the small businessperson caught unprepared, a change in standards could be costly.

Here are four tips to help insulate your business from changes in industry standards:
  1. Regulatory agencies. Is your product or service governed by a regulatory agency? If you don't know, research to find out if a regulatory agency could affect your business. When you find out which regulatory agency covers your business stay on top of any regulatory changes.

  2. Professional societies. Is there a professional society or group for your product or service? If there is, I strongly recommend that you join. A professional society can help you discover what standards apply to your industry. They can also work with regulatory agencies to develop standards that both protect the consumer and the business owner.

  3. Certifications. Is there a certification for your industry? Even it's voluntary, getting certified can help you learn what standards apply to your business. In addition, certified practitioners are usually required to take continuing education (which can help you keep up with the latest developments).

  4. Budget. A part of your budget should be earmarked for required changes (for a manufacturer this would be a portion of your research and development budget). Resist using this budget for other things when no changes are needed.
What about you? Do you operate a home business that is governed by standards or a regulatory agency? Has your business been affected by any regulatory changes?

Leave a comment and let us know.

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