Information on Product Safety

Policy on Information and Labeling Related to Products

Accurate Product Information and Appropriate Advertising

Toshiba Group provides accurate product information and executes appropriate advertising in accordance with the Toshiba Group Standards of Conduct, the Code of Fair Competition for Home Appliances¹ and other policies. Quality assurance organizations of in-house companies and affiliated companies monitor the safety standards of the countries where products are marketed and technical standards such as the UL Standards² and CE Marking³ to ensure that their product labeling is in compliance with the relevant standards.

In March 2005, the Toshiba Group Advertising Control Standards was established to which all organizations concerned are required to adhere.

1: Code of Fair Competition for Home Appliances: Authorized by Japan Fair Trade Commission in 1978 in accordance with the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, implementation of this code is governed by the Home Electric Appliances Fair Trade Conference. The code specifies prohibition of misleading representations, matters requiring representation, standards for representation of certain matters, etc. The objective is to contribute to consumers' 'well-informed selection of products, prevent inducement of customers by means of unjustifiable premiums and misleading representations, and ensure fair competition.
2: UL Standards: Safety standards issued by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., a U.S. not-for-profit product-safety testing and certification organization. UL has developed standards for materials, products and facilities.
3: CE Marking: This mark indicates that the product bearing it is in compliance with safety standards of the European Union (EU). CE Marking is mandatory is mandatory for certain types of products sold in the EU.

Education on Product Information and Labeling

Study Session on Advertising and Labeling

In March 2011, a study session jointly organized by Toshiba's Corporate Government & External Relation Division and Advertising Division was held among approximately 150 persons in charge of in-house companies and key group companies in order to reinforce compliance with the laws related to advertising and labeling.

Disclosure of Product Safety and Quality Information

In the event of a defect or accident resulting from a Toshiba product or service, we promptly report the details to the competent authorities in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations. Also, in order to notify customers of such accidents as quickly as possible, depending upon the severity of damage or frequency of occurrence, we disclose product accident information to our customers via newspapers, websites, etc.

Through our corporate website, we disclose information on accidents involving our products as posted on the website of the Consumer Affairs Agency. We also proactively disclose information concerning serious accidents, even when it is unclear whether such accidents are attributable to Toshiba products or not.

In addition, we allow accessibility through the use of mobile phones to information on the safety and quality of our products listed in the section of “Important Notices to Customers of Toshiba Products” on our corporate website (Japanese).

Disclosure to Ensure Safe Use of Products

Although products are equipped with various safety features, they may not be sufficient to ensure complete safety if products are in use for very long periods of time or the operating environment or conditions are extreme. To ensure safe use of products, Toshiba Group describes correct handling of products in users' manuals and, if necessary, through alerts placed in newspapers and on the website, or communicated by means of leaflets, etc.

Toshiba Initiative: Raising awareness to prevent incidents due to long-term use of household electrical appliances

In order to prevent accidents attributable to the deterioration of home appliances over long-term use, in April 2008, the METI promoted consumer awareness on this issue by distributing nationwide cautionary circulars. To further raise awareness on this issue, Toshiba Group distributes cautionary flyers during repair visits, publicizes information on its website and has put in place a call center* to respond to inquiries from customers. In April 2009, the Consumer Products Safety Act was revised, and inspection and labeling system for long term use products was enforced. While complying with the requirements under this system, Toshiba Group is also providing necessary information to the customers through its website as well as consultations through the call center*.

* An inquiry center for providing guidance on the long-term use of home appliances

Toshiba Initiative: Education on the proper way of using elevator and escalator

Elevator / Escalator safety campaign at a kindergarten

Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corp. organizes nationwide safety campaigns to provide instructions concerning the correct use of elevators and escalators, mainly to children in kindergartens and elementary schools. This event has been continuing for over the last 30 years, thanks to the cooperation of local communities, including the children and guardians who participated in such events.

Recently, the number of participants has been growing, owing to the growing concern in the safety of elevators and escalators. In FY2010, the campaigns were held at 14 sites, with total about 1700 participants comprising children and their guardians.

Toshiba Initiative: Toshiba Medical System Corp.

In order to provide safe and reliable medical equipment to customers, Toshiba Medical System Corp. is promoting services through the development of remote maintenance system to permit the rapid collection of abnormal images and information related to malfunction directly from the site via state-of -the art computer technology and network communication. This service, based on the theme of promptly rectifying the malfunction, rectifying the malfunction before the customer is aware of it and rectifying before the malfunction occurs, is available to customers in Japan. For overseas customers, through its website, the company offers guideline to operate the equipment as well as an e-learning center to enable customers to take lessons on maintenance of the equipment.

Toshiba Initiative: Notices to ensure safe use of products

To ensure safe use of household electrical appliances, Toshiba publishes notices on correct use with illustrations on its website.

Products: Refrigerator, Japanese-style electric heater, electric stove, electric blanket, rice cooker, etc.

Toshiba Initiative: Seminars for consumers on electric appliances

Toshiba assigns employees to serve as instructors at seminars for consumers held by consumer affairs bureaus to communicate accurate product information and advice on safe usage. During the seminars held 55 times in 2010, over 2,200 consumers participated.