Universal Parks & Resorts ("Universal") has a Product Safety Compliance Program for both Universal-developed and market products that are shipped or delivered to Universal. All merchandise products supplied to Universal must comply with the terms and conditions of the Universal Merchandise Vendor Agreement (MVA).

 

Product Safety Compliance Documentation

Universal Merchandise Compliance collects, reviews, maintains and stores compliance documentation for all applicable developed and market products. Compliance requirements are detailed on Universal test protocols and as provided to vendors by their Universal Buyer contacts.

 

Universal Compliance Portal
Universal established the Universal Compliance Portal (UCP) as a tool to facilitate the online submission of test reports, General Conformity Certificates (GCCs) and other product compliance documents to Universal Merchandise Compliance. The UCP allows Universal vendors to upload all of their compliance documents for U.S.-bound products to a single, convenient site.

URLs for the UCP:

• UCP Main Link: https://ucp.universalparks.com/UCP/Login.aspx
• UCP New User Registration: https://ucp.universalparks.com/UCP/Register.aspx
• UCP Help Documents: https://ucp.universalparks.com/UCP/Help.aspx

For questions about UCP, Universal vendors may contact productcompliance@universalorlando.com.

 

Universal Product Testing Program

Product testing supports Universal's commitment to offer safe and quality products to its guests. Universal has partnered with its nominated testing labs to establish a comprehensive testing program. Vendors are required to supply Universal with test reports, General Certificates of Conformity and/or other compliance documentation for certain designated products, as directed by the Universal Merchandise Buyer or Universal Merchandise Compliance.

Where testing documentation is required by Universal, vendors must test their products using a third-party accredited testing lab. Even if Universal does not request proof of product testing, vendors should follow reasonable and proper procedures for testing and/or verification of compliance for all products sold to Universal to ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and standards.

Vendor must supply to Universal applicable test reports or compliance documentation (as applicable) annually and if there are changes to the manufacturing location, materials or process.

The Universal Product Safety Compliance Program consists of product compliance protocols involving several different aspects of the products:

• Physical / Mechanical Hazards
• Chemical Compliance
• Flammability
• Labeling / Product Marking Review
• Documentation Requirements

If Universal is acting as the importer of record for a vendor, then the vendor must take all actions and supply all materials requested to support Universal's issuance of certificates of conformity for the product.

One of the foundations of the Universal Product Testing Program is based upon frequent open communication between Universal, technical partners, vendors and suppliers throughout the supply chain. Please contact your Universal Merchandise Compliance contact with any questions.

If you have any questions about the Universal Product Testing Program, please send them to testingcompliance@universalorlando.com.

 

Universal-Nominated Testing Labs
Universal has designated certain third-party testing labs as “Universal-nominated”. Vendors can find information and contacts for Universal-nominated labs on the Universal Compliance Portal.

Testing under the Universal Product Testing Program with Universal's nominated labs has the following benefits:

• Negotiated pricing is available to Universal's vendors when testing under the Universal Product Testing Program.
• Universal Test Protocols are directly available and, when submitted under the Universal Product Testing Program, samples are automatically tested against such protocols.
• Issuance of test report to Universal directly, concurrent with issuance to vendor.

Vendors wishing to access the benefits of the Universal Product Testing Program with Universal's lab must reference Universal's testing program - Universal Parks & Resorts – on a Universal Test Request Form (available from the lab or UCP) and include it with test samples sent to the testing lab. The Universal Test Request Form indicates a lab location for testing for the particular job, based on the capability and capacity of the lab and the geographic location of the manufacturer.

Please contact one of Universal's nominated labs for any questions regarding testing process/sample submission process.

 

Use of Other Test Labs
Vendors may choose to use any third-party, CPSC-accredited consumer product testing lab to test their products. For Universal-developed products, vendors must provide the test lab with the applicable Universal protocol in order to ensure compliance to Universal standards. Visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/ for labs approved by the CPSC.

For regulated products in the U.S. (such as children's products and apparel), Universal does will not accept test reports from laboratories that are not CPSC-accredited.

 

Test Protocols
Universal has developed a number of resources for vendor use, including the Universal product test protocols.

Universal test protocols are housed on 'Resources' tab on the UCP and they are also on file with Universal-nominated test labs. The vendor is responsible to work directly with the lab to submit all necessary online forms, including any applicable supplemental documents, and successfully complete testing requirements within the required timeline to meet business obligations and shipping schedules. Please note that the vendor is responsible for obtaining Universal testing protocols from the lab and/or the UCP.

During product development, a member of the Merchandise Compliance team reviews each item, provides comments and requests that certain compliance documentation be provided via the applicable Universal test protocol.

Universal Merchandise Compliance uses these product approval comments to provide comments to the vendor. Vendors much carefully review and address the compliance comments received, and provide Universal's comments to the lab prior to testing.

If developing a product category not currently addressed in the protocols, vendors much contact Universal Merchandise Compliance who will partner with a Universal-nominated test lab to develop a protocol for the product.

If you have any questions about the protocol or test plans, please e-mail testingcompliance@universalorlando.com.

 

Product Test Procedures
Universal has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for product testing under the Universal Product Test Programs with its nominated third-party test labs.

Topics included in the Universal Test SOP include the following:

• Lab locations
• Test Request Form submission
• Sample submission
• Quoting process
• Billing/Invoicing for testing
• Turnaround times
• Component/raw materials testing
• Test report distribution/posting
• Failures/Corrective Action Plans
• Retesting process

Please contact a Universal-nominated test lab for more information or a copy of the Universal Test SOP.

 

Testing Time Frame
For most test labs, the standard turnaround time for testing is five (5) business days AFTER the test lab receives:

• Properly-completed Test Request Form (TRF)
• Adequate number of test samples
• Approved Test Quote (signed by vendor)

Expedited service (1 or 3 business days) is available upon request and will depend on the availability of the lab to accommodate such request. There is a surcharge for expedited testing. Certain tests (such as liquid and nickel testing) cannot be expedited due to the nature of the test methodology.

Vendors are responsible for working with the Universal Buyers to understand their product development, purchase and delivery timelines to ensure timely application of the Compliance & Quality Program.

 

Payment for Testing
Vendors are responsible for all costs related to testing outlined in the Universal test protocol including, but not limited to, shipping costs to/from laboratories, samples and test invoices.

 

Non-Compliance
For Universal-developed products, vendors are responsible to ensure that any required compliance documentation is provided to Universal for applicable products. Failure to provide the requested compliance documentation to Universal in a timely manner may result in a chargeback to the vendor. Long-term non-compliance could lead to disqualification of the vendor.