Changes

Currently, Consumer Product Safety (CPS) inspectors must verify the compliance of consumer products and cosmetics at various locations such as land border sites and at locations operated by their regulated party. In addition to verifying compliance as per the various regulations under the [https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-1.68/index.html Canada Consumer Product Safety Act] (CCPSA) and [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-27/page-1.html#h-234002 Food and Drugs Act] (FDA), the program also collects information for documentation and surveillance purposes. Enforcement is typically taken on-site, however the current compliance verification process is slow due to the various steps involved. During this process inspectors are expected to review the past compliance history of the products and the regulated party, information that is typically stored in various sources such as internal Health Canada databases and the internet.

Currently, Consumer Product Safety (CPS) inspectors must verify the compliance of consumer products and cosmetics at various locations such as land border sites and at locations operated by their regulated party. In addition to verifying compliance as per the various regulations under the [https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-1.68/index.html Canada Consumer Product Safety Act] (CCPSA) and [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-27/page-1.html#h-234002 Food and Drugs Act] (FDA), the program also collects information for documentation and surveillance purposes. Enforcement is typically taken on-site, however the current compliance verification process is slow due to the various steps involved. During this process inspectors are expected to review the past compliance history of the products and the regulated party, information that is typically stored in various sources such as internal Health Canada databases and the internet.

Inspired by the popular Magic 8 Ball fortune telling ball, Project 8Ball will stand as a resource for Government of Cananda employees to enter information and “magically” receive an instant answer of advice. Project 8Ball was created to leverage the technology developed in Project Cyclops to develop a user-friendly mobile application that will be used as a support tool for regulatory decisions on at the border. The scope of [[Cyclops|Project Cyclops]] was limited to focusing solely on [https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-prescription.html natural health products] (NHP). Project 8Ball was able to utilize existing technology to expand the scope of Project Cyclops to apply existing technology to focus on cosmetics. This tool will allow Government of Canada employees to have relevant and tailored information at their fingertips (see icon mock-ups below). The mobile application will include automatic label reference tool to detect cosmetic ingredients from the Restricted and Prohibited Hotlist to assist inspectors when making admissibility decisions at the border.  As well, have capabilities to generate reports that may be used by inspectors for detailed documentation, compliance promotion, outreach, education, and future surveillance.

Inspired by the popular Magic 8 Ball fortune telling ball, Project 8Ball will stand as a resource for Government of Cananda employees to enter information and “magically” receive an instant answer of advice. Project 8Ball was created to leverage the technology developed in Project Cyclops to develop a user-friendly mobile application that will be used as a support tool for regulatory decisions on at the border. The scope of [[Cyclops|Project Cyclops]] was limited to focusing solely on [https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-prescription.html natural health products] (NHP). Project 8Ball was able to utilize existing technology to expand the scope of Project Cyclops to apply existing technology to focus on cosmetics. This tool will allow Government of Canada employees to have relevant and tailored information at their fingertips (see icon mock-ups in design process). The mobile application will include automatic label reference tool to detect cosmetic ingredients from the Restricted and Prohibited Hotlist to assist inspectors when making admissibility decisions at the border.  As well, have capabilities to generate reports that may be used by inspectors for detailed documentation, compliance promotion, outreach, education, and future surveillance.

== Development- [[Cyclops|Project Cyclops]] ==  

== Development- [[Cyclops|Project Cyclops]] ==  

By using technology developed in Project Cyclops, the feasibility of the solution will be demonstrated. The MVP should be able to review product labels for a Cosmetic product during an on-site inspection with a random sampling of products, in a real inspection setting.   

By using technology developed in Project Cyclops, the feasibility of the solution will be demonstrated. The MVP should be able to review product labels for a Cosmetic product during an on-site inspection with a random sampling of products, in a real inspection setting.   

The 8ball mobile application tool will provide digital photos, translations and the conversion of images, printed text or handwritten into machine encoded text (Optical Character Recognition (OCR)) in real time. Inspectors will be able to capture images of a product and with OCR the tool will cross-reference it to the frequently updated Hotlist Ingredient List (see images 5&6 in appendix 1). The mobile tool will provide live translations of English, French, and other languages to verify compliance against labelling requirements and the Hotlist Ingredient List. Consumer Product Safety (CPS) has at least 16 regulations that include specific labelling requirements with pre-defined text specified. Labels would be scanned, and the existing text would be compared to the regulatory requirements. The process output would identify the deficiencies (view process flow below in appendix 1). Additionally, pending co-operation of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers, the application will be offered to the CBSA officers to be used on a voluntary basis to help focus on providing improved referrals to Health Canada.

The 8ball mobile application tool will provide digital photos, translations and the conversion of images, printed text or handwritten into machine encoded text (Optical Character Recognition (OCR)) in real time. Inspectors will be able to capture images of a product and with OCR the tool will cross-reference it to the frequently updated Hotlist Ingredient List (see images 5&6 in design process). The mobile tool will provide live translations of English, French, and other languages to verify compliance against labelling requirements and the Hotlist Ingredient List. Consumer Product Safety (CPS) has at least 16 regulations that include specific labelling requirements with pre-defined text specified. Labels would be scanned, and the existing text would be compared to the regulatory requirements. The process output would identify the deficiencies (view process flow below). Additionally, pending co-operation of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers, the application will be offered to the CBSA officers to be used on a voluntary basis to help focus on providing improved referrals to Health Canada.

 

=== Stream 2 ===

=== Stream 2 ===

In the final stage of the project will assess if the MVP is appropriate for enterprise release. If appropriate, the project would seek to secure funding to scale accordingly via the Investment Plan process. The project will take an inclusive approach with both inputs and outputs, critical to perpetuate innovation. The tool will provide a voluntary sign-up-based platform for Canadians to access outreach information such as recalls and alerts of consumer products, consultations, reports, etc.  

In the final stage of the project will assess if the MVP is appropriate for enterprise release. If appropriate, the project would seek to secure funding to scale accordingly via the Investment Plan process. The project will take an inclusive approach with both inputs and outputs, critical to perpetuate innovation. The tool will provide a voluntary sign-up-based platform for Canadians to access outreach information such as recalls and alerts of consumer products, consultations, reports, etc.  

== Design Process ==

== Design Process ==

[[File:Initial 8Ball App Sketches.png|none|thumb|388x388px]]

The design process for the 8Ball user interface

== Benefits to Health Canada ==

== Benefits to Health Canada ==

The real-time compliance verification of products that the 8Ball Project presents will allow for numerous gains in accuracy, efficiency, and outreach such as:  

The real-time compliance verification of products that the 8Ball Project presents will allow for numerous gains in accuracy, efficiency, and outreach such as:  

* Allows CPS to use the photographs taken by users to store the most up to date information on products such as accurate lot /model numbers, bar codes, product descriptions etc.

* Allows CPS to use the photographs taken by users to store the most up to date information on products such as accurate lot /model numbers, bar codes, product descriptions etc.

* Increase consumer confidence and government transparency by making information more easily accessible to members of the unregulated parties

* Increase consumer confidence and government transparency by making information more easily accessible to members of the unregulated parties