How the Project Schedule works:

Image above will be different to your Project Schedule as the document is tailored – for reference only.

This document serves as your central hub for tracking the status of any product or project and is the primary control tool for managing all project-related work with us. It is a comprehensive tracker that keeps you updated on the status of each item and serves as a checklist for products you intend to have reviewed. Offering real-time status updates, featuring interactive links for quick access to data and easy cross-referencing, it also allows you to prioritize approvals dynamically.

How the document works:
– Editable fields: Columns with white headers are for you to input and update data, with each row representing a unique item or SKU.
– System-driven fields: Columns with coloured headers contain information that is either system-generated or completed by our regulatory review team.

The Guidance button at the top of the page will take you to dedicated guidance on navigating the filing, using the schedule and advice on how to get the most out of the service. The guidance addresses:
o Purpose of the Project Schedule
o How to update a project or product status
o Using the Bank of Time (BoT)

Above you can see the “Comments” column and a summary of the amount of consultation time left in the Bank of Time (BoT). The method of sale for the product (Store/Online/Both) and the markets you require the product to be compliant with are entered in the Product Overview document – one statement per project/product. Confirmation of the sales type and markets is crucial for the product review – without this information the review cannot proceed.

After entering the product details (one item/SKU per line), specifying the priority and the target approval date required for the item, mark the ‘Ready to Review’ column with “Yes.” In the next column, click the “Send email” hyperlink to notify your designated regulatory expert that your product is ready for review.

List all products or projects you have added in your filing in the Schedule, even those not yet ready for review. Simply leave the ‘Ready to Review’ column blank for these items. Only products marked as “Yes” and an email sent to us will be reviewed. Note: No email update – No review action.

The final price will be confirmed in the ‘Review Cost’ column. If the price remains the same or decreases, we will proceed. If there is an increase due to changes in scope or complexity, we will notify you by email and wait for your approval before moving forward. When a product or project is submitted for review, our regulatory expert will conduct an initial assessment to determine if it is ready. If not, the product/project will be marked as ‘No’ in the ‘Ready to Review’ column of the Project Schedule, and you will receive an email notification. After addressing the necessary updates, set the status to ‘Yes’ again in the same column and click ‘Send email’ to notify us. There are two key columns: ‘Priority’ and ‘Target Approval Date.’ These serve as guides to help you assist the approver but are not guaranteed or enforceable deadlines. The priority options are designed to offer quick, clear guidance, especially when handling multiple product submissions with the same target date. You can set a priority order for up to 10 products. If more options are needed, please use the comments section on the right-hand side of the table.

There are two key columns: ‘Priority’ and ‘Target Approval Date.’ These serve as guides to help you assist the approver but are not guaranteed or enforceable deadlines. The priority options are designed to offer quick, clear guidance, especially when handling multiple product submissions with the same target date.

Priority Breakdown:

Flexible: Approval within 2 to 4 weeks. We appreciate clients who select this option as it allows us to provide a thorough service with ample time for product development. We normally aim for a turnaround of 5 working days after submission of all required documentation, however depending on workload this cannot be always guaranteed.

48 Hours: Fast-track option (25% surcharge). While this isn’t guaranteed, we’ll do our best to expedite your project if you’re in a bind.

If you request fast-track approval, please follow the instructions in the Schedule sheet and include a comment in your email submission noting the fast-track request, which we’ll aim to confirm for you.

The Target Approval Date is crucial for managing delivery expectations. Please propose realistic dates, as we strive to meet client needs. Setting the date for tomorrow will automatically mark the request as fast-track, which includes a 25% surcharge. Our standard target is 5 working days, provided no changes are needed, but this may vary depending on our current workload.

Please do not delete items from the Schedule once added – if you uploaded items and then decide not to progress just leave the “Ready to Review” section empty or set it to “No”. If the review of the item is already in progress notify us via the comment section in the Schedule or send us an email to inform us immediately what change is required so we can proceed accordingly.

If you have active items which are already approved and require changes, please notify us via a comment on the item line in the Schedule. For changes such as an update of the item article number, put this in the comment section and we can process this so you are able to add new item article numbers. Do not create new lines for existing items to enter such changes.

To use the comment section, enter a comment in the row for the relevant item in the “comments” column and then click on the “send email” link next to it.

What is the Bank of Time (BoT)?

The Bank of Time is time that is purchased upfront for consultation on projects that are not supported by the agreed service. The pricing of the service has been streamlined to address the key requirements, which is confirming the product is safe and compliant with the intended markets.

It makes the assumption that you are well versed in your product requirements and the obligations you need to meet to comply with the markets you are intending to sell in. If you need support with your product development or guidance regarding compliance requirements which extends beyond the checking and confirming it is present, we can help. This is classed as product development assistance and is a separate billable exercise.

Having the BoT allows us to quickly step in and provide support when needed, without incurring the additional administration of agreeing the extra requirements. The process can be used on an ad-hoc basis and is as simple as requesting support with a query via email. We normally respond via email to keep time and cost to a minimum, which is billed in increments of 15 minutes and is rounded up or down to the nearest 15-minute interval. At the end of each BoT response, confirmation is provided on the amount of time used and still remaining, which is also logged in the Product Schedule on the tab Bank of Time (BoT).

The BoT can be used for anything and is mostly used for small queries or projects. For more extensive projects, we recommend these are priced up and formally quoted for.