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Press release: FINA meets with suit manufacturers

24 Apr 2009

During the meeting FINA outlined the testing procedures both for the regulations that are currently being implemented, and also the regulations expected to take effect on January 1st 2010.  This included defining the tests to be used for suit buoyancy and permeability for the approval of suits for submission in March 2009 and in November 2009.

All parties agreed that progress based on discussions between major manufacturers and the sport’s governing body needed to go ahead as quickly as possible given the deadlines. Therefore if design changes are needed they can be implemented quickly in order to meet the November deadlines required for 2010 approval.

FINA has received over 300 submissions since March this year, including several from blueseventy. Testing is nearly complete and its worth noting that all manufacturers will be informed at the same time if their submissions has been approved or rejected. The process has taken longer than expected and while we know this may affect consumer confidence, we would like to take this opportunity to reassure all that we have 100% confidence in our suits passing the tests.

Commenting on the current status, blueseventy’s CEO, Steve Nicholls comments; “I’d like to emphasise that we are in the same position as all the other swim brands. ALL manufactures have had to submit every suit that has been previously approved, as well as any new technology. We have submitted items that fall into both categories and we’re confident that there will be no problems regarding approval. All our suits have been internally tested and are well within any of the thresholds imposed by the March 31st regulations.”