If a product appears on the list of IGBC-approved bear-resistant products, it means that the commercially-available product has met minimum standards related to the effort that must be expended by grizzly bears to access the container’s contents. These standards were established through consultation with North American human-bear conflict experts and bear biologists. Please note that IGBC approval does NOT guarantee that the product is BEAR-PROOF and does not guarantee that the container will never be breached by bears. The intent of this bear-resistant products testing program is to approve products that minimize easy and direct access to attractants by grizzly bears. IGBC approval also does not guarantee that small amounts of the contents of the containers won’t be able to leak or spill out. In conjunction with properly utilizing certified bear-resistant products, the IGBC strongly encourages people living or recreating in grizzly bear habitat to take personal responsibility for maintaining a high level of diligence in their sanitation and attractant storage to further minimize the chance of a human/bear conflict.
No. While many public land managers use the list of IGBC-approved products as a means for approving products for use on the lands within their jurisdiction, IGBC approval does not imply that products have automatically been approved for use on all public lands. Manufacturers and consumers should consult with specific land management agencies to confirm whether or not a product complies with local requirements.
Successfully passing the required testing at the GWDC is the first step toward IGBC approval of a product. After a product passes GWDC testing, results are forwarded to the US Forest Service (USFS) in Missoula, Montana where test results and product information are collated and reviewed. Products are not officially approved until the USFS has received all the necessary data and issued an IGBC Certification Number. Manufacturers will be notified of product approval through written correspondence from the USFS. Approved products and their assigned IGBC Certification Numbers will then be added to the list of approved products on the IGBC website. The list of approved products can be accessed through the IGBC website (www.igbconline.org).
Yes. The fee depends on the size and complexity of the products submitted. The fee is payable to the GWDC prior to product testing. The current testing fee schedule is posted on the IGBC website (www.igbconline.org) and can be accessed through the “Arranging to Have a Product Tested” tab.
No. IGBC approval applies ONLY to the model submitted for testing, as described on the product’s submission form. Each approved model will have its own unique IGBC Certification Number. If there are multiple models in a line of products that differ only in size, it may be possible to test the smallest and the largest containers in the product line. Then, if both of those models pass, the intermediate sizes could be considered for approval without having to be submitted for testing. This situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. An electronic version of the IGBC logo will be made available to manufacturers at the time they receive their notification of product approval.
Yes. The IGBC offers courtesy inspections for homemade products made for personal use. This is a visual inspection and is made on a limited and case-by-case basis. Please contact the IGBC (igbc@igbconline.org) or the US Forest Service (406-329-3664) for information about courtesy inspections.
Upon notification of approval, an IGBC Certification Number will be provided for each product. This number will be specific to the model of product approved and needs to be displayed in some manner (e.g., etched, stamped, sticker, etc.) on each individual product that is produced.