ASTM F963-23 became the mandatory U.S. toy safety standard effective April 20, 2024, through 16 CFR 1250, issued by the CPSC. Proposed CPSC changes would add new requirements for toys with button batteries, water beads, and neck floats under expanded CFR sections.
ASTM F963 is a comprehensive voluntary consensus standard developed by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International. It outlines safety specifications for toys intended for children under 14 years of age. While 16 CFR Part 1250 is a regulation issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that makes ASTM F963 a mandatory safety standard under U.S. federal law.
Latest Version and Effective Date
The latest version of ASTM F963-23, has become the mandatory toy standard incorporated into 16 CFR 1250, effective from April 20, 2024.
Scope of the Mandatory Requirements
Not all parts of ASTM F963 are incorporated into the mandatory standard. Those sections that restate or incorporate an existing mandatory standard, ban, statute, or regulation already enforced by the CPSC are not part of the mandatory requirement under 16 CFR part 1250. For example,
- Section 4.2 (Flammability) and Annex 5,
- provisions that restate existing mandatory standards or bans from the CPSC or FDA, etc
Proposed Expansions to Mandatory Requirements
The CPSC has also proposed new sections that would expand toy safety requirements under 16 CFR Part 1250. If finalized, these sections will become part of the mandatory toy safety regulations under 16 CFR Part 1250, alongside ASTM F963.
Overview of Proposed Sections
|
Section |
Scope |
Proposed Changes |
|
1250.3 |
Toys containing button cell or coin cell batteries |
1. Performance Requirements - Captive Fasteners - Minimum Battery Compartment Threaded Attachment Requirements - Sequential Use and Abuse Test Requirements 2. Marking, Warning, Labeling, and Instructional Literature Requirements |
|
1250.4 |
Water bead toys |
1. Performance Requirements To Address Ingestion, Choking, Aspiration, and Insertion Hazards 2. Acrylamide Limits and Testing 3. Marking, Labeling, and Instructional Literature Requirements |
|
1250.5
|
Neck floats |
1. Performance Requirements To Address Drowning Hazards - Conditioning Procedure - Minimum Buoyancy Requirements - Restraint Systems - Neck Opening Test Requirements 2. Marking, Labeling, and Instructional Literature Requirements |
(*Note: The above proposed sections also proposes revising the title of part 1250 from “Safety Standard Mandating ASTM F963 for Toys” to “Safety Standard for Toys,” to reflect the inclusion of proposed requirements that do not incorporate by reference existing requirements in ASTM F963.)
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