Toys safety and certification: the US Toy standard F963-16

On 20th October 2016, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) published a revised US Toy Standard ASTM F963-16 regarding toys and juvenile products. This standard will become mandatory in 180 days after publication, barring any objection from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) within 90 days.

Amendments ASTM F963-16

The revised Toy standard contains several significant changes compared to the existing US Toy standard. You can download the revision summary here. In short, the updated ASTM F963-16 standard contains the following changes:

Addresses ride-on toys with:

• a new curb impact requirement;
• a clarification of overload and stability requirements,
• a strap exemption.

Adds:

• new labeling requirements for toys that have specific small coin/button batteries;
• temperature and current-limiting requirements for lithium-ion batteries;
• new requirements for materials and toys that could expand if accidentally swallowed.

Includes:

• new soaking and compression tests for magnets;
• new requirements and clarifications related to microbiological safety;
• clarifications regarding heavy elements requirements for toy substrate materials;
• revised requirements for toys involving projectiles;
• clarification of requirements and supplemental guidance for impact hazards.

Safety in toys is a priority both for consumers and manufacturers. Following the updates of ASTM F963-16, including, among others, new labeling for particular products, requirements, and clarifications in regards to microbiological safety and materials, crucial modifications need to be implemented. In order to meet the requirements of the US Toy standard F963-16 successfully, our team is ready to provide you with all the required services and advice.