On October 13, 2023, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) released ASTM F963-23, a voluntary standard consumer safety specification for toy product safety. The current mandatory version is ASTM F963-17.

Pursuant to Section 106 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)(SEC. 106.）Requirements in paragraph (g) of the Mandatory Toy Safety Standard: The revised standard will serve as a requirement by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S. Code 2058 Procedure for consumer product safety rules). If within 90 days of receiving the notification (the new version of the regulation has been changed to 60 days), the committee does not indicate to ASTM International that the proposed modifications do not enhance the safety of consumer products covered by the standard, then they will take effect 180 days after the ASTM International Notification Committee’s revision date. If the committee notices ASTM International’s proposal for standard changes through the Federal Register, the existing standard will continue to be a consumer product safety regulation and will not be considered a proposal for a change.

The regulation is currently in the committee review stage. However, relevant toy companies whose products are exported to the United States and merchants on certain platforms (such as Meiya) should pay enough attention to this update of toy specifications so that they can respond in a timely manner.

The main parts of the new specifications for this update have been compiled in Annex 14, as follows:

　　1. Heavy elements in toy base materials

The revision to this section is intended to reflect the decision reached at the May 2020 F15.22 meeting and to add other decisions made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) since the revision of the 2017 edition of ASTM F963, that is, certain materials are exempted from routine testing and certification requirements for heavy elements due to the fact that limits (will not exceed). In addition, in order to make the description clearer and the expression more reasonable, the structure or layout of some small sections has been adjusted.

　　2. Cleanliness of process water

The revision here is to provide more testing flexibility without compromising safety; Volume 35 can be replaced with the latest revision of the USP.

　　3. Phthalates

This revision is to reflect current regulations and practice-because the phthalates requirements in previous versions are outdated. This revision will be consistent with the current U.S. federal phthalates requirements (16 CFR 1307), the current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission test methods, and promulgated requirements for whether specific materials require third-party testing.

Supplementary explanation: Although rattles, teeth-gel and pacifiers are clearly listed as product types that need to meet F963 requirements (The requirements are detailed in subparagraphs 4.20, 4.22, and 4.23 respectively), but in fact it is controversial to define these three types of products as toys to meet the phthalate requirements, but no matter what the final discussion or subsequent revisions are.(For example, these three types of products are separated from the F963 requirements), because the scope of application of 16 CFR 1307 includes both Children’s toys and Child care articles,(so even if rattles, teether and pacifiers do not apply this requirement as toys, they are used as child care products) this part of the requirements will still be met.

　　4. Acoustics

This update revises the definitions of certain sound toys to help distinguish:

1)Revised the definitions of push or pull toys (formerly known as push/pull toys) and tabletop, floor or crib toys (cribs) to make them easier to distinguish;

2)It is clear that toys for children under the age of 14 must meet the sound requirements before and after the use and abuse test. For toys used by children aged 8 to 14, the use and abuse test requirements for children aged 36 months to 96 months apply.

　　5. Battery

F963’s requirements on battery accessibility are designed to limit children’s access to batteries and provide effective protection for children’s toys. This has also become a model for legislation in other product categories (such as the recently finalized Reese’s Law on button battery requirements). This revision puts forward higher requirements for battery accessibility:

1)The requirements for battery accessibility were reformatted, renumbered and reworded to clarify the requirements;

2)The definition of tool (used to disassemble or assemble toys or their parts) has been revised-replacing it with a common household tool and adding examples to make the definition of the “tool” used clearer.

3)In addition, some substantive (change) requirements have been added;

a) Add requirements for extend use and abuse testing for toys aged 96 months and above

b) The fastening screws of the battery cover must not fall off after abuse testing;

c) Other equivalent safe alternatives to the battery compartment locking device are allowed. If a professional or customized tool needs to be used to open the battery compartment, corresponding instructions should be included in the accompanying instructions: remind consumers to keep this tool for future use, indicate that this tool should be stored in a place out of the reach of children, and indicate that this tool is not a toy.

　　6. Expansion materials

1)This amendment aims to address items that have similar risks since the requirement was added to the standard (i.e. intestinal obstruction in children due to swelling of the ingested material) but are not within the scope of the original requirements, specifically expanding the scope of application from small part samples to include items that are not small parts but present similar risks.

2)In order to increase clarity, the language has been revised, and errors in two tolerances and significant figures in the schematic diagram of the expanded toy test module have been corrected to avoid deviations in the judgment of results due to this error when the tolerance limit is at.

　　VII. Labeling requirements

The requirement for tracking label has been added. Tracking labels must comply with the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)-this part of the requirement originally derived from Section 103 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

　　8. Drop test

This revision is mainly to update the reference documents for tiles used in test drop experiments. The previous reference document, Federal Specification SS-T-312B, has been withdrawn and replaced by ASTM F1066 – 04.

　　9. Ejection toys

The revision of this part is mainly to delete some notes. The reason is that maintaining the conditions required for testing requires a special environment (Note: It can ensure accurate test results and good consistency between laboratories. However, additional costs will be incurred), but no storage conditions are specified for any other instrument or meter used to perform any test required by F963 (Note: deviations will also occur here, but there are no limited requirements. Overall, deviations in test results may still exist). On the other hand, neither the European Union’s Harmonized Standard for Mechanical and Physical Requirements for Toys EN71-1 nor the International Toy Standard ISO 8124-1 for Mechanical and Physical Requirements do not require this storage condition. Therefore, in order to ensure the consistency of this requirement in these three standards (Note: Because the starting point of protection is the same), this update has deleted relevant remarks, and it is not expected to have any impact on toy safety.

　　10. Bow and arrow test

This update mainly adjusts the order of some clauses to make them more logical.

On October 18, 2023, the Secretariat of the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee issued a letter on soliciting opinions on 11 national food safety standards (draft for comments) such as the “National Food Safety Standard Tumor All-Nutritional Formula Food”, which targeted Food Related products, Two food contact material standards, the “National Food Safety Standards General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Products” and the “National Food Safety Standards Silicone Rubber Materials and Products for Food Contact”, are publicly solicited for opinions.