Consumer Product Safety Bill Strengthens Standards for Toys - ASTM F 963-07
September 9, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which was signed into law, includes a provision requiring that toys sold in the U.S. be tested to the ASTM International toy safety standard and enforces the mandatory testing and certification of children's products by accredited third-party conformity assessment bodies.
In addition to requiring toy safety standards, the law also sets limits on lead content in children's products.
ASTM F 963-07 - Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, will be a mandatory requirement for toys while the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) studies the standard's effectiveness and issues final consumer guidelines for toy safety hazards including magnets, said ASTM International.
Beginning 180 days after enactment of the act, ASTM F 963-07 will be considered a consumer product safety standard issued by the CPSC.
Within one year of enactment, the CPSC will work with industry and other experts to examine the effectiveness of ASTM F 963-07 specifically related to magnets, toxic substances, toys with spherical ends, hemispheric-shaped objects, cords, straps and elastics on toys and battery-operated toys.
Under Section 102 of the legislation, manufacturers of certain products intended for use by children under the age of 12 must seek third-party certification that the product complies with the applicable rules and standards as determined by the CPSC.
The CPSC may accredit third party conformity assessment bodies - or designate an independent organization to do so - and shall periodically review and revise the accreditation requirements, maintaining a list of accredited entities on its web site, according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) will seek CPSC recognition of its Toy Safety Certification Program, which is intended to provide an appropriate certification system under the act, said ANSI.
Initiated in 2007, the Toy Safety Certification Program gives guidelines for procedures and provides audit mechanisms for design hazard analysis, auditing manufacturing process controls and product safety testing. ANSI was commissioned by TIA to chair the initiative.
The ASTM F 963-07 standard incorporates safety measures already required under federal law and includes additional guidelines and test methods to prevent injuries from choking, sharp edges and other potential hazards.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act legislation includes the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, which requires the CPSC to issue new rules for durable infant products - such as cribs, toddler beds and strollers - based on existing voluntary consensus standards such as those maintained by ASTM International.
Source: ASTM International.