Toy Safety Standards & Regulatory News

EU to Set New Safety Standards for Child Care Products   June 13, 2009
Member states across the European Union (EU) will vote to give a green light to two new child safety standards at the General Product Safety Committee meeting on June 15.

CEN Publishes Standard on Magnetic Toys   April 9, 2009
On April 8, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published an update to the CEN EN 71-1 standard to include the specific risks related to small magnets in toys.

ASTM Revises Bicycle Classification Usage Standard ASTM F2043 to Address Trailer Cycles   March 20, 2009
ASTM International Subcommittee F08.10 on Bicycles revised ASTM F2043 - Classification for Bicycle Usage and is developing a standard for trailer cycles.

Revised ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standard Addresses Magnet Ingestion, Jaw Entrapment, Acoustics   February 27, 2009
ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products approved revisions to ASTM F963 - Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.

Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963 Takes Effect  February 16, 2009
All toys sold in the U.S. must meet the safety requirements of ASTM International's toy standard, ASTM F963 - Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, according to federal legislation that took effect February . 10, 2009.

EC Adopts Baby Walker Safety Standard  January 15, 2009
The European Commission (EC) adopted a common safety standard for baby walkers throughout the European Union (EU) to help prevent childhood accidents.

EC Signs Toy Safety Agreement with Toy Retailers, Importers  December 19, 2008
As part of the drive by the European Commission (EC) to improve toy safety by engaging all players throughout the toy industry, Meglena Kuneva, EC commissioner for consumer affairs, signed an agreement with representatives of toy retailers and importers on December . 18.

European Parliament Adopts EC's New Toy Safety Rules  December 19, 2008
On December . 18, the European Parliament adopted a proposal by the European Commission (EC) to substantially strengthen rules on toy safety within the European Union (EU).

Ecology Center Tests Find Significant Levels of Toxic Chemicals in 1 in 3 Children's Toys  December 8, 2008
Researchers tested more than 1,500 children's toys for lead, cadmium, arsenic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other harmful chemicals for the Ecology Center's second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in toys.

Consumer Product Safety Bill Strengthens Standards for Toys - ASTM F 963-07  September 9, 2008
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.

EC Releases Report on Safety in Toy Supply Chain  June 6, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently released a report by independent experts on toy safety as a follow-up to the EC's product safety stocktaking review last autumn.

FAQ on Safety Measures in Toy Supply Chain  June 6, 2008
Answers to frequently asked questions about the toy safety report released by the European Commission (EC) on June 5 are provided below. This report analyzed product safety measures in the toy supply chain.

FAQ on EC's Upcoming Toy Safety Plans  May 30, 3008
Meglena Kuneva, European Commission (EC) commissioner for consumers, recently visited the Lego toy company in Billund, (Denmark) to discuss the important role of industry in ensuring toy safety. This document answers some questions about this visit and the EC's upcoming plans for toy safety.

More Toys, Other Dangerous Products Being Detected in Europe  May 29, 2008
The number of dangerous products removed from the European Union (EU) market rose by 53% in 2007, according to the latest annual report of the European Commission (EC) on the Rapid Alert System (RAPEX).

ASTM Int'l Toy Safety Standard Receives Federal Approval - ASTM F 963  March 17, 2008
The U.S. Senate voted to enhance toy safety by passing a bill that would make the ASTM International F 963 toy safety standard a mandatory federal requirement for all toys sold in the U.S.

TIA, ANSI Seek Comments for Toy Safety Coordination Initiative  February 29, 2008
The U.S. Toy Industry Association (TIA) in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) published for public review a safety assurance program for toys.

FAQ on Safety of Magnetic Toys  February 29, 2008
On February . 28, the European Union (EU) approved a proposal by the European Commission (EC) requiring toys containing magnets to carry a mandatory warning label.

EU Requires Magnetic Toys to Carry Warning Label  February 29, 2008
A European Commission (EC) proposal requiring toys containing magnets to carry a mandatory warning label was approved by European Union (EU) member states on February . 28.

EC Proposes Stricter Rules for Toy Safety  January 25, 2008
The European Commission (EC) proposed new legislation to improve toy safety in Europe that would replace and modernise the Toys directive 88/378/EEC of May 3, 1988.

ANSI, TIA to Release Information on Toy Safety Conformance Program  January 13, 2008
Details about a new safety assurance program for toys will be published for public review and comment on February . 1, 2008.

Interagency Working Group Finalizes Action Plan for Import Safety  December 13, 2007
The Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, a committee charged with identifying actions to improve the safety of imported products, released the Action Plan for Import Safety, a roadmap for continual improvement detailing the organizing principles, recommendations and short- and long-term actions needed to ensure the safety of American consumers.

ANSI Updates New York State Assembly on Hazardous Toys  December 11, 2007
Representatives from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) addressed ANSI's involvement in efforts to mitigate toy safety issues during ...

ASTM Int'l Issues Low Energy Air Gun Standard - ASTM F 2654  November 23, 2007
Due to the growing popularity of low energy air guns or soft air guns, ASTM International approved ASTM F 2654 - Specification for Low Energy Air Gun (LEAG) Warnings ...

ASTM Int'l Develops Field Hockey Eye Protector Standard - ASTM WK15675  November 23, 2007
Protecting the eyes of athletes is the purpose of ASTM F 803 - Specification for Eye Protectors for Selected Sports ...

ANSI Joint Member Forum Examines Consumer Product Safety Concerns  November 14, 2007
The Joint Member Forum (JMF) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) discussed consumer product safety issues at a recent October ...

ANSI: Toy Safety Takes High Priority with Standards Developers  October 22, 2007
Representatives from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) testified recently on the issue of toy safety at a special hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government ...

ASTM Int'l Approves Standard for Candle Accessories - ASTM F 2601  October 18, 2007
ASTM International published ASTM F 2601 - Specification for Fire Safety for Candle Accessories ...

ASTM Int'l Forms Subcommittee on Lead in Children's Vinyl Products  October 12, 2007
ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products invites interested parties to participate in a new subcommittee, F15.62 on Lead in Children's Vinyl Products ...

ASTM Int'l Toy Safety Standard - ASTM F 963 - Addresses Magnet Ingestion Injuries  May 10, 2007ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products addressed recent incidents of magnet ingestion resulting in death or serious injury in a major new revision to ASTM F 963 - Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety...