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ASTM F963-16 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety Published

On October 20, 2016, the periodic updates of F963 have been published as F963-16: Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety by ASTM International’s committee on consumer products (Committee F15). The updates will become mandatory 180 days after publication under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), if no rejection comes from the US CPSC within 90 days.

Summary of the Update of ASTM F963-16:
1. Changes of the heavy metal requirements:
  1.1 Added clarification regarding the heavy metal requirements of stickers and printed textiles.
  1.2 Added clarification that the special Cadmium extraction test (apply to metallic small parts only) is not required if the total Cadmium concentration of the metal components is less than 75 ppm .
  1.3 Added allowance for an alternative metal test method (HDXRF for homogenous polymeric materials).
2. Changes of the microbiological requirements:
  2.1 Clarified microbial requirements for water.
  2.2 Included cleanliness testing for feather products.
  2.3 Added CTFA Microbiology Guidelines.
  2.4 Included specifications for microbial testing.
3. Stuffing Material requirement has removed the PA state law requirements and changed the test method; Stuffing Materials Evaluation revised to use a stereo widefield microscope to visual inspection.
4. Sound Producing Toys requirement changes to more closely align with EN-71 and ISO 8124.
5. New Tests added for Toys Which Produce Noise to more closely align with EN-71 and ISO 8124.
6. Mouth-Actuated Toys section added requirements for mouth actuated projectile toys (i.e. peashooters, blowguns).
7. Projectile Toy requirement changes to more closely align with EN-71 and ISO 8124.
8. Squeeze Toys requirements only apply to the portion of the toy which has the squeeze function.
9. Test for Overload of Ride-On Toys and Toy Seats was modified to address multiple users; Cords, Straps, and Elastics requirement will exempt straps used for waist restraints on ride-on toys.
10. Clarified that multiple wheels centered on the same axle or axis is considered a single wheel.
11. Minor changes to the Magnet requirements; Soaking Test for Magnets was added to align with EN-71 and ISO 8124; Magnet Test Methods tolerance was added; Magnets labeling has been revised.
12. New Expanding Materials requirement added for toys that expand in water; Expanding Materials Test Method was added.
13. Toy Chest requirements have been returned to the standard; Tests for Toy Chest Lids and Closures were added; Toy Chest instructional labeling was added; Toy Chest producer’s markings was added.
14. Jaw entrapment test gauge was revised.
15. Temperature and current-limiting requirements for lithium-ion batteries; Button or Coin Cell Batteries labeling requirements were added.
16. Battery Operated Toy instructional labeling was slightly revised.
17. Battery-Powered Ride-on Toys Low Power Circuit Determination was revised.
18. New Test added for Toys that Contain Secondary Cells or Batteries.
19. Rationale for 2016 Revision were added.

For further details, please refer to the below link:
http://www.astm.org/Standards/F963.htm