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CPSC Accept ASTM F963–11 as a Mandatory Consumer Product Safety Standard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that the revised ASTM F963–11 standard titled, Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Toy Safety have been accepted. Pursuant to section 106 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, ASTM F963–11 will become a mandatory consumer product safety standard effective June 12, 2012. ASTM F963–11 does not reincorporate section 4.27 (toy chests) of ASTM F963–07, that provision from ASTM F963–07 regarding toy chests remains in effect.

Summary of the Revision to ASTM F963-11:

1. Revision of Heavy Metal:

● Add new section for substrate materials to include CPSIA Lead content Limit and Soluble migration for other heavy elements at same level as EN 71-3.
● Excludes some substrates that are inaccessible or cannot be mouthed or sucked, including metal, glass and ceramic small parts. Also excludes materials that are excluded in 16CFR1500.88 and 16CFR1500.91.
● Add new cadmium requirement for metal components that fit within the small parts, in accordance with requirements of the CPSC-CH-E1004-11 test method, with soluble cadmium limit of less than 200 μg.
● Add total metal content screening method which would eliminate soluble testing when total results are less than soluble limit. Allow compositing for total metal content screening test, but not for soluble testing. Alternative tests are allowed as long as specific conditions are met (i.e., XRF testing) for test labs.

2. Revision of Mechanical and physical Properties

The following outlines some of the proposed revisions：

●Revision for scope － Non-Powered Scooters (ASTM F2264) , Recreational Powered Scooters and Pocket Bikes(ASTM F2641), juvenile products and Constant air inflatables are not covered by this specification.
●Bath toy projections-Additional design guidelines are provided in Annex A4.
●Toys with spherical ends – Clarifies the scope with pictorial examples for testing consistency.
●Stability of ride-on toys or toy seats – Addresses the load placement for Fore and Aft stability and sideways stability.
●Teethers and Teething Toys，Rattles and Squeeze toys – Except from Soft-filled (stuffed) toys or soft-filled parts or parts of fabric. And rigid components having a major dimension equal to or less than 1.2 in. (30 mm) contained within soft-filled toys
●Yo yo elastic tether toys – Defines the measuring of the length of the tether when the tether is fully extended during rotation.
●Stuffing Materials – In addition to fiber filling, "loose fillers" to include any other natural or synthetic filling material such as, but not limited to, hair, foam, feathers, sawdust and rubber.
●Plastic film – Expands the scope of the requirement to include flexible plastic film bags and flexible plastic sheets used not only as packaging materials but also used with or as part of toys.
●Toy seats – Defines the "toy seat" as a stationery toy product with a seat where the amusement of the child is a primary function of the product and the play pattern intends that the child be in a seated position.
●Jaw entrapment – Revision of gauge size requirements to add a third dimension.

Heshan Leo Metrology and Testing Services Co. Ltd. (LEO-MTS) can provide the Test service of ASTM F963-11 and help to improve products quality for you, your supplier and your client.

Acceptance of ASTM F963-11 as a Mandatory Consumer Product Safety Standard: http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr12/f963.pdf