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ASTM Revises Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963

October 20, 2016

UNITED STATES – ASTM International has revised ASTM F963, the Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.

ASTM F963 provides the requirements and test methods for toys intended for use by children under 14 years of age. This standard also provides different age limit requirements, depending on the nature of the hazards and/or expected mental or physical ability of a child to cope with the hazards.

Updates included in the ASTM F963-16 standard include:

  • Clarification of the Microbial Cleanliness scope with updated testing requirements, definitions, and expansion of the water qualifications
  • Expanded Preservative Effectiveness applicability with added details to the testing requirements
  • Updated Stuffing Contamination information
  • New regulations, markings, design guidelines, test methods and clarifications for Battery-Operated Toys
  • New definitions, labeling, and testing parameters for Magnets
  • Clarifications for Heavy Element screenings and testing requirements
  • Major re-writes for Projectile definitions, exemptions, and assessments
  • Additions and clarifications for Mouth-Actuated Toys
  • Re-adding Toy Chests under ASTM F963 scope of accreditation
  • New test methods for Expanding Toys
  • New exemptions and labeling for Cords, Straps and Elastics

This standard applies to:

Toys intended for use by children under 14 years of age with the exception of riding toys, playground equipment, kites, art materials and any other specified, excluded products.

This standard was published on October 20th, 2016.

How UL Can Help

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For more details about ASTM F963-16, please click here.