Toys: Final Rule on Water Bead Safety in the U.S.

On Dec. 12, 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released the final rule on the safety standard for toys, specifically establishing requirements for water beads.

This final rule issued a mandatory safety standard for water bead toys under section 106 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The rule defines water beads as liquid-absorbent polymers that expand when soaked, sets limits on bead expansion and acrylamide content, and requires strong warnings to reduce risks of ingestion, aspiration or choking. Key changes include updating the definition of a water bead so that it expands when soaked in “liquid” rather than specifically “water,” reducing the funnel gauge size, raising acrylamide limits, redefining bead dimensions and clarifying warning labels.

The rule is effective on March 12, 2026.

Official source