CPSC Seeks Comments on Effectiveness of ASTM Toy Standard
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a Federal Register notice seeking comments on the effectiveness of the ASTM F963-08 toy standard, as required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA1).
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Comments are due by August 20, 2009.
(Note that toys manufactured on or after August 17, 2009 need to comply with ASTM F963-08. The CPSIA made the ASTM toy standard (version ASTM F963-072) and any successor standard not objected to by the CPSC a mandatory consumer product safety standard for toys manufactured on or after February 10, 2009. As the CPSC recently voted to adopt a successor version of the standard (ASTM F963-083), toys manufactured on or after August 17, 2009 need to comply with this newer 2008 version.4)
CPSC to Assess 2008 ASTM Standard & Consider Issuing Separate Standards
The CPSIA requires CPSC to promulgate consumer product safety standards for certain toys and components that are more stringent than the ASTM toy standard if the Commission determines that more stringent standards would further reduce the risk of injury associated with such products and components.
To accomplish this, the CPSIA requires the CPSC to examine and assess, in consultation with others, the effectiveness of the latest version of the ASTM F963 toy standard as it relates to these areas.
Comments Sought on Effectiveness of ASTM F963-08 for Battery Operated Toys, Magnets, Etc.
As required, CPSC seeks comments on the effectiveness of the safety requirements, safety labeling requirements, and test methods of ASTM F963-08 regarding:
battery-operated toys
internal harm or injury hazards caused by the ingestion or inhalation of magnets in children's products
toxic substances
toys with spherical ends
hemispheric-shaped objects
cords, straps, and elastics
(See notice for details of ASTM F963-08's requirements in these areas.)
1Enacted as Public Law 110-314 on August 14, 2008.
2Also referred to by CPSC as ASTM F963-07el.
3There were certain exceptions where the 2008 ASTM toy standard was not adopted, including for toy chests and certain flammability test methods. CPSC chose not to adopt ASTM F963-08's removal of the section on Toy Chests (Section 4.27) and incorporation into another standard for toy chests which is voluntary, as CPSC want this section to remain mandatory. In addition, ASTM F963-08 contains the flammability test methods in Section 4.2 and Annex 4 that were specifically excluded by the CPSIA. Therefore, CPSC voted to continue to keep these test methods excluded from mandatory status.
4While toys manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 must meet the ASTM F963-07el version of the toy standard, and toys manufactured on or after August 17, 2009 will be required to meet the ASTM F963-08 version, CPSC's one year enforcement stay (until February 10, 2010) relieves domestic manufacturers and importers from CPSIA testing and certification to demonstrate that compliance. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/06/09 news, 09020610, for BP summary of stay details.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/07/09 news, 09070710, for BP summary of the Commissioners' scheduled vote on the draft version of this Federal Register notice.
See ITT's Online Archives or 05/18/09 news, 09051805, for BP summary of CPSC voting to adopt the 2008 version of the ASTM toy standard as mandatory.
See ITT's Online Archives or 01/12/09 news, 09011205, for BP summary of three CPSIA requirements that took effect February 10, 2009, including the ASTM F963 toy standard becoming a mandatory standard.
See ITT's Online Archives or 03/02/09 news, 09030215, for BP summary of ASTM's announcement of the 2008 revisions to the ASTM F963 toy standard.)
- comments due August 20, 2009.
CPSC contact - Jonathan Midgett (301) 504-7692
CPSC notice (FR Pub 07/21/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-17198.pdf