New standard ASTM F963-17 has been published.
ASTM F963-17, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, was released by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) on August 24, which is a revision to the ASTM F963-16 version.
According to the CPSIA, the revised standard will be effective in 180 days after formal notification, unless it is rejected within 90 days by CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
The Kinetic Energy Density (KED)requirements in Section 4.21.2.3 and Section 4.21.3.3 are only applicable to projectile toys with stored energy that have a kinetic energy greater than 0.08 J.
Added additional referenced document 40 CFR 141.63 MCLs for Microbiological Contaminants.
Added Other Documents within the Referenced Documents (Section 2.8).
Clarified the definitions of cosmetics in Section 3.1.20 that FDCA labeling requirements are not applicable.
Deleted the definition of driving mechanism.
Deleted Note 13 in Projectile Toys.
Deleted the requirement of the source not exceed 15W in Note 15 definition of low-power circuit.
Rewording the charging and discharging test in Section 4.25.11.5.
Added exception to short circuit protection test in Section 4.25.11.8.
Rewording the intended age of children for magnetic/ electrical experimental sets in Section 4.38.2.
Rewording requirements for toy chests in Section 4.41.5.
Added clarifications that push/ pull toys are not floor toys as defined in Section 4.5.
Added Rationale for 2017 Revision.
Renumbering of Section numbers to corresponded with the new revision.
Numerous minor editorial changes throughout the revision.
New version of the standard can be purchased.
On August 30, 2017 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published final Rule 16 CFR part 1308 in the Federal Register.
This rule about phthalate prohibition in Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles exempts seven plastics from third party testing for compliance with Section 108 of CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008) (Sec. 108.Prohibition on sale of certain products containing specified phthalates). This rule is effective on September 29, 2017.
A recent announcement by the Albany County in the US state of New York has been made regarding its children’s products and apparel local law enforcement from November 1, 2017.
Beginning of 2015, Albany County was the first local government in the state of New York to enact Local Law 1 for 2015 (“A local law to protect infants and children from harmful health effects of unnecessary exposure to toxic chemicals“) (“The Toxic Free Toys Act”). However, by that time, the enforcement of the law and its 2016 amendment was postponed due to different legal issues.
This law prohibits 6 heavy metals (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, lead and mercury) and benzene in children’s products and apparel primarily intended for children aged 12 and under.
The EU Toy Safety Directive (TSD)(2009/48/EC) strictly prohibits the use of substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) of categories 1A, 1B or 2 in toys.
Notifications have been placed on the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products (RAPEX) for toys containing high levels of DiBP as a CMR substance falling under the TSD.
However, the Ninth Adaptation to Technical Progress (ATP) to CLP Regulation (Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1179), amended Annex VI to CLP by, within other changes, removing the above mentioned Specific Concentration Limits for DiBP.
This means that, in the absence of a Specific Concentration Limit, DiBP will be classified as Reprotoxic Category 1B based on the generic concentration limit defined for this category, which is ≥ 0.3%.
This Ninth ATP will be applicable, from 1 March 2018.
With this, the European Commission intends to revise the current migration limit for chromium VI in scraped off toy materials, in order to take the latest scientific evidence into account and increase children's safety.
Final date for comments: 2017 November 05.
Click here to access the draft text.
On August 11th, 2017 the Official Journal of the European Union published the updated list of titles and references of European standards under Directive 2001/95/EC (GPSD- General Product Safety Directive), including, within others, childcare related standards.
Click here to access the Official Journal of the European Union.