Hundreds of leading experts in and advocates for toy safety completed a major revision to one of the world’s most widely used toy safety standards after a collaboration over five years. The updated standard will be published soon as F963-16: Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.
The 2016 update includes new requirements on battery safety; soaking and compression tests for magnets; changes to requirements for toys involving projectiles; new requirements for materials and toys that could expand if accidentally swallowed; new requirements and clarifications related to microbiological safety; clarifications to requirements related to heavy elements in the substrate materials of toys and the addition of an optional, alternate test method for total screen testing; a new curb impact requirement, a clarification of overload and stability requirements, and a strap exemption for ride-on toys; and clarification of requirements and supplemental guidance for impact hazards.
Manufacturers, importers, and retailers use the standard to design and sell products that comply with laws such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which mandates that all toys comply with F963.
Further information on F963 can be found here.
