The CPSIA requires that all wooden toy products manufactured, imported, and sold in the U.S. market fully comply with applicable ASTM standards. You can learn more about the relevant ASTM standards and rules on this page. All products manufactured for babies and children, from cribs to clothing and toys, must meet certain safety regulations.
While both the rules and requirements of warning labels are governed by country-specific laws and regulations, there are common factors around the world. Any product manufactured or distributed in the United States will have been designed and manufactured in accordance with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) legislation. In the United Kingdom they must comply with toy regulations (safety) and in the EU they must comply with the Toy Safety Directive. Other countries will have similar legislation.
Please note that the manufacturer or importer of toys for children is responsible for identifying the sections of the toy standard that apply to their company's products. Floor and table toys that move, when the sound is produced as a result of the movement that is imparted to the toy (for example, a mechanism that makes noise connected to the axle of a toy vehicle) will be tested using the method of pulling and pushing toys. Be careful, avoid toys that do not clearly meet your country's safety regulations, and then relax so that your child can play safely and develop their knowledge and skills with the right types of toys. All toys intended for children under 12 years of age must have been tested by third parties and certified in a children's product certificate that they comply with the federal toy safety standard enacted by Congress and also with other applicable requirements.
For example, if your toy doesn't produce any sound, you won't have to comply with the section of the toy standard that evaluates the volume of the sound the toy makes; however, there are still many other provisions of the toy standard that may apply to your toy. The tests cover all aspects of safety with separate standards, for example for plush toys, plastic toys, wooden toys or any other type of material. It's important to note that even if your toy product is labeled and marketed to children over 36 months of age, the toy may still be subject to this standard if it is found to be commonly used by children aged 36 months or younger. Children's toys must meet the solubility limits of the elements of the ASTM standard on toys contained in section 106 of the CPSIA.
ASTM F963-17, the standard consumer safety specification for toy safety, is a comprehensive standard that addresses the many hazards that have been identified in toys. Therefore, toys for children subject to ASTM F963 must be analyzed by an external laboratory accepted by the CPSC and demonstrated that they meet all applicable CPSC requirements in order for the manufacturer to issue a CPC before toys for children can be marketed. The toy safety standard is an extensive document that contains provisions for many different types and classes of toys. Toy companies that produce toys designed for English-speaking audiences, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, already have a practical advantage if they want to consider entering the Australian market.
While certain sections of the toy safety standard are exempt from third-party testing, toys must be certified, in a children's product certificate, as fully complying with all applicable sections of the toy safety standard. In addition to the linguistic advantage, Australia's toy culture, geography and safety standards also favor toy manufacturing companies that focus on the United Kingdom and the United States.
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