Toy Testing

The safety standards for toys around the world are becoming stricter with every year. In countries like the U.S. and Canada, manufacturers are expected to meet specific guidelines when it comes to the production quality, design, and material-specifications of infant and children’s toys.

Children’s toys are defined as products intended for those 12 years of age or younger. If you are selling in the U.S. you are required to get testing for every toy you sell, including variations, from a 3 rd -party accredited lab such as ACT-LAB.

The Importance of Regulations

Certain countries and regions such as the U.S. and Europe have defined regulations that manufacturers must meet before selling toys. CPSIA, GB, and the EU Toy Directive all are safety directives with different guidelines that manufacturers should familiarize themselves with depending on where they sell and distribute product.

Not following regulations can lead to legal problems, safety issues, and even consumer injury or death. Choosing to cut corners with regulations can lead to serious repercussions that will affect your company in the long run both financially and reputationally, so invest in sound testing.

Our Toy Testing Solutions

ACT-LAB offers several safety and chemical tests that are up to CPSC standards including:

• Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, Section 101 – Children’s Products Containing Lead
• ASTM Standard F 2617 – Identification and Quantification of Chromium, Bromine, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Polymeric materials Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry
• ASTM F963 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety; all sections except 4.3.6.3: Cleanliness of Liquids, Pastes, Putties, Gels, and Powders, and 4.20.1: Pacifiers with Rubber Nipples/Nitrosamine Test; Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, Section 101: Children’s Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule
• CPSC 16 CFR 1303 – CPSC-CH-E1003-09.1 – Determining Lead (Pb) in Paint and Other Similar Surface Coatings
• CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3 – Standard Operating Procedure for Determination of Phthalates
• CPSC-CH-E1002-8.3 – Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Total Lead (Pb) in Non-Metal Children’s Products (XRF portion only)
• CPSC-CH-E1003 – Determining Lead (Pb) in Paint and Other Similar Surface Coatings
• CPSC-CH-E1004-11 – Determining Cadmium Extractability from Children’s Metal Jewelry
• ASTM F2617 – Standard Test Method for Identification and Quantification of Chromium, Bromine, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Polymeric Material Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry
• ASTM F963 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety (4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20 (except 4.20.1), 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, 4.24, 4.25, 4.26, 4.27, 4.28, 4.29, 4.30, 4.31, 4.32, 4.33, 4.34, 4.35, 4.36, 4.37, 4.38, 4.39, 5, 6, 7 and 9)
• EN 71-1 – Safety of toys — Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• EN 71-3– Safety of toys — Part 3: Migration of certain elements (excluding Chromium (III, IV) and Organic Tin)
• CPSC 16 CFR 1500.48 – Determining a Sharp Point in Toys and Other Articles Intended for Use by children under 8 years of age
• CPSC 16 CFR 1500.49 – Determining a Sharp Metal or Glass Edge in Toys and Other Articles Intended for use by children under 8 years of age
• CPSC 16 CFR 1500.50 – Test methods for simulating Use and Abuse of toys and other articles intended for use by children
• CPSC 16 CFR 1500.51 – Test methods for simulating use and abuse of toys and other articles Intended for use by children 18 months of age or less
• CPSC 16 CFR 1500.52 – Test methods for simulating use and abuse of toys and other articles intended for use by children over 18 but not over 36 months of age
• CPSC 16 CFR 1500.53 – Test methods for simulating use and abuse of toys and other articles intended for use by children over 36 but not over 96 months of age
• CPSC 16 CFR 1501 – Method for for identifying toys and articles intended for use by children under 3 years of age which present a choking, aspiration, or ingestion hazard because of small parts
• GB 6675.4– Safety of toys part 4: Migration of certain elements
• GB 24613 – Limit of harmful substances of coatings for toys
• GB 6675.2 – Safety of toys part 2: Mechanical and physical properties

About ACT-LAB

ACT-LAB is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory that conducts consumer product safety and compliance testing for an active world. We can help ensure that your products both meet industry standards and are inspected to ensure the utmost quality.

To learn more about our tests contact us today.

Read more about our accreditations here.