Wood in Toys Dispensed from Heavy Metals Testing

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recently issued a direct final rule to exempt unfinished and untreated wood in toys from testing for the 8 heavy metals under ASTM F963. (1)

The proposed effective date is September 15, 2015. The direct final rule will create a new Part 1251 for ‘Toys: Determination Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Certain Materials’. It will detail the statutorily-created requirements for toys under ASTM F963 and third party requirements for children’s products.

According to the definitions in the direct rule, unfinished and untreated wood is defined as:

-    Wood harvested from the trunks of trees with no added surface coatings such as paint, polyurethane, shellac and varnish, and  
-    Wood substrates that do not contain other materials such as antifungal agents, dyes, insecticides, preservatives and stains.

Unfinished and untreated wood does not include manufactured or engineered wood such as pressed wood, plywood, particle boards or fiberboards.

This rule will be effective as of September 15, 2015.  It will be withdrawn if a significant adverse comment is received by August 17, 2015, and a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPA) for public comment will be published in the Federal Register.

Heavy Metals Testing in Toys

Highlights of the direct rule are summarized below:

16 CFR Part 1251
Toys: Determinations Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Certain Materials

- Soluble Heavy Metal: Antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium
- Toy Standard: ASTM F963
- Scope: Toys containing unfinished and untreated wood
- Remark: Third-party testing not required
- Effective Date: September 15, 2015 (unless a significant adverse comment is received by August 17, 2015)

Reference:

(1) U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Toys: Determination Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Unfinished and Untreated Wood – July 2015 (www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/07/17/2015-17413/toys-determination-regarding-heavy-elements-limits-for-unfinished-and-untreated-wood)

About SGS Toy Testing Services

Throughout its global network, SGS offers consultation and comprehensive testing services (physical/mechanical, chemical, flammability, electrical safety, etc.) covering the full spectrum of international product safety and regulatory standards (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Toys/EU-Toy-Safety-Directive.aspx) for a wide range of toys. Its laboratories are internationally recognized by major industry associations, accreditation bodies and authorities. With the largest global network of toy experts and testing facilities around the world (including 4 EU Notified Bodies and about 40 CPSC-Accepted Testing Laboratories), SGS is the partner to trust.

Please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Hingwo Tsang
Global Toys and Juveniles Products Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Limited
1/F On Wui Centre
25 Lok Yip Road
Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong, China

t: (+852) 2774 7420
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