US CPSC Will Accept ASTM F963-2017 As Mandatory Standard

On Dec. 4, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission published a direct final rule mandating ASTM F963-2017 for toys (with one exception) effective Feb. 28, 2018 if no adverse comments are received.  The rule marks the most recent revision of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 which made ASTM F963-07 a mandatory consumer safety standard for toys.

Changes for ASTM F963-2017 include editorial changes and concrete changes to provisions relating to projectiles and sound-producing toys. The new mandate updates the existing notice of requirements for acceptance of accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies for testing to ASTM F963.

New language that the CPSC didn’t accept exempted pull/push toys from the A-weighted maximum sound pressure level requirements, which decreases safety by allowing toys that produce sound levels more than the limits set by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. All other changes were accepted as the mandatory standard.

Because of the short transition time to switch between ASTM F963-2016 and ASTM F963-2017, the CPSC is making some allowances for facilities to become accredited to avoid disruption to third-party testing. Labs currently CPSC-accepted for ASTM F963-2016 will have ASTM F963-2017 automatically accepted, and those accredited to ASTM F963-2011 who haven’t upated yet may choose revisions to refflect ASTM F963-2016 or ASTM F963-2017.

Once the direct final rule is published in the Federal Register as an amendment to 16 CFR Part 1112 ‘Requirements Pertaining to Third Party Conformity Assessment Bodies’, the CPSC will open the application process for all sections of ASTM F963-2017.