1. ASTM F963 "Toy Safety"

ASTM F963 "Toy Safety" is the most important toy safety standard in the United States and has significant international influence. This standard is voluntary and non-mandatory. Although it is voluntary, in commercial practice, toys that do not meet ASTM F963 cannot enter the US market.

2. ASTM F963 Mechanical and Physical Safety Requirements

The requirements for mechanical and physical properties of toys in the US mainly refer to two technical standards: the US standard ASTM F963-03 and the requirements specified by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The requirements issued by CPSC are enforced as US regulations. Once CPSC identifies a toy as having dangerous defects or posing potential hazards to children, it requires retailers or suppliers to recall the toy. ASTM F963-03 is a voluntary standard, serving as a harmonized standard to support the implementation of CPSC regulations, helping manufacturers effectively control toy safety quality. ASTM F963 mainly focuses on the following physical aspects:

1) Material quality 2) Filling materials 3) Sound toys 4) Small parts 5) Accessible sharp edges 6) Protrusions 7) Accessible sharp points 8) Wires and rods 9) Nails and fasteners 10) Packaging films 11) Folding mechanisms and hinges 12) Strings and elastic bands 13) Stability and overload requirements

3. ASTM F963-03 Requirements for Toy Flammability:

Non-textile materials (excluding paper) used in toys must not be flammable, meaning the burning rate of non-textile materials should be less than 0.10 in/S.

Flammability is defined according to the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) 16CFR1500.3(C)(6)(VI): a flammable solid is a solid substance that ignites and burns when tested according to the method in 1500.44, and the self-sustaining flame propagates along its main axis at a speed greater than 0.10 in/S.

Any textile used in toys must comply with 16CFR 1610 requirements.

The flammability of textile materials used on toys is only allowed to be of general flammability. The overall flammability requirement for toys is that the burning speed is less than 0.10 in/S.

4. ASTM F963 Chemical Safety Requirements

ASTM F963-07 stipulates:

1) The use of paints or similar surface coatings with lead content exceeding 0.06% (600 mg/kg) of the total non-volatile weight or dry paint film weight is prohibited;

2) The ratio of soluble antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium in surface coating materials to their solid weight (including pigments, film solids, and dry materials) should not exceed the corresponding values given in the table below.

Maximum Limits of Soluble Elements in Toy Materials:

Documents Required for ASTM F963 Testing

1. Fill out the testing application form and submit it to the testing agency.

2. Provide test samples.

3. Determine the test age group: under 3 years old or all ages.