US CPSC Issues Final Rule for Water Bead Toys

SG 189/25

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a final rule to revise the existing consumer product safety rule for toys by adding performance and labeling requirements for water bead toys and toys that contain water beads.

On December 12, 2025, the CPSC published a final rule amending the existing safety standard for toys (16 CFR 1250). The rule adds performance and labeling requirements for water bead toys and toys that contain water beads. These updates are intended to address known hazards associated with water bead toys, such as ingestion, ear or nose insertion, aspiration and choking. Additionally, the rule is aimed at minimizing the risks of acrylamide exposure associated with these products. The rule will become effective on March 12, 2026.

The rule defines a water bead as “a variably shaped liquid absorbent polymer, composed of materials such as, but not limited to, polyacrylamide and polyacrylate, which expands when soaked in liquid.”
ASTM F963-23 includes requirements for expanding materials, but according to the CPSC, the current requirements for this category of toys are insufficient to address these known water bead hazards.

The rule adds the following requirements in 16 CFR 1250:

• Performance requirements:
• Water beads as received or water beads removed from a toy, which fit entirely inside the small parts cylinder in their dehydrated (pre-expanded) state shall, after expansion, remain whole while completely passing through the funnel test gauge or sieve test gauge, under their own weight, when tested in accordance with 16 CFR 1250.4(c)(1)(i)-(v)
• Acrylamide limits and testing:
• Water beads shall not have more than 325 µg acrylamide extractable from 100 small water beads (defined as <4 mm in all dimensions of the bead prior to hydration) or from one large water bead (defined as ≥ 4 mm in any dimension of the bead prior to hydration) in the test procedure described in 16 CFR 1250.4(c)(2)(i)-(vi)
• Marking, labeling and instructional literature requirements:
• Water bead toys, packaging of water bead toys, and the container of water beads, if provided, must include the safety alert symbol, signal word, and word message as shown below:

• Products with contained water beads, such as balls filled with water beads, and the packaging must include the safety alert symbol, signal word, and word message as shown below:

• Products with contained water beads that do not have packaging must have a hangtag or sticker label with the full warnings. Multiple products sold in a package or bin must be individually labeled with a hangtag or sticker
• Instructions shall have the same warning labels that must appear on the product packaging, with similar formatting requirements, but without the need to be in color. However, the signal word and safety alert symbol shall contrast with the background of the signal word panel, and the warnings shall contrast with the background of the instructional literature

16 CFR 1112 is also updated to include water beads in the CPSC’s list of notice of requirements (NORs).

Final Rule 16 CFR 1250

Optimize your potential, reach new markets, and streamline every step of the toy life cycle while supporting sustainability and reducing the risk of non-compliance, recalls and delays, with our one-stop-shop solution for compliance. Our global network of experts, laboratories and accreditations help you access the world’s toy markets effectively and efficiently. Contact us to learn more, or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.