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US CPSC to Exempt Wood from Testing for Heavy Metals

SafeGuardSJuly 27, 2015

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recently issued a direct final rule [1] to exempt unfinished and untreated wood in toys from testing for the 8 heavy metals under ASTM F963. 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  
  • ŸWood 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  It will be withdrawn if a significant adverse comment is received by August 17, 2015, and a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPA) for public comment will be published in the Federal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.

Highlights of the direct rule are summarized in Table 1.

table 1

16 CFR Part 1251

Toys: Determinations Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Certain Materials

Soluble Heavy Metal

Toy Standard

Scope

Remark

Effective Date

Antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium

ASTM F963

Toys containing unfinished and untreated wood

Third-party testing not required

September 15, 2015

(unless a significant adverse comment is received by August 17, 2015)

Throughout our 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 for a wide range of toys. Our 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 us for further information or visit our website.

For enquiries, please contact:

Hing Wo Tsang
Global Toys and Juvenile Products
t: +852 2774 7420

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