ASTM Publishes 2016 Version of the US Toy Standard (ASTM F963-16)
SAFEGUARDS | Toys & Juvenile Products NO. 168/16

ASTM International published a revised version of the US Toy Standard ASTM F963-16, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety on 20 October 2016. The new standard is a revision to the existing ASTM F963-11 version of the standard.
On 20 October 2016, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) published a revision to ASTM F963. The new version is called ASTM F963-16. The 2016 version of ASTM F963 contains several significant changes to the US toy standard.
The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) incorporated ASTM F963-11 as a mandatory rule on 12 June 2012. Under the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) the 2016 version of the toy standard becomes mandatory within 180 days of publication unless it is rejected by the US CPSC within 90 days.
The revisions to the 2011 version of the US toy standard are summarized in table 1 below:
Table 1: Changes to the ASTM F963 toy standard
Clause # | Changes to the Standard |
---|---|
4.38 and 8.25 |
Magnets:
|
4.21 and 8.14 |
Projectiles:
|
4.41 and 8.27 | Requirements for Toy Chests were included in the F963 toy standard and the separate ASTM F834 Toy Chest standard was discontinued |
4.25 |
Batteries:
|
8.4 |
Microbiological safety:
|
4.3.5 |
Heavy Elements:
|
4.5 |
Acoustics:
|
4.14 |
Cords and Elastics:
|
4.3.7 and 8.29 |
Stuffing Material requirements:
|
5, 6 and 7 |
Labeling:
|
Miscellaneous changes:
|
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