Toy Safety with CPSC Compliance
Toy safety is important. Every year children are treated every year in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. The risks of some toys range from choking to poisoning or loud noises damaging the inner ear. That’s why it's important to make sure the toys your child plays with are safe.
In the United States, all toys intended for use by children 12 years of age and under are regulated by Consumer Product Safety Commissioner and EPA department. The toy products must meet federal safety standards, including:
ASTMF963-16/17
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
It is not strictly enforced until lately, CPSC joins the CBP ACE System. All entry data are submitted to CBP Ace Portal and automatically transmitted to the CPSC database. CPSC is able to send out exam notifications for the product scope that they have jurisdiction. Once they target a shipment, the importers need to upload A Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) and the Test reports from a CPSC-accepted testing laboratory
You can find the CPSC accepted laboratories list here https://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch
Just simply type "TOY" in the search bar and you will find the local lab locations near your manufacturing city. Normally the test needs to be conducted every year under the condition that material is not changed.
Some typical Dangerous elements to watch out for toys might be
Toys with sharp edges or pointy pieces.
Toys with small, detachable pieces that a child could choke on.
Toys with long cords or strings that can be wrapped around a child's neck.
Toys with flammable fabrics that can easily melt or catch on fire.
Toys with high content of Lead
Toys with forbidden phthalate esters chemical
and more....
Not only with children's toys, but CPSC also requires the same for other scopes of children's products too. If you are a children's products importer, make sure you check with applicable updated regulations to ensure you will not get hold of your shipment at the destination port in the US.