Alpha science toys：New Testing Standard of ASTM F963

Alpha science toys has learned that the US ASTM F963 requirements have been updated with adding new testing standards for all types of toys. Alpha science toys has been following international toy production standards for many years in the production of children's science educational toys. Alpha trictly comply with the testing requirements of ASTM F963 while working closely with world-renowned testing companies, and carefully produce safe and harmless educational toys for children, in order to every child could grow up in a safe and harmless environment. Alpha science toys would like to talk more scientific knowledge of ASTM F963 new standard as below.

THE LATEST ASTM F963 UPDATE INCLUDES

Among the changes, the 2016 revision addresses ride-on toys with: a new curb impact requirement, a clarification of overload and stability requirements, and a strap exemption.

new labelling requirements for toys that have certain small coins or button batteries,

temperature and current-limiting requirements for lithium-ion batteries, and

new requirements for materials and toys that could expand if accidentally swallowed.

Other revisions include:

- new soaking and compression tests for magnets

- new requirements and clarifications related to microbiological safety;

- clarifications to heavy elements requirements for toy substrate materials

- revised requirements for toys involving projectiles; and,

- clarification of requirements and supplemental guidance for impact hazards.

WHAT THIS REVISION SHOULD MEAN FOR YOUR SOURCING AND PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

You will have noticed that all children’s toys that have been produced after 30 April 2017 needed to be tested according to ASTM F963-16.

According to ASTM F963-16 all toys that are intended for children of 12 years old and under need to be tested by a registered CPC third party testing and quality provider, who will then furnish you with the appropriate product specific CPC which declares that your product complies with the federal toy safety standard.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMPLYING WITH THESE TOY TESTING REGULATIONS

As an importer you may be feeling overwhelmed about adhering to the regulations as laid out above and while you should be doing everything you can to adhere to them, here we lay out a few suggestions of how to go about doing this;

You need to work towards improving quality control procedures by strictly monitoring the quality of raw materials. Do not fall into the trap of using cheaper, substandard materials. Whilst this may be appealing for cost reduction, you will be putting your brand at unnecessary risks.

Improving your products quality always needs to be a primary goal. Many of the new updates in regulation also stipulate the use of a third party quality provider as mandatory for your products compliance.

Ensure you use a third party company that is up to date with the latest in toy testing and safety regulations. This will reduce the risks of potential product recalls resulting in a bad image for your brand, but also a loss in revenue.

Seek new non-toxic environmentally-friendly raw materials. How do you go about sourcing your raw materials? This may step may be a little more difficult to pursue, but let’s take a look at Lego. Their blocks are made of plastic, but currently, they are investing loads of money and time into finding alternatives to plastic for their famous building blocks. It’s this kind of commitment that ensures a positive and innovative position in the market place.

Understanding the regulations and what they mean for your current sourcing strategy for children’s toys will help give appropriate direction and guidelines to your current competitive positioning in the market place.

Understanding the regulations and what they mean for your current sourcing strategy for children’s toys will help give appropriate direction and guidelines to your current competitive positioning in the market place.

By understanding these regulations and ensuring compliance according to them, you are able to guard yourself against potential product recalls and even potential lawsuits that could come from health and safety violations that are sadly too often found within children’s toys.

"API is equipped to meet the above product testing and safety requirements accordingly to ensure your brand’s safety and protection."

For the new toy standards of ASTM F963 above,Alpha science toys believes that this new round of standards is futher consider children’s safety, as well as strict requirements for manufacturers to ensure the safety of raw materials in the production process. The new requirements protect children's safety while ensuring the safety of the products and the high reputation of the brand, thus customers will not lose money due to material reasons during the sales process. Alpha science toys has been engaged in children's educational toys for many years and always purchase the most safest and most harmless material, so that every piece of educational toy produced by Alpha is safe and harmless, which providing the safety guarantee for customers and parents. For many years, Alpha science toys has been dedicated to creating a happy childhood full of scientific knowledge for children, providing children the most assured educational toy, allowing children to thrive under the influence of scientific knowledge and create the most beautiful future.