US Updates Toy and Childcare Product Rules to Exempt Some Fibers from Third Party Testing

Changes to toy and childcare product rules mean certain unfinished manufactured fibers will no longer require third party testing in the US. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) June 30, 2020 - The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a final rule that will exempt certain unfinished fibers in toys and childcare articles from third party testing.

Published on June 1, 2020, the final rule creates a completely new 16 CFR Part 1253 ‘Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles: Determinations Regarding the ASTM F963 elements and Phthalates for Unfinished manufactured Fibers’. This follows a determination that several unfinished manufactured fibers do not exceed regulatory limits per ASTM F963 soluble elements or phthalates in toys and childcare articles.

‘Unfinished manufactured fiber’ is defined as:

“A fiber that has no chemical additives beyond those required to manufacture the fiber.”

This means it is free from chemical additives that would impact color, provide flame retardancy, etc.

For manufacturers, this means these fibers will no longer require third party testing for compliance with:

1. Eight soluble elements in ASTM F963 (16 CFR 1250)
2. Eight phthalates in toys and childcare articles per 16 CFR 1307:
o Benzyl butyl phthalate - BBP
o Dibutyl phthalate - DBP
o Dicyclohexyl phthalate - DCHP
o Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate - DEHP
o Di-n-hexyl phthalate - DHEXP (DnHP)
o Diisobutyl phthalate - DIBP
o Diisononyl phthalate - DINP
o Di-n-pentyl phthalate - DPENP

Unfinished manufactured fibers include:
• ASTM F963 soluble elements:
o Acrylic and modacrylic
o Natural rubber latex
o Nylon
o Polyurethane (spandex)
o Viscose rayon
• Phthalates (per 16 CFR 1307)
o Acrylic and modacrylic
o Natural rubber latex
o Nylon
o Polyurethane (spandex)
o Viscose rayon
o Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET)

CPSC published the final rule in the Federal Register on June 1, 2020, and it will come into effect on July 1, 2020.

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. Learn more about SGS’s Toy & Juvenile Product Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full US CPSC Exempts Certain Fibers from Third Party Testing SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2020/06/safeguards-07820-us-cpsc-exempts-certain-fibers-from-third-party-testing]

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For further information contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

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