The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a final document that determines which unfinished manufactured fibers do not contain the ASTM F963 elements or specified phthalates with the consent limits for children's toys and child care articles.

Here it is eight “ASTM F963 elements” and their limits of solubility:

The following phthalates are prohibited for sale, distribution in commerce, or importation into the United States as part of any children's toy or child care article if their concentration exceed 0.1 percent of:

• di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)  
• dibutyl phthalate (DBP)  
• benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)  
• diisononyl phthalate (DINP)  
• diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)  
• di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPENP)  
• di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP)  
• dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)  

Tests for phthalate concentration are one of the most expensive certification tests and can be reduced only if each phthalate's concentration is below 0.1 percent (1000 ppm).

The determination of the specified unfinished manufactured fibers would allow to skip the third-party testing against the requirements of the ASTM F963 elements or phthalates for children's toys and child care articles and to pass the certification procedure at lower cost.

Thus, after conducting the range of different researches, the CPSC determined the following unfinished manufactured fibers that do not exceed the ASTM F963 elements solubility limits:

1. Nylon  
2. Polyurethane (Spandex)  
3. Viscose Rayon  
4. Acrylic and Modacrylic  
5. Natural Rubber Latex

And those that do not exceed the phthalates content limits:

1. Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET)

2. Nylon

3. Polyurethane (Spandex)

4. Viscose Rayon

5. Acrylic and Modacrylic

6. Natural Rubber Latex

So, if the accessible components of toys and child care articles are made with indicated above unfinished manufactured fibers, the third-party tests are not required.

Please note, the unfinished manufactured fiber is one that is free of any chemical additives added to impart color or some desirable performance property.

The Law becomes effective from July 1, 2020.

The information has been prepared by the GMA Consult Group team. GMA Consult Group provides a full cycle of international type approval and global market access services for IT, Telecom and industrial electrical products in all countries throughout the world. With proven expertise in worldwide regulations, compliance, certification, and conformity assessment, GMA Consult Group can help your company speed up the access to any market with almost zero efforts from your side. Need your own guide to the world of certification and approvals? Don't hesitate to contact us via info@gma.trade.

‍