tia provides member update on proposed revision to standards for cadmium and heavy metals
on january 26, 2010, tia reported to its members an effort to consider whether established limits and test methods for heavy metals under astm f963 should be updated to further strengthen the current u.s. safety system. the task group – which included participation and input from toy manufacturers / importers and major toy retailers – determined that it would recommend to astm the alignment of u.s. toy safety standard (astm f963) requirements for soluble heavy metals in substrate materials of toys with those found in en 71-3 and iso 8124-3.
formation of the tia task group was prompted by recent media reports which indicated that cadmium has been found in children’s jewelry and that no standards for cadmium or heavy metals exist for children’s jewelry and other children’s accessories. these products are generally not considered toys and are not subject to the strict standards already in place for the toy industry. some media reports, however, continue to mischaracterize children’s jewelry and accessory products as toys.
though tia continues its efforts to clarify and distinguish the issue, given the timing of these media reports, legislation proposed in congress and in eight states, as well as cpsc activity and investigation on the cadmium and heavy metals issue, the toy industry turned its attention to a review of its current safety standards with a view to making them even stronger.
on friday afternoon, february 26, tia hosted a conference call to brief its members on the status of the proposed draft revision to astm f963 and related legislative activity.
“consistent with the industry's ongoing effort to harmonize standards, this is an opportunity to be proactive and enhance astm f963 in alignment with risk-based european and iso standards for heavy metals, rather than face disparate requirements in various states and nationally that are not based on science,” explained joan lawrence, tia vice president of standards and government affairs.
in its current form, the draft proposes to adopt the requirements for soluble heavy metals in substrate materials of toys and accessible parts of toys from en71 and iso 8124, with the following exceptions to the european and iso approach:
the proposed upper age limit for applicable product will be 14 years, consistent with the other
sections of astm f963 (en 71-3 and iso specify 6 years of age)
a list of excluded materials, exempt from the requirements, has been added based on cpsc's
list of excluded materials for lead. additionally, modeling clays are specifically covered in
en and iso standards; they will not be covered in the astm proposal, given that art materials
are exempt from the other sections of astm already.
as in en71 and iso 8124, solubility testing is called for in the proposed astm standard.
however, in the rationale accompanying the proposed astm standard, a total test for heavy metals will be offered as an acceptable, optional, screening test (as is already common practice for surface coating testing already part of astm f963). in this approach, only if the results of the total test screen exceed the limits for heavy metals, is additional solubility testing needed.
technical comments received from tia members late last week have resulted in the introduction of additional edits to the proposed draft. when these edits are incorporated and confirmed by the tia staff and task group members, and some remaining issues resolved, the proposal will be submitted to astm for consideration and balloting.
in the interim, tia staff will continue to outreach to members and industry stakeholders, retailers, and others to enlist both domestic and international support of the alignment efforts
