What is the toy safety standard? Have you ever remembered those days when toys looked suspiciously rather than fun?

Children are innocent beings that are prone to be harmed accidentally, this is why there are some people that care about toy safety standards.

These standards are a way to ensure playtime is all about smiles and giggles and not trips to the emergency room.

Toy Safety Standard

There are few standards that can be followed by the toy manufacturer to ensure that every toy that they produces are safe and fun to play by the children.

These standards are made by silent heroes that work behind the scenes to ensure their safety.

Here are 3 most common toy safety standards found in your favorite toy!

1. ASTM F963 (US)

This standard is a staple one and widely used standard in the US and many other countries.

First introduced in 1986, this standard is growing and covering a broader subject about toy safety standards to ensure that everyone is happy without sacrificing safety matters.

The toys undergo numerous tests to make sure they meet the standard’s requirements. Including simulating how a child might interact with the toy or exposing it to various condition

These are the topics that covered in ASTM F9623

Choking Hazard
Sharp Edges and Points
Flammability
Chemical Hazards
Strangulation Hazards
Noise Level

2. ISO 8124

The next one is the ISO number 8124. ISO 8124 is the global standards that act as a common language for toy safety.

First issued in 1982 the ISO 8124 thrived and developed into one of the standards required for the toy maker to make their products public.

Entitled “Safety of Toys”, this standard wasn’t a single standard but rather acted as a foundation outlining general safety principles and testing methods for toys intended for children under 14.

Those part including:

Mechanical and Physical Properties: This part takes up a topic including choking hazard, sharp edges and points, and flammability.
Flammability: It’s quite dangerous for children under 14 playing with flammable material. So this part provides in-depth testing methods to ensure materials don’t ignite easily.
Migration of Certain Elements: Children are curious beings, with this regulation, the toy maker must ensure that harmful chemicals like lead and cadmium in toys are restricted to protect children’s health.
Swallowing Hazards: Defines specific limitations on part size and ease of detachment to minimize choking risks for very young children.

So, while having these toy safety standard regulation is quite effective to ensure our children’s safety, and minimize the said risk, the main guardian angel of the children is ourselves.