President Bush has approved a new law requiring that toys sold in the United States be tested to the ASTM International F963 toy safety standard.

"By requiring that children's products be held to a higher safety standard and tested, we can stop unsafe ones from entering the marketplace," said Sen. Bill Nelson, who is pleased that the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 includes toy safety requirements he championed in Congress. ASTM F963, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, will be a mandatory requirement for toys while the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) studies the standard's effectiveness and issues final consumer guidelines for toy safety hazards, including magnets.

"When powerful magnets emerged as a new toy safety hazard, technical experts from ASTM Committee F15 recognized the seriousness of the issue and quickly worked to update the F963 toy safety standard," said Sen. Nelson. "These standards also provide an open, collaborative process to address changing conditions needed to ensure the safety of toys and children's products."

A coalition of consumer advocate groups strongly supported the toy safety provisions crafted by Nelson. "Making compliance with ASTM F963 mandatory is a big step toward rebuilding consumer confidence in the safety of toys," said Donald Mays, senior director of product safety for Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports.  Mays is an active member of ASTM International where he participates in Committee F15 on Consumer Products.

The ASTM F963 standard incorporates relevant safety measures already required under federal law and includes additional guidelines and test methods to prevent injuries from choking, sharp edges and other potential hazards. ASTM Committee F15 — which includes technical experts from academia, consumer groups, industry and government — regularly reviews and updates the F963 toy safety standard.

The law also authorizes significant increases in CPSC funding and instructs the federal agency to implement a number of new safety regulations. "Media reports and consumer advocates have called this bill the most important piece of consumer product safety legislation in a generation. I call it legislation that is long overdue," said Sen. Daniel Inouye, who chairs the Senate committee that oversees the CPSC.

In addition to requiring toy safety standards, the law sets strict limits on lead content in children's products. Instructions added to the legislation to facilitate its implementation direct CPSC to complete a regulation requiring lighters to meet ASTM F400, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Lighters, as well as consider new safety rules for equestrian helmets and furniture tip-over hazards.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act legislation signed by President Bush includes the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, which requires the CPSC to issue new rules for durable infant products — such as cribs, toddler beds and strollers — based on existing voluntary consensus standards such as those maintained by ASTM International.

To learn more about how you can become a member of ASTM International and participate in standards development, visit www.astm.org.  For more information about ASTM Committee F15, contact Len Morrissey, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9719; lmorriss@astm.org).

Release #8048