The US-based international standards agency’s revised consumer safety specification for toy safety is designated ASTM F963-23.
The revisions were arrived at by the ASTM Toy Safety Subcommittee (F15.22) and approved in August before being published in October.
As well as the changes to battery accessibility and acoustics (sound level of toys), the revision also contains new requirements for expanding materials and projectiles.
The standard has also been revised to align with US government requirements on phthalates, toy substrate material exemptions and tracking labels.
According to report from SGS, before the new standard can become US law, the revisions must be approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which has 90 days to reject or accept the revised standard.
If the CPSC accepts the revised standard, it will be considered a consumer product safety standard issued under the US Consumer Product Safety Act.
The changes come on the back of recent high-profile attempts to ensure electronics are safe for children. For example, new US legislation – Reese’s Law – was introduced last year after a US toddler died after swallowing a coin battery from a TV remote.