Standards and Regulations
Standards
ASTM F963 - Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety (excluding animal testing)
A voluntary U.S. standard applicable to toys distributed in the U.S. It employs test procedures for extractable metals.
EN 71-3 - "Safety of Toys- Migration of Certain Elements"
A European standard for toys sold in European Union countries. It employs a test procedure for extractable metals.
- EN 71-3 Safety of Toys Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements
Federal Regulations
16 CFR 1303 - "Ban of Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead Containing Paint"
- Applicable to paints and surface coatings in consumer products in the U.S.
- Bans the use of Lead-Containing Paint in Consumer Products
- Total Lead content of paint or surface coating should not exceed 600 ppm
- Exact analytical method for total metal determination is not specified by the regulation
Toy Testing Methodologies for Toxic Metals
Extractable Metals
- Lead, arsenic, antimony, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury and/or selenium
- Each component/color of the toy is analyzed as a unique sample
- Metals are extracted from the toy component using dilute hydrochloric acid for 1 hour at 37 °C
- Analysis of the extraction solution is performed by ICP-AES or ICP-MS
Total Metals
- Destructive Method of Analysis
- Each component/color of the toy is analyzed as a unique sample
- The toy component is digested on a hot plate or in a microwave digestion unit using strong acid and other chemicals to assist in the breakdown of the material
- Analysis of the digestion solution is performed by ICP-AES or ICP-MS
- Non-destructive Method of Analysis
- XRF Analysis of toy surfaces/components without sample preparation
- Used as a screening method for total metal determination
- The method is not currently used for regulatory purposes
