Toy Safety Education Program Provides Updates on Federal Rules & Regulations
November 6, 2023 | Wherever your toys are sold in the U.S., federal product safety compliance is non-negotiable. As The Toy Association educates consumers on toy safety this November during Toy Safety Awareness Month, it is also reminding manufacturers that resources are available to them through the newest edition of the Toy Safety Education Program, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the most up-to-date state and federal regulations impacting the toy industry.
“In a rapidly changing industry, staying informed is not just an option — it's a necessity,” said Ed Desmond, executive vice president of global government and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association. “Our Toy Safety Education Program offers an opportunity for toy professionals to gain a nuanced understanding of federal rules and regulations. Each module in the program, curated by industry experts, empowers participants to have the tools they need to navigate the complexities of federal compliance, ensuring that the toys brought to market prioritize the safety of children everywhere.”
The federal portion of the online safety course explores the complexities of mandatory U.S. product safety requirements over four modules, each lasting about 30 minutes. An overview of each module is below:
- Federal Rules, Regulations, and Enforcement Agencies: Understand the laws, regulations, and requirements that mandate compliance, and familiarize yourself with the key agencies responsible for enforcement.
- The ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standard — What You Need to Know: This two-part module decodes the complexities of the ASTM F963 standard, helps you determine the provisions applicable to your products, and guides you on staying current with updates.
- Part 1 – Introduction, Mechanical, and Physical Requirements
- Part 2 – Labeling, Electrical, Flammability, Chemical, and Other Requirements
- U.S. Testing and Certification Requirements — A Practical Guide: Delve into the practicalities of ensuring compliance through third-party testing. Learn about the basic legal testing and certification requirements, including frequency of testing, identifying a testing lab, creating a sample, and how long a certification is valid.
After completing each module, participants will have to correctly answer questions about the content to move on to the next module. Following the successful completion of all modules, participants will receive a certificate of completion from The Toy Association.
The course is free for Toy Association members and $495 for non-members. Click here to access the Toy Safety Education Program.
Toy Safety Awareness Month will continue through the end of November; any individual or company that wishes to be an advocate for safe play is encouraged to get involved. The Toy Association’s safety content can be shared using #ToySafetyAwarenessMonth and #PlaySafe. Be sure to follow the latest updates on Facebook (@TheToyAssociation), LinkedIn (The Toy Association), and X (@TheToyAssoc).