ASTM F963 for Squishy Toys: Testing, BPA and CPC Buyer Checklist

Testing and documentation should be planned for the finished product, intended age group, material formulation, colors, coatings, attachments and packaging. A report for one foam shape, TPR formula or filled construction should not automatically be treated as coverage for every future design.

Share the intended US age grade before sampling is finalized. Small parts, liquid or gel filling, scent, coatings, keychain hardware, batteries, magnets and other functions can change which requirements need review.

CPSC guidance states that children’s toys manufactured after April 20, 2024 must meet ASTM F963-23. Search results and supplier files may still mention ASTM F963-17 because that version applied to toys manufactured after February 28, 2018 and before the newer version became mandatory.

Do not compare reports only by the words ‘ASTM passed.’ Check the manufacture date, standard version, exact product identification, tested colors and materials, applicable sections, laboratory and report date.

ASTM F963 addresses multiple toy hazards, but not every section applies in the same way to every squishy toy. The product construction and intended use determine which mechanical, physical, flammability, material, labeling or toy-specific requirements need review.

Ask the laboratory or responsible compliance professional to identify the applicable sections for the finished product. For a CPC, CPSC guidance requires the applicable ASTM F963 sections to be listed rather than citing only 16 CFR part 1250.

Buyers sometimes search for ‘ASTM F963 BPA,’ but these should not be treated as interchangeable claims. An ASTM F963 report does not automatically prove that every material or finished toy is BPA-free for every market, retailer or product claim.

If BPA or another restricted substance is important to the project, identify the exact material, destination, age grade and buyer specification. Ask the laboratory or compliance adviser which separate chemical requirement, test method or declaration is appropriate, then keep that evidence with the same product version.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission describes a Children’s Product Certificate as the written certificate in which the domestic manufacturer or importer certifies that a children’s product complies with the applicable children’s product safety rules.

A CPSC-accepted laboratory supplies test results; it does not issue the CPC. The responsible manufacturer or importer prepares the certificate for the covered product and must keep its product identification, rules, manufacture details, test details and laboratory information accurate.

Keep the approved specification, bill of materials or material description, color and artwork references, age grade, test reports, certificate, production identification and packaging files connected to the same product version.

EN71 supports a European toy-safety discussion, while ASTM F963 and the applicable CPSC rules support a US discussion. They are not interchangeable documents, even when the product looks identical.

For each destination, confirm the current official requirements and connect the report, certificate, labeling and approved product specification to the same finished version.

This guide is general sourcing information, not legal or regulatory advice. Buyers remain responsible for confirming the rules that apply to their product and market with qualified compliance professionals and current regulator guidance.