CPSC Regulates Children's Toys To Reduce Small Parts Injuries

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 8) - Most toys and other articles intended for very young children will have to pass a test designed to screen out small parts under the regulation approved yesterday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The new regulation is designed to reduce the risk of injury to children under three years of age. This age group is particularly vulnerable to injuries and deaths from swallowing, inhaling or choking on small parts of toys and other articles intended for their use.

The results of a three-month CPSC study on small parts injuries to children under the age of 10 years indicated that almost half of an estimated 3,800 injuries recorded from December 1, 1976, through February 1, 1977, were suffered by children under three years of age. According to death certificates on file at CPSC, more than 50 children under three years have died in accidents involving small parts.

The regulation, which becomes effective January 1, 1980, will apply to such children's products as squeeze toys, blocks, stuffed toys, teethers and crib exercisers. A more comprehensive list of product categories is attached.

These products automatically will be banned from sale if they are small enough to fit entirely inside a truncated cylinder measuring 1% inches in diameter by 2% inches in depth, In addition, any small part that breaks off a toy after it is given simulated rough treatment will be subjected to separate testing with the cylinder, and the toy will be banned if the part fits completely within the device.

The regulation will not cover items specifically intended only for use by children older than three years, nor will it apply to common household items to which very young children might have access. Exempted from coverage under the regulation will be articles which have utilitarian, educational or other value, such as children's clothing and accessories, modeling clay, balloons and crayons.

The Commission voted 3-to-l to approve the new regulation, with Commissioner Edith Barksdale Sloan voting against the regulation. Copies of Commissioner Sloan's written dissent from the majority vote are available through the CPSC's Office of the Secretary. This regulation is the newest of several designed to increase children's safety.

These include regulations to identify sharp points and edges on toys for children under the age of eight years; safety requirements for pacifiers and rattles to prevent infant chokings and strangulations; and safety regulations for electrical toys.

CPSC staff currently is studying technical reports to examine the possible regulation of projectile toys.

The regulation addressing small parts of toys and other articles intended for children under age three years is to be published in the Federal Register shortly.

Items that will be affected by the regulations include (but are not limited to) the following categories:

Squeeze toys
Teethers
Crib exercisers
Crib gyms
Crib mobiles
Other toys or items to be affixed to a crib, stroller, playpen or baby carriage
Pull and push toys
Pounding toys
Blocks and stacking sets
Bathtub, wading, pool and sand toys
Rocking, spring, and stick horses and other figures
Chimes and musical balls and carousels
Jack-in-the-boxes
Stuffed, plush, and flocked animals and other figures

In addition, any other toy or article intended, marketed, or labeled for use by children younger than age three will be affected, including the following categories:

Pre-school toys, games and puzzles
Riding toys
Infant and juvenile furniture such as cribs, playpens, baby bouncers and walkers, strollers and carriages
Dolls such as baby dolls, rag dolls and bean-bag dolls
Toy cars, trucks or other vehicles.