On September 9, 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has proposed to add requirements for water beads under the Safety Standard for Toys (16 CFR 1250).

Dates

Submit comments by November 8, 2024

Scope

Water bead toys and toys that contain water beads，such as 

• toy experiment kits, 
• toy sensory kits,  
• toy squeeze/sensory balls filled with water beads, and 
• toy water pellet guns designed to shoot water bead projectiles.

Outside Of the Scope 

Water beads that are not toys or are not contained in toys and are for various non-toy uses, such as: 

• water beads used for decorative purposes (placement in candle holders),
• in vases or gardens for plant hydration, 
• air freshener products or deodorizers for cat litter,
• in first-aid cold packs

New requirements for water bead toys and toys containing water beads are added in 16 CFR 1250:

As received or water beads removed from a toy, which are small parts,

Physical requirement

Water beads shall not expand more than 50% in any dimension, and 

Expanded water bead can completely pass through the 9.0 mm diameter funnel test gauge without external forces

Chemical requirement

Acrylamide shall not be extractable more than 65 µg from water bead.

100 small water beads (defined as <4 mm across the smallest diameter of the bead prior to hydration) or from one large water bead (defined as ≥4 mm across the smallest diameter of the bead prior to hydration). 

Labelling requirements

Water bead toys and packaging of toys that contain water beads shall include the following warning: 

Packaging of toys with contained water beads, such as squeeze balls filled with water beads shall include the following warning:

The safety symbol and the signal word "WARNING" shall be at least 1/8" (3.2mm) in height. The remainder of the text shall be at least 1/16" (1.6mm) in height.

Instructions shall have the same warning labels that must appear on the product packaging, with similar formatting requirements.

Instructional Literature requirements

Instructions or other literature accompanying a water bead product, when provided, shall include directions for use, including the relevant warnings by above figure. 

Signal word and safety alert symbol shall contrast with the background of the signal word panel, and the warnings shall contrast with the background of the instructional literature. 

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