Toy Testing
Toys sold in the US must be tested for lead and other toxic metals and phthalates, and tested for mechanical and physical attributes as required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). ChemServe is a CPSC-accredited environmental third-party testing laboratory that specializes in children’s toy testing.
We can help you by conducting all chemical and mechanical testing required to satisfy CPSC regulations and draft a Children’s Product Certificate with competitive pricing and a 10-day turn-around.
Toy testing for Lead
Federal regulations state that each color on the toy intended for children 12 years or younger needs to be tested for lead content. This is because colors are stabilized by the addition of lead and include lead in paint and surface coatings, and lead in the toy as a whole. Further information can be found at the ChemServe consumer product testing page and the CPSC web-site.
ChemServe will test your toy for lead content.
Toxic metal analysis
Certain toys, or the parts of toys that are sucked, mouthed, or ingested need to be tested for 8 toxic metals; Lead, Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury, Selenium and Silver.
If your product is age-graded as intended for use for children age 6 years and above, and is not likely to be sucked, mouthed, or ingested, it does not need to be subjected to toy testing for the eight metals. In this case, only a lead test is required.
ChemServe’s toy testing toxic metal package includes all eight heavy metals.
Toy testing for Phthalates
Phthalates are chemical plasticizers that are often used in the production of many types of plastics. These chemicals, most often, but not always, are used to make plastics softer and more pliable.
Children’s toys and child care articles containing certain phthalates are prohibited.
Each type of plastic material that the toy is made from requires a separate phthalate test and these could be hard plastic, soft or other types of plastics.
A more detailed explanation of toy testing for phthalates can be found at the ChemServe phthalates page and at the CPSC website.
ChemServe tests for all phthalates including the expanded CA Prop 65 list.
Mechanical and physical analysis
ChemServe conducts mechanical and physical testing of toys for CSPC compliance.
Items will be subjected to toy testing for a variety of ways such as small parts, physical strength depending on the toy, and tracking labels will also be assessed if requested.
ChemServe works closely with specialize partner labs to conduct mechanical/physical testing.
How to estimate the number of tests
1) Add up the number of different colors on the toy. This represents the number of lead tests required.
2) Count up the number of different plastic types in the toy. Types include soft pliable plastic, hard plastic or silicone. This will be the number of phthalate tests required.
3) If the toy is for ages 6 or under, or is for older children but likely to be chewed or sucked then a toxic metals test is required. In this case add a toxic metal test.
4) If mechanical or physical testing is required add this to the order.
