Safety is the toy industry’s top priority. All toys sold in the United States must conform to stringent federal safety standards such as the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Not only do these toy safety standards contain tough flammability requirements, they also restrict the use of substances known to be harmful to children and to which children might be exposed.
Batteries – especially small button- and coin-size batteries – can pose a serious health hazard if swallowed. If they lodge in the esophagus, the results can be life-threatening and immediate medical intervention is needed.
The Toy Association recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI), internet-connected products, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and services are becoming increasingly common in all types of household products, including those offered by toy companies.
Consumers have every reason to trust the safety of the three billion toys sold in America each year. All toys sold in the U.S., regardless of where they are made, must comply with strict U.S. standards.
Though toys comprise less than 1 percent of the typical household waste stream, there is an industry-wide understanding that everyone has a role to play in support of sustainability.
The federally-mandated small parts regulation that has been in place in the U.S. for more than four decades was established using research from the American Academy of Pediatrics, child development experts, government officials, and others. These requirements take into account the physiological makeup of a child.
The Toy Association and its members are proud of the important, life-shaping role that toys, games, and play have in the development and growth of young minds and bodies.
The Toy Association assures parents and caregivers that any Bisphenol-A (BPA) found in toys is safe, given its limited scope of use, minuscule amounts present, and limited risk of exposure in toy and game products.
Toys* sold in the United States are prohibited from containing heavy metals or any other substances that can result in harmful exposure to children. By law, toy companies must ensure that their products comply with all relevant standards, regulations, and tests – including applicable heavy metal limits – before they can be sold in this country.
All toys sold in the U.S. must comply with over 100 strict toy safety regulations, tests, and requirements designed to protect children at play, including the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Among other protections, these regulations make it illegal to sell toys or children’s products containing substances harmful to children and to which they might be exposed.