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TIA and Toy Safety
By Tim Connolly
February 1, 2003
With
roughly 5,000 new toys hitting the shelves each year, it takes more
than a few pairs of watchful eyes to safeguard children’s
health. The Toy Industry Association (TIA) created
the first toy safety guidelines in 1971, crafted from the input
of its membership—comprising toy manufacturers, designers,
licensors, and import/export companies. In the 1980s, the guidelines
were adopted and modified by the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM), an independent standards organization. This new
toy safety standard became known as ASTM F 963, which undergoes
a review every five years; a new version will be published sometime
in 2003.
Toy
Fair 2003
Safety
will be an important topic at the 100th anniversary Toy
Fair, taking place February 16th thru 19th in New York
City’s Javits Center.
On
the 18th there will be a two-part “Toy Safety Overview: an
Introduction for Designers, Inventors and Newbies.” As the
title suggests, the seminar is aimed at those who are new to the
toy industry and includes, “a review of the main requirements
of the U.S. mandatory (federal) standard, the voluntary standard,
and the importance of complying with both.”
There will also be a “Toy Safety Update” seminar on
the same day, covering the recent changes in ASTM F 963, as well
as introducing the new CPSC chairman, Hal Stratton, who will review
the agency’s priorities and projects for the coming year.
(Cont.)
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