New Magnet Safety Standards
16 CFR Parts 1112 and 1262 Approved
Marietta, GA. (October 10, 2022) –
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new federal standard addressing safety hazards associated with magnets. If more than one small, high-powered magnet is swallowed, the magnets can interact with each other through body tissue, potentially causing long-term health issues or death. This risk is especially prevalent for small children and teens.
The new regulation, 16 CFR Parts 1112 and 1262, is effective October 21, 2022, and applies to magnet products containing one or more separable or loose, small magnets that are intended, marketed, or designed for use in:
- Jewelry/Children’s Jewelry
- Entertainment
- Stress Relief
- Mental Stimulation
- A Combination of the Above
This excludes magnet products sold or distributed to researchers, school educators, professionals, and industrial or commercial users, to be used exclusively for research, educational, professional, industrial, or commercial purposes. Toys subject to the ASTM F963 toy safety standard are also exempt, as this standard already addresses the hazards associated with ingestion.
The new rule stipulates that any loose or separable magnet fitting entirely inside a small parts cylinder—defined by 16 CFR 1501—needs to have a flux index lower than 50 kG² mm². The method outlined in ASTM F963 can be used to determine a product’s flux index.
Any magnet products addressed in the standard that are manufactured after October 22, 2022 will be held accountable to the new regulation.
ATS regularly tests products, components, and materials to the latest safety standards. Our consumer product testing capabilities include flammability, lead, heavy metals, BPA, phthalates, toxins in packaging, and mechanical testing. We test to ASTM F963, Prop 65, CPSC/CPSIA, CCPSA, EU, and state requirements, alongside the latest updates to product regulations. If you need consumer product testing, contact ATS today.