On January 10, 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) proposed a new magnet safety standard to address the risk of injury and death, especially in children and adolescents, following the accidental ingestion of one or more small, high-energy magnets.

Scope and requirements of the proposed standard

Scope of application

Consumer products manufactured in the United States or imported into the United States containing one or more loose or detachable magnets and designed, sold or intended for entertainment, jewelry (including children's jewelry), mental exercise, stress relief, or a combination of these purposes, Excludes toy products. Meets either of the following requirements a) or b) to be bound by this new standard:

a) sold to consumers for use in or around the home, residence, school, entertainment, or otherwise;

b). For personal use, consumption or recreation in or around the home, residence, school, or entertainment, for entertainment, or for other purposes. Excludes those products that are not manufactured or distributed for routine sale/offer to consumers for use, consumption or recreation.

Require

In magnets or products containing magnets, each loose or separable magnet that can fully fit into the small parts test cylinder described in 16 CFR 1501.4 must have a flux coefficient of less than 50kG2 mm2 when tested in accordance with the method described in the standard.

Hazards of human ingestion of magnets

After the magnet is ingested into the human body, it will attract each other with another magnet or a magnetic object in the digestive system, which will cause pressure on the intestinal wall, and the peristaltic ability of the intestinal tract itself is not enough to expel the mutually adsorbed magnets, causing the gastrointestinal tract. Abnormal peristalsis, leading to intestinal pressure necrosis, volvulus, intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage, fistula, ischemia, inflammation, perforation, peritonitis, sepsis, ulcer, and even death.

Impact of the proposed standard on the market

The requirements in 16 CFR 1112 related to third-party conformity assessment bodies are therefore also proposed to be revised to add the proposed magnet standard to the list of children's product safety regulations, creating a corresponding magnet safety standard 16 CFR 1262, which complements the US market except toys Control requirements for external magnets or products containing magnets.

If the standard is finally passed, non-toy magnets or products containing magnets exported to the United States in the future need to comply with the requirements of this standard, and the CPC or GCC certificate needs to reflect the test results of the relevant regulations. Buckyball products composed of many small spherical magnets require special attention to whether the size or magnetic flux of a single magnet bead of the product meets the requirements of the new standard.

Reminder

Relevant enterprises that produce or export magnets or products containing magnets should pay attention to the requirements of this new standard in a timely manner, and take corresponding improvement measures before the implementation of the standard. ZRLK has rich experience in product testing, which can help you easily understand whether the product is safe and compliant. If you have relevant product testing and certification requirements, please feel free to contact us, and our engineers will serve you as soon as possible!