CPSC Proposes to Add New Requirements to Safety Standard for Water Beads

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is proposing changes to existing safety standards covering water beads, it said in a notice Sept. 9. The commission’s proposed rule would add requirements to Section 4.40 of ASTM F963-23 -- the portion of the safety standard for toys that addresses expanding materials -- to address ingestion, insertion, aspiration and choking hazards. The proposal would add performance requirements to address those risks, as well as acrylamide level limits and testing, and new labeling requirements. Comments are due by Nov. 8.