CPSC published a final rule in the Federal Register (90 Fed. Reg. 57,820) that establishes a mandatory safety standard for water bead toy products, Safety Standard for Toys: Requirements for Water Beads (16 C.F.R. § 1250.4). This guidance summarizes new CPSC requirements for businesses manufacturing or importing water bead toy products effective March 12, 2026.
A water bead is defined as a various shaped liquid absorbent polymer, composed of materials such as, but not limited to, polyacrylamide and polyacrylate, which expands when soaked in liquid.
The final rule consists of three requirement categories:
- Size-Limit Requirements: All water beads, in their dehydrated state, provided in toys (whether accessible or not), that fit entirely within the small parts cylinder (Figure 1), must be able to pass through a 5.0 mm diameter funnel test gauge (Figure 2) or sieve test gauge (Figure 3) once fully expanded. 16 C.F.R. § 1250.4(c)(1).
Figure 1: Small Parts Cylinder
Figure 2: 5.0 mm Diameter Funnel Test Gauge
Figure 3: 5.0 mm Diameter Sieve Test Gauge
- Acrylamide-Limit Requirements: All water beads provided in toys (whether accessible or not), shall not have more than 325 micrograms acrylamide extractable from 100 small beads or 1 large bead. A small bead is defined as being less than 4.0 mm in all dimensions when dehydrated. A large bead is defined as being 4.0 mm or greater in any dimension when dehydrated. 16 C.F.R. § 1250.4(c)(2).
- Labeling Requirements:
- Water bead toys, packaging of water bead toys, and the container of water bead toys must include the warning label below. 16 C.F.R.§ 1250.4(d).
- Toy products with contained water beads, such as balls filled with water beads, and the packaging must include the warning label below. 16 C.F.R.§ 1250.4(d).
- Toy products with contained water beads that do not have packaging must have a hangtag or sticker label with the full warning(s) described above. Multiple products sold in a package or bin must be individually labeled with a hangtag or sticker. 16 C.F.R.§ 1250.4(d).
- Water bead toys, packaging of water bead toys, and the container of water bead toys must include the warning label below. 16 C.F.R.§ 1250.4(d).
Certification
Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) requires manufacturers and importers of children’s products subject to a regulation, standard, or ban enforced by the CPSC to certify that those products meet the requirements of the standard by issuing a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC). For Section 2 of the CPC, businesses must list “16 C.F.R. § 1250.4 – Safety Standard for Toys: Requirements for Water Beads.”
For more information on certification, visit our CPC business guidance page.
Additional Information
- CPSC Warns that Narcotics and Water Beads Are Growing Risks Facing Young Children | CPSC.gov
- Water Beads – Education Center
- Water Beads – Safety Alert
- Water Beads Can Be Deadly If Swallowed | CPSC.gov
- Test Method for Determining Extractable Acrylamide Content from Water Beads
Contact
For more information, please contact CPSC’s Information Center:
- Contact Form
- Toll-free: (800) 638-2772