Business Guidance FAQ

Place the rattle in the opening in the test fixture (in the position that makes the rattle most likely to go through the opening.)

If any part of the rattle goes all the way through the opening without being pushed or pulled, the rattle fails.

Figure 1 - Rattle Test Fixture

Repeat this test after you perform impact, torque, tension and compression testing (see 16 CFR §1500.51). These tests simulate the forces that a rattle may experience during normal use and abuse by children 0-18 months of age. If the rattle or any piece that comes off after this testing fits through the opening, the rattle fails.

Rattles are subject to surface coating requirements, lead and phthalate content limits, requirements under the mandatory toy standard (ASTM F963), testing and certification, and tracking label requirements. These requirements are discussed below and at www.cpsc.gov/BusinessEducation:

• Surface Coating Limit Rattles may not be painted with paint that contains more than 0.009 percent lead.
• Lead Content Limit Rattles cannot contain greater than 100 ppm (0.01 percent) of total lead content in any accessible component part.
• F963 Toy Standard Under ASTM F 963, neither the noisemaking part, nor the handle of a rattle, should end in a ball, half ball, or circular flare that may choke a child. If an end shaped like this goes all the way through the opening of the supplemental test fixture, the rattle may present a choking hazard.
  
  

Figure 2 - Rattle Supplemental Test Fixture

• Phthalate Content Limits Plasticized components of rattles must not contain more than 0.1 percent of the following eight specified phthalates: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPENP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP), and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP).
• Testing and Certification Rattles, like all products that are designed or intended primarily intended for children 12 years of age or younger, must be tested by an accredited and CPSC-accepted, third party laboratory for compliance with the rattle regulation and all other applicable children's product safety rules. Based on that testing, a domestic manufacturer (or importer) of rattles must issue a Children's Product Certificate specifying each applicable rule and indicating that the product complies with those rules.
• Tracking Labels Rattles must have a tracking label or other distinguishing permanent mark affixed to the product and its packaging. The tracking label shall be a permanent distinguishing mark on the product and its packaging, to the extent practicable, and must contain certain basic information, including the source of the product, the date of manufacture, and cohort information such as a batch or run number.