U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just issued a legal rule to exempt untreated wood from Heavy Elements testing requirements (ASTM F963-11 Section 4.3.5). Thus, untreated wood used in toys will not require testing at a CPSC-approved third-party laboratory.

The rule defines untreated wood as wood harvested from the tree trunks with no added surface coatings and no materials added to the wood substrate (excluding manufactured or engineered woods).
 

Here provided the summary for 16 CFR 1251 as below:
 

(1) It is unnecessary to fulfill the third-party testing requirement in CPSA Section 14(a)(2) if the the materials used in toys conform to ASTMF963-11 Section 4.3.5;

(2) If untreated wood from tree trunks does not contain the heavy elements in concentrations above the limits specified in ASTM F963-11 and no heavy elements will be processed or penetrated into the wood that may exceed the limits for soluble elements stated in ASTM F963-11, the testing requirements for heavy elements can be exempted.

Unless CPSC receives significant objection on 16 CFR 1251 by August 17, 2015, otherwise, this rule will be effective from September 15, 2015

For details, please check the below web site:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-17/pdf/2015-17413.pdf
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-17/pdf/2015-17414.pdf

For more information, please contact us at mkt@dpi-labs.com