SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published a SafeGuardS covering Japan’s new requirements for toy magnet sets and expanding beads.

The new requirements have been introduced by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and relate to:

1. Magnet amusement products – limited to those used as toys or other amusement products with a mutual attraction between magnets, in which the individual magnets or parts using magnets that make up one product are not larger than the size specified by METI
2. Water-absorbing synthetic resin toys – limited to those which contain the part using the synthetic resin that expands by water absorption with the size before absorbing water not being larger than the size specified by METI

METI stipulates that products must not fit into the cylinder for small parts as specified by ISO 8124-1 to ensure they do not present a swallowing hazard for infants.

The two products are now listed under the Consumer Product Safety Act, which restricts the manufacturing and selling of products that do not comply with the technical standard. The requirement came into force on June 19, 2023.

Stakeholders should review SGS’s original SafeGuardS for more information, including images of examples of the products being regulated.

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. After all, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Toy & Juvenile Product Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full ISO Issues Amendment 1 to ISO 8124-3:2020 ‘Migration of Certain Elements’ SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2023/04/safeguards-4623-iso-issues-amendment-1-to-iso-8124-3-2020-migration-of-certain-elements]

Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Taku Sato
C&P Director for SL/HL and TFS
Tel: (+81) 05017807867
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
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