What is: The Safety Standard for Magnet Sets
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) established a new federal safety standard for magnets that went into effect on October 21, 2022[1][4]. This mandatory standard applies is effectively a ban on certain consumer products containing loose or separable magnets that are designed, marketed, or intended for entertainment, jewelry, mental stimulation, or stress relief[2].
Key Requirements
Size and Strength Specifications
Any loose or separable magnet that fits entirely inside a small parts cylinder must have a flux index lower than 50 kG² mm²[1]. This means magnets must either be too large to swallow or weak enough to reduce the risk of internal injuries if swallowed[3].
Product Coverage
The standard applies to products such as:
Magnetic spheres, cubes, and cylinders
Magnetic jewelry and accessories
Desk toys and building sets
Entertainment and stress relief products[2]
Exemptions
The following categories are exempt from this standard:
Toys for children under 14 years (already covered by ASTM F963 toy safety standard)
Products sold exclusively to researchers, educators, and commercial users
Products for industrial or professional purposes[2][4]
Safety Context
This regulation was implemented after the CPSC estimated 26,600 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital ERs from 2010 through 2021[3]. According to easily accessible public injury data, the scope of the [6]. The standard aims to prevent serious injuries and fatalities that can occur when multiple high-powered magnets are swallowed and attract through body tissue[3].
Citations:
[1] https://atslab.com/press-release/new-federal-safety-standards-magnets/