CPSC Passes Two New Final Rules for Toys & Issues Policy Updates

cpsc logoAugust 26, 2025 | The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued several major updates over the past week, including approval of two final rules for toys, the withdrawal of certain pending regulations, and pledging a dedicated focus on “real and substantial risk” and “uninterrupted agency operations,” despite changes at the Commission. Key updates are as follows:

Final Rules on Toy Safety
The Commission voted to approve two final rules first proposed in 2024, one for water bead toys and another for infant neck floats. The Toy Association submitted comments during both rulemaking processes, and while CPSC opted to move forward with these proposals despite ongoing ASTM consensus standard activity related to each of these topics, some input provided on behalf of the industry was reflected in revisions to the final rules.

  • Final Rule: Safety Standard for Toys: Requirements for Water Beads: The final rule on water bead toys applies not only to stand-alone water bead products but also to any toys that contain water beads, even if the beads are enclosed and not intended to be accessed, such as in squishy balls. The rule sets a maximum hydrated bead diameter of 5 mm, removes the previously proposed 50% maximum expansion rate, and revises some of the warning label language. The rule will take effect 90 days after publication in the Federal Register (which likely will occur in the next week or so).

  • Final Rule: Safety Standard for Toys: Requirements for Neck Floats: The final rule on infant neck floats classifies these products as toys, despite input from stakeholders and evidence suggesting a different approach, and re-titles the mandatory toy safety standard at 16 CFR 1250 to “Safety Standards for Toys,” to accommodate the change. The rule also does not take into account ongoing ASTM F15.07 work on buoyancy aids that encompasses these products and others. The neck floats rule will go into effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register.

New Statements & Policies
In addition to the toy safety rules, the CPSC shared several broader updates this week:

  • Acting Chair Peter Feldman issued the statement “Continuity of CPSC Safety Operations” on August 19, which outlines steps to ensure the agency’s operations and safety-focus remain uninterrupted, amidst changes to the Commission make-up. Commissioner Douglas Dziak announced his departure from the agency on August 22, making Acting Chair Peter Feldman the sole commissioner in office.

  • Additionally, on August 20, Acting Chair Feldman issued a “Statement on the Withdrawal of Costly, Unsupported, and Anti-Competitive Rulemakings That Do Not Advance Safety,” to announce the withdrawal of several pending rules where the agency does not intend to issue final rules. “Under new leadership, CPSC is returning to a safety mission rooted in sound science, robust data, and common sense,” Feldman wrote in the statement. “... Regulations and practices that do not reasonably advance safety — but instead promote unscientific ideological agendas, impose unnecessary costs, restrict consumer choice, or reduce competition, entrepreneurship, and innovation — are no longer agency priorities.”

  • The CPSC also acknowledged the collective comments it received in response to its recent request for information on regulatory burden reduction, noting that it is reviewing submissions and will prioritize hazards that pose “real and substantial risks” where mandatory standards are supported by evidence. In line with this approach, on August 20 the Commission voted 2-0 to adopt a new science-based policy based on a White House directive, which emphasizes reproducibility, transparency, and peer review.

The Toy Association will continue to monitor CPSC activity and keep its members updated on developments. Questions from members may be directed to The Toy Association’s Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of standards & regulatory affairs.