Toys with Button Cell Batteries Could Get Tougher Safety Standard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is accepting comments through Oct. 15 on a proposed rule that would add performance requirements and revise labeling requirements for toys containing button cell or coin cell batteries.

Button cell batteries are small, disposable, single-cell batteries that range from 5 mm to 32 mm (0.2 inches to 1.3 inches) in diameter and 1 mm to 6 mm (0.04 inches to 0.24 inches) in thickness. Common anode materials are zinc or lithium while common cathode materials are manganese dioxide, silver oxide, carbon monofluoride, cupric oxide, or oxygen from the air.

Lithium coin batteries were originally developed as a three-volt power source for low-drain and battery-backup applications because of their high-energy density, correspondingly small size, and long shelf life. These batteries are commonly approximately 20 mm (0.787 inch) in diameter.

Toys containing button cell or coin cell batteries that fall within the scope of this rule include light-up toys, talking dolls, remote-controlled vehicles, stuffed animals, science kits, musical toys, do-it-yourself light-up craft kits, electronic board games, and learning tablets/games.

If finalized, this rule would require importers, manufacturers, and private labelers of toys containing button cell or coin cell batteries to certify, based on testing by an ISO-accredited, CPSC-accepted third-party conformity assessment body, that their toys comply with the requirements of the rule.

For more information on compliance with this and other product safety standards, please contact Beth Ring at (212) 549-0133 or Ned Steiner at (202) 730-4970.