Water bead toys must now pass a federal safety test

A new federal safety standard for water bead toys is now mandatory. This means manufacturers must ensure these toys meet specific safety requirements before they can be sold in the US.

Water beads, small absorbent balls that expand when wet, have caused serious injuries and deaths in children who swallow them. This new rule means toy makers can no longer sell these products without meeting specific safety requirements. It gives the US Consumer Product Safety Commission clear authority to remove unsafe water bead toys from the market.