On October 3, 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a final rule under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The rule establishes a performance standard for high-power magnet sets, and individual magnets that are marketed or intended for use as part of a magnet set. This rule was issued in response to high profile incidents involving rare-earth magnet sets that were commonly marketed to adults for entertainment, mental stimulation, and stress relief.
Under the new performance standard, an individual magnet from a set must either (1) be large enough that the magnet does not fit into a CPSC small parts cylinder; or (2) the power of the magnetic force must be lower than a specified measure. If a set contains a magnet that fits within the CPSC’s small parts cylinder, each magnet in the set must have a flux index of 50 kG2 mm2 or less (as described in ASTM F963-11, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety). Magnets that are manufactured or imported after April 1, 2015 must meet the new performance standard.
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