ASTM F3458-21

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:F3458 −21
Standard Specification for
Marketing, Packaging, and Labeling Adult Magnet Sets
Containing Small, Loose, Powerful Magnets (with a Flux
2 2 1
Index$50kG mm )
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3458; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Age which Present Choking, Aspiration, or Ingestion
Hazards because of Small Parts
1.1 This specification covers marketing, packaging,
16 CFR 1500.121 Labeling requirement; prominence, place-
labeling, and warning requirements for adult magnet sets
ment and conspicuousness
containing small, powerful magnets. It is aimed at minimizing
16 CFR Part 1700 Poison Prevention Packaging
the identified hazards to children and teens associated with
21 U.S.C. Section 301 et. seq. Federal Food Drug and
ingesting small, powerful magnets that are intended for adults,
Cosmetics Act
that is, those persons 14 years of age and older.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3. Terminology
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
3.1.1 magnet set, n—aggregation of separable magnetic
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
objects that are marketed or commonly used as a manipulative
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
or construction item for puzzle working, sculpture building,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
mental stimulation, education, or stress relief.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.2 permanent storage container, n—receptacle designed
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
to hold the magnet set when not in use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.3 small, powerful magnet, n—individual magnet of a
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
magnet set that is a small object (as measured in Section 6 and
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
2 2
Fig. 1) and has a flux index ≥50 kG mm as determined in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Section 6.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4. Instructional Literature
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 Instructions shall be provided with the product that are
easy to read and understand, and are in the English language,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
at a minimum. These instructions shall include information on
D3359 Test Methods for Rating Adhesion by Tape Test
assembly, maintenance, cleaning, storage, and use.
F963 Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety
4.2 The instructions shall include all of the warnings speci-
2.2 Federal Statutes and Standards:
fied in 8.7.
16 CFR 1501 Method for Identifying Toys and Other Ar-
ticles Intended for Use by Children under Three Years of
4.3 The instructions shall describe the manufacturer’s sug-
gested strategy for counting and storing magnets.
4.4 The instructions shall describe typical hazard patterns,
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.77 on
including young children finding loose magnets and teens
Magnets.
putting magnets near their mouth or nose.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2021. Published March 2021. DOI: 10.1520/
F3458-21.
4.5 The instructions shall include an illustration of the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
hazard as shown in Fig. 2. It is acceptable to use another
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
illustration if the comparable meaning is conveyed.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
4.6 The instructions shall warn the consumer to seek imme-
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
diate medical care or to call the poison control center if it is
Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://
www.access.gpo.gov or http://www.govinfo.gov. possible that magnets have been ingested.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3458−21
“WARNING — INTERNAL INJURY HAZARD
Swallowed magnets can damage internal organs and have resulted in
DEATH and SERIOUS INJURIES.
These magnets are NOT toys. Keep away from ALL children.
[Insert Fig. 2 or comparable illustration.]
NEVER put near mouth or nose. Magnet ingestions are often accidental
and there is a possibility that they will occur from:
1. Young children finding loose or missing magnets;
2. Older children and teens playing with magnets in their mouths or nose
and imitating piercings.
Be aware of dropped or separated magnets. When not in use, locate all
magnets and count them individually or return them to the following shape
to be sure that none are missing. Store all magnets safely away from
children, and in storage container.
[Insert manufacturer’s recommended strategy for magnet quantity
accountability.]
FIG. 1Test Cylinder
Seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison control center
immediately if you think magnets were ingested. It is possible that X-rays or
prompt surgical removal will be required. Do not wait for symptoms to
appear as it is feasible that by then it will be too late for medical
4.7 Typical symptoms shall be described on the instruc-
intervention.
tional literature, including that the symptoms are often non-
specific (abdominal pain, fever, etc.) and that it is possible that Symptoms of magnet ingestion are often non-specific (abdominal pain,
fever, etc.), and can take from hours to weeks to appear. By then, the
there will be a delay in symptoms or no initial symptoms. It is
damage can be severe. Untreated ingestions of magnets are likely to cause
important to warn consumers not to wait for symptoms to
intestinal blockage, perforation, bleeding, infection, and death.
appear if it is possible that magnets have been ingested.
Keep away from pets.
4.8 Theinstructionsshallwarnthattheproductmustbekept
Keep away from pacemakers.”
away from pets.
4.9 The instructions shall warn that the product must be 5. Sales/Marketing Requirements
kept away from pacemakers.
5.1 General—Manufacturers shall not knowingly market or
4.10 Any instructions provided in addition to those required sell the product to persons under 14 years of age or to anyone
by this section shall not contradict or confuse the meaning of
known to be buying it for someone under 14 years of age.
the required information or otherwise be misleading to the
5.2 Retail Sales—Manufacturers shall undertake reasonable
consumer.
efforts to ensure that the product is not marketed and displayed
4.11 An example of product instructions follows: to consumers in a manner that represents the product as a toy
F3458−21
FIG. 2Example of Hazard Illustration
for persons under the age of 14. Examples of such efforts 6.2.1 Flux Density Measurement:
include, among others, actions such as:
6.2.1.1 Test Equipment—Direct current (dc) field gauss
5.2.1 Including with wholesale or bulk orders instructions meter with a resolution of 5 gauss (G) capable of determining
and warnings about where to merchandise or how to market,
themagneticfluxdensityofthefieldwithanaccuracyof1.5%
and or better. The meter shall have an axial type probe with:
5.2.2 Informing retailers about appropriate merchandising
(1) An active area diameter of 0.76 mm 6 0.13 mm, and
practices, including in-store product placement, warnings, and (2) A distance between the active area and probe tip of
signage.
0.38 mm 6 0.13 mm.
6.2.2 Test Method:
5.3 Online Sales:
6.2.2.1 Place the probe’s tip in contact with the pole surface
5.3.1 Manufacturers shall undertake reasonable efforts to
of the magnet.
ensure that online sellers do not sell the product to persons
6.2.2.2 Keep the gauss meter’s probe perpendicular to the
under 14 years of age. An example of such efforts includes
surface.
seeking agreement from the online sellers that, before the sale,
6.2.2.3 Move the probe across the surface to locate the
consumers be shown the warnings in 8.7.
maximum absolute flux density.
5.3.2 Manufacturers who sell directly to consumers online:
6.2.2.4 Recordthemaximumabsolutefluxdensitymeasure-
5.3.2.1 Before the sale, shall show the signal word “Warn-
ment.
ing” and, at a minimum, text that clearly conveys the warnings
6.2.3 Area Measurement of the Pole Surface:
in 8.7.
5.3.2.2 Include on their website instructional literature, 6.2.3.1 Test Equipment—Calipers or similar device with a
including information about the hazard pattern. resolution of 0.1 mm.
5.3.2.3 Shall not make any claims that are regulated by 21
6.2.3.2 Test Method—If the pole surface of the magnet is
U.S.C. Section 301 et. seq. unless the requirements of those flat,calculatetheareausingtheappropriategeometricformula.
provisions are complied with.
If the pole is not flat (fo
...