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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

Magnet toy safety requirements

Magnetic toys are among the most heavily scrutinized children’s products because swallowed magnets attract across tissue and cause life-threatening injuries. Requirements: the toy standard’s magnet provisions (magnets must not become accessible small parts after abuse testing), the small parts ban for under-3 products, and marketplace-specific magnet policies that have banned entire magnet set categories.

What testing covers for magnetic toys

  • Magnet accessibility after use and abuse testing: magnets must stay enclosed in the toy.
  • Small parts evaluation of the magnets themselves where the age grade allows parts.
  • Flux index measurement: high-powered small magnets in sets have specific limits and warning requirements.

The enforcement reality

Magnet set bans and marketplace policies have shifted repeatedly as ingestion injuries mounted. Sellers of magnetic products should check current marketplace policies and CPSC actions before listing, keep flux-index and strength data from the supplier, and design so magnets physically cannot escape the toy body.

Questions people ask

Are all magnet toys banned?

No: toys with safely enclosed magnets are legal and common. The bans target high-powered magnet sets sold as desk toys, where loose magnets were the product itself.

What warnings do magnet toys need?

Ingestion hazard warnings for products containing small high-powered magnets, per the applicable requirements and marketplace policies. Warnings do not replace safe design.

Do I need special testing for magnets?

Yes: flux index and accessibility testing are specific methods. Confirm your lab covers the magnet provisions of the toy standard.

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