ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards, a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services known for their high technical quality and market relevance. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards As “children’s most intimate friends”, toys are quite important to children’s intellectual development and physical growth. However, toys with potential safety hazards could cause injuries or health problems to children. Therefore, many countries and regions have implemented strict safety standards for those products.
In 1971, the Japan Toy Association (JTA) established Toy Safety (ST) Standard and Safety Toy (ST) Mark Program to improve toy safety in Japan. This standard and program has contributed greatly to toy safety since then.
The ST Mark is given to toys that comply with the Toy Safety Standard, which has been regulated by the Japan Toy Association since 1971. The ST Mark is only approved for use with toys whose mechanical and physical characteristics, flammability, and chemical properties have undergone strict safety inspection. Toys carrying this mark have been created with the utmost care and consideration and are officially approved as safe for use.
The standard has been published in 3 parts:
- ST 2012 Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties.
- ST 2012 Part 2: Flammability.
- ST 2012 Part 3: Chemical Properties.