The Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre Ltd.
10 Dai Wang Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, N.T., Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2666 1888 Fax: (852) 2663 9612 Email: hktcd@stc.group Website: www.stc.group

Cords/Strings/Elastics Requirements of Different Countries for Toys TestingStandardCords andElastics onToys

Australia/New Zealand/Japan
AS/NZS ISO 8124-1:2019/ ISO8124-2018/ST 2016 Part 1
Under 18 months
Potential to tangle shall either:- have a length ≤ 220 mm under
25±2N, or- separate into parts under 25±2N. It
shall be possible to join the parts
after they have been separated
without altering the characteristicsof the joints.
Other cords- have a free length ≤300 mm under
25±2N≥18 months < 36 months
Potential to tangle shall either:- have a length ≤ 300 mm under
25±2N, or- separate into parts under 25±2N. It
shall be possible to join the parts
after they have been separated
without altering the characteristicsof the joints.
Other cords- have a free length ≤300 mm under
25±2N
Other cords without a free end- Cord >220mm ≤ 200mm, toys andpackaging shall carry warning
indicating that the toy is notsuitable for children under the ageof 18 months.
Fixed loops and nooses (for under 36months) shall either:- not permit the passage of thehead probe , or
- be separable under 25±2N.
Toys with cords intended to be strung
across a cradle, cot or perambulator

China
GB6675-2:2014
Under 18 months-Potential to tangle
shall have a length ≤220 mm under25±2N-For the cord canform a noose orloop, cord length
shall 360mm
under a 25N load.
-Cord thickness shall1.5mm.
- Toys with cords
intended to be
strung across acradle, cot orperambulator shallcarry a warning
stating that thesetoys are to beaffixed so that thecords are out of thereach of children
and that the toy is
to be removed
before the child canreach the cords.
The toy shall beaccompanied byinstructions whichindicate how the toyis to be affixed outof reach of children.

CanadaCCPSA
SOR/201117
The stretchable
cord of a yo-yoball or similar
product should
not be capableof extending to500mm (20inches) ormore.

EuropeEN 71-1:2014 +A1:2018

USAASTM F963-17

5.4.2 Under 18 months
5.4.2.1
Potential to tangle shall either:-have a length ≤ 220 mm under 25±2N, or-separate into parts under 25±2N. It shall be possible to join the parts after they have been separated without altering
the characteristics of the joints.

Under 18 months.
Cord should notover 12 in. (300mm) measured atfree state and under
5 lb. (2.25 kg) load,
perimeter of loop
do not allow thepassage of headprobe under 10 lb.
(45 N) force.

5.4.2.2
Two cords or chains with the potential to tangle
shall either:a) not be able to make contact at the tangle point; orb) have a combined length (AB+BC+CD ≤220 mm including the length of both cords or chains with the potential totangle and the distance across the surface of the
toy which they are apart , when each cord or chain with the potential to tangle is measured; orc) separate into parts under 25N.
5.4.2.3
Separated cords and chains
Any cord or chain with the potential to tangle that becomes separated from the toy or remains attachedto the toy under25N shall comply with the requirements of 5.4.2.1 a) and 5.4.2.2 a) or b).
Other cords or chains that become separated or remain attached to the toy under 25N shall comply with 5.4.2.4.
5.4.2.4
Free length of cords and chains
The free length of individual cords and chains, excluding pull-along toys, shall ≤300 mm when measured independently
under 25N.
Two cords or chains that are attached to the toy shall be considered as two separate cords or chains for the purpose ofthis requirement. Where more than two cords or chains are attached, each is considered a separate cord.
5.4.3 ≥18 months but < 36 months
5.4.3.1
Potential to tangle shall either:- have a length ≤300 mm under 25N, or- separate into parts under 25N.
5.4.3.2
Two cords or chains with the potential to tangle
Shall either:a) not be able to make contact at the tangle point; orb) have a combined length (AB+BC+CD ) ≤300 mm, including the length of both cords or chains with the potential totangle and the distance across the surface of the toy which they are apart, when each cord or chain with the potential
to tangle; orshall carry a warning.

c) separate into parts

Electrical cables
For ≥18months, > 300 mm under 25N
shall carry a warning
For <18months, shall comply withclause 4.11

5.4.3.3
Separated cords and chains
Any cord or chain with the potential to tangle that becomes separated or remains attached to the toy
after breakaway feature separation test shall comply with the requirements of 5.4.3.1 a) and 5.4.3.2 a) or b).

Straps intended to be worn fully or
partially around the neck- Under 36 months, shall have abreakaway feature which breaks
under 25 N

Other cords or chains that become separated or remain attached to the toy after breakaway feature separation test
shall comply with 5.4.3.4.
5.4.3.4
Free length of cords and chains
Toys with attached cords and chains with a free length > 300 mm, shall carry a warning(≥18 months < 36 months).
5.4.3.5
Cords and chains not suitable for children under 18 months
Cords or chains with the potential to tangle which comply with the requirements of 5.4.3.1 to 5.4.3.3 but not with
5.4.2.1 to 5.4.2.3 shall carry a warning (≥18 months < 36 months)
5.4.4
Fixed loops, tangled loops and nooses
Cords or chains that comprise fixed loops or nooses on toys, as received and tangled loops formed bycords and chains with the potential to tangle, shall either:— have a perimeter ≤380 mm (cords and chainswith a single fixing point or with fixing points less than 94 mm apart), or a distance “d” ≤ 96 mm (cords and chains
fixed to a toy at points of 94 mm or more apart); or— separate such that the loop or noose is no longer intact in breakaway feature separation test.
In addition, any cord or chain with the potential to tangle attached to the toy after the breakaway has
been separated, shall continue to comply with the requirements of 5.4.2.1 a) and 5.4.2.2 a) and b) or
5.4.3.1 a) and 5.4.3.2 a) and b) as well as 5.4.3.5, as appropriate for the age of the toy.
Where the distance between fixing points of cords and chains can change during play due to theflexibility of the toy the perimetershall be determined according to 8.36.2.1 regardless of the at-rest distance between the fixing points.

5.4.9.1
Toys intended to be strung across a cradle, cot or perambulator-shall carry a warning
5.4.9.2
Toys otherwise intended to be attached to a cradle, cot or perambulator-where any attached cords or chains do not comply with the requirements of 5.4.2 to 5.4.8, shall bear a warning
stating that these toys are to be affixed so that the cords are out of the reach of children and that the toy is to be
removed before the child can reach the cords.
The toy shall be accompanied by instructions which indicate how the toy is to be affixed out of reach of children.
Toy electrical cable > 300mm for 18 months or over should have long cable warning.
Toy electrical cable > 300mm for under 18 months should comply 5.4.

Standard

Australia/New Zealand
AS/NZS ISO 81241:2019/ ISO 8124-2018

China
GB6675-2:2014

CanadaCCPSA SOR/2011-17

EuropeEN 71-1:2014 +A1:2018

JapanST 2016 Part 1

USA
ASTM F963-17
Under 18 months. Cord
retract shall be < 1/4 in. (6mm) under a 2 lb. (0.9 kg)
load.
Mono-filament, diameter 
1/16 in. (2 mm): notretract under a 1 lb. (0.45kg) load
Under 36 months. Cord
length > 12 in. (300 mm)
shall not have beads orother attachments to forma loop
Line > 6 ft. (1.8 m) : electric
resistivity > 108 /cm

Self Retracting
Pull Cords

Under 18 months. Cord shallnot retract more than
6.4mm under 0.9kg.
Mono-filament (dia. 2mm)
shall not retract more than
6.4mm under 0.45 kg.

Under 18 months. Cord shallnot retract more than
6.4mm under 0.9kg.

No Requirement

Under 36 months. Cord
thickness shall ≥ 1.5mm,and shall not retract morethan 6mm under 25N.

Under 36 months.
Cords shall have an average crosssectional dimension ≥1.5 mm
under 25±2N, and shall not retract> 6.4 mm under (1±0.1kg)

Pull Toys

Under 36 months. If cord
length more than 220mm shall not have beads orother attachments to form aloop.
Line > 1.8 m - electricalresistance > 108 /cm.
Warning statement
Required

Under 36 months. If cord
length > 220mm - shall nothave beads or otherattachments to form a loop.

No Requirement

Cord and chain with a free
end for 0-36 months shall≤800mm under 25N

Under 36 months
Shall have a free length ≤ 800 mm
under 25 N.

Line > 1.8 m - electricalresistance > 108 /cm.
Warning statement
Required

No Requirement

Line > 2 m - electricalresistivity > 100 M/cm (cl4.13)
Warning statement required

Cords on Toy Bags

Impermeable material with
opening perimeter > 360
mm shall not have adrawstring or cord as meansof closing.

Impermeable material with
opening perimeter > 360
mm shall not have adrawstring or cord as meansof closing.

No Requirement

Break away feature

No Requirement

No Requirement

No Requirement

Applicable for all ages
children. Opening perimeter> 380mm having adrawstring as a means ofclosure shall either:a) Be made of material
permeable to air, orb) Comply withrequirements given in
4.14.2a) mask andhelmets.
Releasing force less than25N.

Hand-held cords, strings and lines
over 1.8 m long, attached to toy
kites or other flying toys, shallhave an electrical resistance of >108 Ω/cm.
Toy kites and other flying toys
shall carry a warning.
Impermeable material withopening perimeter > 360 mm shallnot have a drawstring or cord asmeans of closing.

String and Linesfor Flying
DevicesReleasing force less than 25N.

Up to 18 months
Impermeable material with
opening perimeter > 14 in(360 mm) shall not have adrawstring or cord asmeans of closing.

Releasing force < 5.0lbf.
The feature shall becapable of being
reattached without
altering the characteristicsof the attachment.
The free length of theindividual released cord,
strap, or elastic ≤ 12 in.
(300 mm).
Updated May2020/tcd