In September, the CPSC voted to approve a new national safety standard for high-powered magnet sets. Under the new safety standard, “an individual magnet from a magnet set either must be large enough that the magnet does not fit into a CPSC small parts cylinder or the power of the magnetic force must be lower than a specified measure.” The rule applies to both high-powered magnet sets and to individual magnets that are marketed or intended to be used as part of a magnet set. The standard will apply to magnets manufacture or imported on or after April 15, 2015.

The CPSC indicates that new safety standard was made to address hazards to you children who may ingest the magnets, as well as “teens and tweens, who have used them to create mock lip, tongue, and nose piercings.” According to the CPSC, if multiple magnets from a set are ingested, the magnets can pinch or trap the intestines or other digestive tissue when the magnets attract each other. The CPSC further indicates that such magnet sets were responsible for the death of a 19-month-old girl who ingested multiple magnets, and that an estimated 2,900 emergency room visits were made between 2009 and 2013 because of such magnet sets.

The Commission voted 4-0-1 in favor of the new standard.

The CPSC Recall Snapshot is a useful tool in keeping up-to-date on the activities of the CPSC.