Compliance centre
Squishy compliance for importers: every document, and what it proves
Squishy is the one toy category where a compliance mistake gets you recalled, not just returned. This squishy compliance page collects every document a US or EU importer needs from us, what each one actually proves, and where our position differs from most suppliers in this category.
The four rules that decide whether your shipment clears
16 CFR 1250.4 — the water-bead rule
What the rule requires: In force since 12 March 2026. Any water bead inside a toy, including beads sealed inside a squeeze ball, must pass a 5.0 mm sieve after expansion, and the Children's Product Certificate must name this rule explicitly.
Our position on this rule: We do not use water beads in any product, in any texture, in any size. Our fills are closed-cell PU foam, TPR gel and food-grade silicone. Compliance here is a design decision, not a test result we hope to pass.
ASTM F963-23 — US toy safety standard
What the rule requires: The full-item mechanical, flammability and heavy-element test your customs broker will ask for. Covers small parts, sharp edges, seams and tension.
Our position on this rule: Tested per production standard. The report is shared on request.
CPSIA and the CPC
What the rule requires: Lead content, phthalates, and a tracking label on the product or packaging. The Children's Product Certificate is the document that lets the shipment clear.
Our position on this rule: CPC issued per batch, listing each rule the batch was tested against, including 16 CFR 1250.4.
EN 71-1 / -2 / -3 — EU and UK
What the rule requires: Mechanical and physical properties, flammability, migration of certain elements. Required for EU and UK entry alongside CE marking.
Our position on this rule: Run on request for EU and UK orders. Tell us the destination at quote stage so the right package is booked with the lab from the start.
Documents that ship with your goods
Every order leaves with this set. Ask for samples of any of them before you commit.
ASTM F963-23
Full-item toy safety test; report shared on request
CPSIA / CPC
Lead, phthalates, tracking label; CPC issued per batch
16 CFR 1250.4
Water-bead rule — N/A statement + fill expansion test
EN71-1/2/3
For EU orders, on request
Why this page exists
3 September 2026
The CPSC published two squishy recalls on the same day, both for water-bead fills, both classified as violations of a mandatory standard: 8,000 units sold by an Amazon seller, and 7,200 units distributed through an importer to off-price retail.
What it cost the importers
Full refunds, removal from shelves, and destroyed inventory — in the quarter when the shelf space mattered most. Under CPSIA the importer of record carries the primary responsibility, not the factory.
Why we are writing this down
Not to sell fear. If your current supplier still fills with beads, this is the specific exposure you are carrying, and it is worth one email to find out.
Compliance questions importers actually ask
Do you have any product that contains water beads?
No. Not in any shape, texture or size. We have never produced a water-bead fill and we will not quote one.
Will the CPC name 16 CFR 1250.4?
Yes. A CPC that does not name the rule is the most common gap importers get caught on right now, because the rule is newer than most suppliers' document templates.
Can I get the test report before I place the order?
You can get the report for the standard we produce to. A batch-specific report exists only once your batch has been produced and tested.
Can you ship to the EU and the US on the same order?
Yes, but the test packages differ. Tell us both destinations at quote stage so EN 71 is booked alongside the US package rather than after.
What if regulations change after I order?
We track CPSC and EU toy safety changes and will tell you if a rule change affects goods already in production. Changing water-bead rules are the reason we keep the squishy shape catalogue bead-free rather than offering both bead and bead-free versions.
Send us the shape. We will tell you which tests it needs.
Different shapes, fills and packaging tiers need different test packages. Describe what you want and the destination market, and we will come back with the document list before you spend anything.
Ask about compliance