ASTRA Marketplace & Academy 2021 Toy Show in USA Successfully Staged

【United States, 8 August 2021】The USA toy show American Specialty Toy Retailing Association Marketplace & Academy 2021 (ASTRA Show) was successfully held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis during 5-8 August 2021 with a perfect ending today.  As an independent third-party testing, inspection and certification laboratory that has received recognition and accreditation from the USA Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), STC (Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre) joined as an exhibitor again at the Show to promote testing and certification services for toy safety.

With plenty of American toy retailers and sales representatives assembling, ASTRA Show showcased all their new toys and children’s products, making a vibrant scene.  Among these, STC’s booth attracted retailers and sales representatives in enquiry of the testing, inspection and certification services of American toys and children’s products, especially on testing services for Children Product Certificate (CPC) or General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) of CPSC, and how products were met with the requirements listed in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), relevant federal regulations and mandatory safety standards.

Accredited by CPSC, STC’s CPSIA Testing on toys and children’s products covers lead in substrate, lead in paint or surface coating and eight types of phthalates.  ASTM F963 Testing of STC also examines physical & mechanical testing, flammability testing, soluble heavy metals content, total lead content, soluble cadmium in small metallic parts, food contact articles testing (FDA/21 CFR 170-189), labeling of hazardous art material (LHAMA - ASTM D4236), battery operated toy safety testing, stuffing materials cleanliness, sound level testing, magnetic toy testing and toy cosmetics, liquids, pastes, putties, gels and powders, putting the safety of American toys and children’s products to comprehensive tests.

In addition to the reputation earned in the USA, STC is also one of the first non-governmental laboratories in Hong Kong and China to receive accreditation and approval from the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA) to provide comprehensive China Compulsory Certification (CCC) service.  These ensure ride-on toys, electrical toys, plastic toys and metal toys fully complying with China National Toy Safety Standard (GB 6675) and Electric Toy Safety (GB 19865).

Moreover, STC’s toy testing capabilities follow other international toy safety standards and is recognized by accreditation bodies such as PJLA (United States), DAkkS (Germany), VILAS (Vietnam), HKAS – HOKLAS (Hong Kong) as well as MHLW, JTA and CPSA (Japan).

About STC

Established in 1963, STC (Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre) is Hong Kong’s first independent, not-for-profit testing, inspection and certification organization.  STC offers a wide range of conformity assessment services on products covering Toys, Children’s products, Textile, Apparel, Footwear, Furniture, Electrical and Electronic Products, Medical Devices, Food as well as Chemical and Pharmaceutical products.  In order to meet the global demand for testing and certification services, not only has STC set up testing facilities and customer service offices in China’s major cities such as Dongguan, Shanghai, Changzhou, Guangxi and Heilongjiang, but it also has branches in countries like Vietnam, Japan, USA and Germany. 

For more details about STC, please visit our website:  www.stc.group.

Media Contact:

Ms. Angel Tai                      Tel:  +852 2666 1813                Email:  angeltai@stc.group

Testing Inquiries:     

Mr. Norman Aronowitz          Tel: +1 862 229 6388 (Ext. 2)   Email: normanaronowitz@stc.group