Safer Portable Hook-On Chairs: CPSC Adopts New Standard

You might care about this because the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is making an important update to the safety rules for portable hook-on chairs. These are the chairs that attach to a table, often used for infants and toddlers. The CPSC has a mandatory safety standard for these products, which is based on a voluntary standard created by ASTM International. When ASTM updates its standard, the CPSC reviews it to see if it improves safety. In this case, ASTM released a new version, F1235-25, in January 2026. The CPSC looked at the changes and decided they do make the chairs safer. So, the CPSC is now adopting this new ASTM standard. This means the updated safety requirements will become mandatory for all portable hook-on chairs. The biggest changes involve new rules for chairs that use batteries, battery compartments, and AC adapters. These new rules cover how these parts should perform, how they should be tested, and what warning labels they need. The goal is to make sure these electrical components do not cause any harm. There are also some language adjustments to make the standard more consistent with other juvenile product safety rules, but these do not change the core safety requirements. This new rule will take effect on July 19, 2026, unless the CPSC gets strong negative feedback before April 29, 2026. If you have comments, you can submit them to the CPSC. Overall, this is about keeping children safe in these common products. This update is particularly important because it shows how government agencies like the CPSC work with industry organizations to improve product safety. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) created a specific process for this. It requires the CPSC to consider voluntary industry standards for products like infant and toddler items. This new rule for portable hook-on chairs is a good example of this process in action. It reflects the latest safety understandings. The most interesting part of this update is the addition of requirements for batteries, battery compartments, and AC adapters. While many hook-on chairs might not currently have these features, the CPSC is being proactive. They are applying lessons learned from safety issues with batteries in other children's products. This forward-thinking approach means safety rules are being put in place before many products with these features even hit the market. It prevents potential hazards related to electrical components from becoming widespread problems. This also aligns the safety standard for hook-on chairs with broader safety expectations for other juvenile products, making all children's items safer and more consistent in their design. People who would be most interested in this legal document include manufacturers of portable hook-on chairs. They need to understand and follow these new safety rules to ensure their products comply with the law. Retailers who sell these chairs also need to know about the updated standards, as they are responsible for selling safe products. Parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers should also be aware of these changes. Knowing that product safety standards are being regularly updated can give them more confidence when buying and using these chairs. Child safety advocates and organizations focused on product safety will find this document relevant. It shows the ongoing efforts to protect children from potential hazards. Legal professionals specializing in product liability or consumer law might also be interested. This document provides an example of how mandatory safety standards are established and updated. Finally, anyone involved in the design or engineering of juvenile products could learn from the approach taken here, especially regarding the proactive regulation of new features like battery power.