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    • Are 1/18 scale diecast cars toys?

    Our Products: Content
    Are 1/18 scale diecast cars toys?
    Are 1/18 scale diecast cars toys?
    Item#: 1/18 Scale

    Are 1/18 scale diecast cars toys?

    The short answer to this question is “NO.”  The long answer is that all 1/18 scale diecast model cars our company markets do NOT meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)’s definition of a “children’s product,” and therefore, they are NOT within the scope of CPSIA.  Only children’s products (i.e. “toys” primarily targeting children 12 years of age or younger) are subject to CPSIA, which mandates requirements such as:

     

    • Mandatory third-party testing.
    • Compliance with ASTM F963 (the mandatory toy safety standard).
    • Permanently printed tracking labels on the items.
    • Issuances of Children’s Product Certificates (CPC). 

     

    This conclusion is  based on my 33+ years in marketing toys and collector diecast model cars, and my understanding of CPSIA, ASTM F963, CPSC’ Age Determination Guidelines, and Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CRF) which deal with Commercial Practices, including any new rulings the Commission has made that pertain to diecast model cars.

     

    The CPSC’s key regulatory term is a “Children’s Product,” which is defined as: “A consumer product designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger.”  1/18 scale diecast model cars we market are classified as “General Use Products,” intended primarily for consumers older than the age of 12 and 1/18 scale cars are often considered and called “adult collectibles”. To determine if a product is "designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger," the CPSC considers four factors together as a whole.

     

    Factor

    Description

    How 1/18 Diecast Collectibles Typically Compare

    1. Manufacturer's Statement

    A label or statement about the intended age (if reasonable).

    Commonly Labeled: "Ages 14+" or "Adult Collector" (explicitly stating it's not for children ≤12).

    2. Packaging/Advertising

    How the product is marketed, promoted, and displayed.

    Commonly Marketed: In specialized collector magazines, hobby stores, or advertised to adults, often highlighting high detail or limited production runs.

    3. Common Recognition

    Is the product commonly recognized by consumers as being intended for a child 12 or younger?

    Commonly Recognized: Consumers generally recognize that highly detailed, fragile, expensive models are for display, not for children's play. Many 1/18 scale diecast model cars are feature a year, make, and model that appeal primarily with adults that identify with that era.

    4. Features and Characteristics

    Features that distinguish a children's product (e.g., bright colors, exaggerated features, play value) from a general-use product (e.g., high cost, fragility, display features).

    Commonly Features: High Cost, Fragile Features (tiny mirrors, wires, antennas), Display Features (stands, hooks), High Detail/Realism (which reduces "play value" for younger children). Small fragile parts that can break-off if dropped and thus pose a choking hazard to children.

     

    In conclusion, the detailed, relatively high-cost, and fragile nature of a typical 1/18 scale diecast car is specifically what allows it to be categorized as a "General Use Product" (for consumers older than 12), thereby exempting it from the strict, expensive testing required for a traditional toy. The presence of small, intricate parts is a hazard that if broken off poses a choking hazard and further backs up my claim that 1/18 scale diecast cars it is NOT intended for young children.

     

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