Which rules apply to board games
- Per-component testing: pawns/dice/tokens vs small-parts cylinder, lead in cards/boards, phthalates in mats.
- CPSIA section 101 total lead content in accessible substrate materials.
- 16 CFR part 1303 lead in paint and surface coatings where painted or coated.
- CPSIA section 103 tracking labels: manufacturer, location, and date of manufacture on product and packaging.
The testing and certification path
Every component type in the box, age grade on the box drives small-parts obligations.
Book testing at a laboratory that is CPSC-accepted for each rule, issue the CPC in your own name citing the rules your report supports, and keep the certificate with its test report for at least five years. Marketplaces ask for the pair, not the certificate alone.
Questions people ask
Do games rated 12+ need a CPC?
Games for children 12 and under do; teen/adult games fall outside the children’s-product rules.
Are replacement parts certified?
Yes, small-parts rules apply to replacement pieces like originals.
Related guides
CPC certificates for puzzles
Puzzle CPCs hinge on age grading: small parts rules for under-3 versions, lead in inks and coatings, and the t…
How to choose the right age grade for your toy
Age grading drives toy testing, small parts rules, and warnings. How the CPSC Age Determination Guidelines wor…
Small parts testing: 16 CFR Part 1501
16 CFR Part 1501 bans small parts in toys for children under 3. How the small parts cylinder test works, which…