The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory standard intended to improve the safety of portable hook-on chairs and prevent deaths and injuries to young children on March 8, 2016.

A portable hook-on chair is a legless seat attached to a table where the occupant sits and that is supported solely by the table on which the chair is mounted. Portable hook-on chairs are intended for children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years and who weigh no more than 37 pounds.

From January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2014, CPSC received about 90 incident reports related to portable hook-on chairs. These reports included 50 incidents involving injury, 38 non-injury incidents and one fatality.

The new federal standard incorporates by reference the most recent voluntary standard developed by ASTM (ASTM F1235-15), Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Portable Hook-On Chairs, without modification.

The effective date for the new mandatory portable hook-on chair standard is 6 months after the final rule is published in the Federal Register.