Israel Standards Institute to Evaluate Fidget Spinner Safety

After the U.S.-based Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) expressed “concern” over the safety of fidget spinners, the Israel Standards Institute said that it would examine whether or not the toys were in violation of local rules regarding toy safety. The Institute said that it would run the spinners “in the same manner that other toys are examined, and to determine that children are safe if the toys are used in a reasonable manner. Toys that are found to be unsafe will be banned from sale,” it said.

The U.S. warning came in the wake of injuries to several children who were hurt playing with the toys. In a statement to ABC News, the CPSC said that it was “investigating the incidents with kids swallowing fidget spinners in Texas and Oregon. We advise parents to keep these away from young children because they can choke on small parts. Warn older children not to put fidget spinners in their mouths.”

In its statement, the Institute said that it had asked the Economy Ministry to join its investigation. The ministry is responsible for the legal aspects of toy safety, and officials in the Ministry said that it, too, was concerned about the phenomenon. The spinners are said to help their users relieve stress, and to assist children suffering from ADHD to better concentrate and relax.