BETHESDA, MD. (Dec. 17, 2:15 p.m. ET) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada are cooperating on toy safety standards by working together to update the ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standard, through with ASTM International’s subcommittee on toy safety.

Bethesda-based CPSC and Health Canada issued statements reaffirming their intent to work together on toy safety standard to “maximize the potential for aligned positions.”

Two trade groups, the Toy Industry Association and the Canadian Toy Association, issued statements supporting the cooperative approach. The trade groups said they “have long encouraged the agencies to work towards standards harmonization and believe that the commitment to cooperate represents another step towards standards alignment between the U.S. and Canada and both countries’ commitment to improving toy safety.”

ASTM International, a global standards-setting organization, is based in West Conshohocken, Pa.