In the United States, safety standards for products, systems, services, and materials can be created by the government or by private organizations called Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) as voluntary consensus standards (VCS). ASTM International, a voluntary consensus SDO, develops standards for a variety of consumer products such as baby products, playground and sports equipment, amusement rides, toys and much more. Industries can choose to adopt VCS to use within their manufacturing processes, during procurement, and in service provision, for example. VCS can also become mandatory when written into law, regulations, or codes in the U.S. and abroad. A VCS may be used as the basis for a mandatory standard regulated by a government.

In fact, in 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) set mandatory requirements for durable infant and toddler products, including cribs, based on the voluntary standards developed by ASTM International. Many of these standards touch the products used in and around the home for infants and toddlers.

While ASTM International publishes standards, it is the responsibility of various state, federal and international agencies to regulate products and services in the marketplace. Regulatory actions such as product safety recalls, denial of products at ports of entry, and compliance to safety standards are solely government functions. Here are some examples of regulatory bodies that have jurisdiction over the products you may use for personal use: