Eurofins | April 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Toys & Childcare

Eurofins newsflash Consumer Products

Europe

Update of toy guidance document for musical instruments

On 26^th February 2019, the European Commission and the Expert Group on Toy Safety published the update of Guidance Document No 10 on the application of Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC to musical instruments.

This updated guidance adds some clarifications about Maracas and it explains the criteria and classification to differentiate between maracas as real musical instruments, toy maracas and toy rattles. Examples with images of these three kind of products can also be found in the document.

For age criteria several reference documents were used such as the U.S. CPSC age determination guidelines, Guidance Document No 11 and CEN ISO/TR 8124 part 8.

Soft-filled toy with sequins intended for all ages

On 6^th March 2019, the European Commission published a note about Soft-filled toys with sequins.

Read more >>

New edition of Toys submitted to EC-Type examination Protocol

On 6^th March 2019, the European Commission published the 8^th Edition of EC-Type approval Protocol No. 1: Categories of toys which have been submitted to EC-Type Examination.

The main changes, within others, are related to remote controlled toy helicopters and projectile toys.

Click here to access the Protocol.

Harmonised standards under TSD

28^th February 2019 was the date of cessation of presumption of conformity of superseded standard for the following harmonised standards under Toy Safety Directive (TSD) 2009/48/EC:

Reference	Title of the standard	Reference of superseded standard
EN 71-1:2014+ A1:2018	Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties.	EN 71-1:2014
EN 71-3:2013+A3:2018	Safety of toys - Part 3: Migration of certain elements.	EN 71-3:2013+ A1:2014
EN 71-7:2014+A2:2018	Safety of toys - Part 7: Finger paints - Requirements and test methods.	EN 71-7:2014
EN 71-8:2018	Safety of toys - Part 8: Activity toys for domestic use.	EN 71-8:2011
EN 71-14:2014+A1:2017	Safety of toys - Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use.	EN 71-14:2014

Click here for getting the complete list of harmonised standards under European Toy Safety Directive.

Europe/international

Standard updates

Below a summary table with some recent standards updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):

(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

Reference	Title	*Date of Withdrawal ()**	Supersedes
EN 716-1:2017+AC:2019	Furniture - Children's cots and folding cots for domestic use - Part 1: Safety requirements.	2017-12-31	-

Product Recalls / Alerts

Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RAPEX”) and in the US (Source “CPSC”)

Europe

RAPEX (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).

The following 65 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 8 until week 11 of 2019.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Burns	2	Fancy-dress costume: Easily flammable. Not complying with Toy Safety Directive and standard EN 71-2.
Burns, Environment	2	Lead concentrations in the solders exceed limit values and overheating could cause burns. Not complying with Toy Safety Directive and standard EN 62115.
Chemical	24	Phthalates: Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP).
		Finger paints : n-Nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA).
		Toy slime: high level of migration of Boron.
Chemical, Choking	3	Button cell batteries: easily accessible. Not complying with Toy Safety Directive and standard EN 62115.
Chemical, Environment	3	Contains chemicals substances dangerous for health of children and environment: lead and cadmium, 2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).
Chemical, Injuries	2	Modelling set: contains an excessive amount of boron and the coil spring may cause injuries.
Chemical, Injuries	2	Pushchair: Not sufficiently resistant to load and can easily collapse and contains di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).
Choking	16	Small parts. Not complying with EN 71-1: The slider of the zip can be easily detached Small decorative parts of the toy are easily detached
		Suction cups of projectiles can easily detach. Not complying with EN 71-1.
		The fibrous stuffing material of the toy is easily accessible due to the weakness of certain seams. Not complying with EN 71-1.
Suffocation	1	Cot: The fabric does not allow the flow of air and there is a large external pocket on one of the short sides. A small child could put its head inside the pocket, get trapped and suffocate.
Strangulation	1	The ribbons attached to the costume at neck level are too long. Not complying with the Toy Safety Directive and Standard EN 71-1 and EN 14682.
Injuries	11	Baby carrier: Not strong enough without locking mechanism There is excessive slippage of the shoulder straps Not sufficiently secure and can easily break Not comply with EN 13209-1 and EN 13209-2.
		Playpen: Fabric at the inner corners creates a foothold, which is too close to the bottom barrier and then child may climb over the top of the playpen, leading to a fall. Not comply with EN 12227.
		Travel cot: There is a large opening in a corner where the fabric detaches from the side. Not comply with EN 716.
		Baby sling: not provided with instructions for safe use.
		Pushchair: Only one safety lock and it is not sufficiently resistant to load.
		Car seat: not sufficiently absorbs the Kinetic energy that would be released in case of accident. Not comply with UN/ECE Regulation No 44-04.

From 21^st February to 20^th March 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 1 recall regarding Childcare and children’s products.

Type of Risk	Number of recalls	Notes
Fire hazard	1	Nutrition plates: incorrectly labeled as microwave-safe because it contains aluminum.