Eurofins | June 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Toys & Childcare

Eurofins newsflash Toys & Childcare

Europe

New version of Toy Safety Standard EN 71-3:2019 on migration of certain elements

On 10^th April 2019, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published the toy safety standard EN 71-3:2019.

Standards Updates

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

(*) Date of availability: date when the definitive text in the official language versions of an approved CEN/CENELEC publication is distributed by the Central Secretariat.

Reference	Title	*Date of Availability ()**	Supersedes
CEN/TR 15371-2:2019	Safety of toys - Interpretations - Part 2: Replies to requests for interpretation of the chemical standards in the EN 71-series.	2019-04-03	CEN/TR 15371-2:2018

US | New York

Amendment proposal of dangerous chemical substances in Children’s products

On 4^th March 2019, the State of New York introduced the Bill A06296A. This act shall amend the Environmental Conservation Law, adding a new title 9: TITLE IX: TOXIC CHEMICALS IN CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS.

The Department of Environmental Conservation would publish lists of dangerous chemicals and chemicals of concern on its website. These lists shall be reviewed and updated periodically by the Department of Environmental Conservation, in consultation with the Department of Health.

Every manufacturer who offers a children's product for sale or distribution in the State of New York that contains a dangerous chemical or chemical of concern shall report such chemical use at practical quantification limits to the Department of Environmental Conservation, no later than twelve months after a dangerous chemical appears on the published lists.

If this Bill is finally passed and approved, the expected effective date would be 1^st March 2020.

Standards Updates

Below a summary table with some recent ASTM standards updates:

Reference	Title
ASTM F833 - 19	Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Carriages and Strollers.
ASTM F1967 - 19	Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath Seats.
ASTM F406 - 19	Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs/Play Yards.

China

China Strengthens the Supervision of Toys and School Supplies

On March 21^th 2019, the General Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation issued “The 2019 Work Plan for the Children and School Supplies Safety Protection Campaign”.

Four categories of key products on the market that are closely related to the healthy growth of young children will be under greater scrutiny, including children's toys, stationery, school uniforms and raw materials for school running tracks, etc.

The primary focus will be on testing for chemical hazards, physical injuries, safety performance of these products and to determine if any products have been sold without meeting the requirements of relevant mandatory standards.

The complete notification can be found here (in Chinese).

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 34 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 16 until week 20 of 2019.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Burns	3	Microwaveable soft toy: When heated up, the material of the soft toy can easily smoulder.
		Children's hat: the flap forming the scarf is flammable.
		Mask: The product is easily flammable and the flame propagation is too high.
Chemical	13	Phthalates contained: Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP).
		Button cell batteries: easily accessible. Not complying with Toy Safety Directive and standard EN 62115.
		Toy slime: high level of migration of Boron.
Choking	8	Small parts. Not complying with EN 71-1.
		Button cell batteries: easily accessible. Not complying with Toy Safety Directive and standard EN 62115.
		Toy with magnets: The toy contains small parts including a magnet with a high magnetic flux.
Damage to hearing	1	The sound pressure level of the helmet's speakers is too high. Not comply with the standard EN 71-1.
Environment	1	Electrical toy: Solders in the toy contain an excessive amount of lead and cadmium. Not comply with RoHS 2 Directive.
Injuries	6	Baby carrier: The attachment system can easily slip and the product can break. Moreover, the product lacks a head support for the child. Not comply with the standard EN 13209.
Injuries	6	Children’s car seat: The following defects have been detected: In the case of an impact, the back-rest could move down. The plastic shell of the base can break in the event of a car accident or sudden and violent braking of the vehicle. The plastic frame in the back of the seat can crack in the event of an impact. Moreover, the force needed to open the lock exceeds the limit set. The plastic brackets that hold the seat can break over time. Possible webbing slip in the central adjusting device and possible deformation of the backrest's plastic. Not comply with Regulation UNECE No 44-04.
Strangulation	1	Toy guitar: The strap has no quick release mechanism. Not comply with the standard EN 71-1.
Suffocation	1	Baby sleeper: When the restraint system is not correctly used, or under other circumstances such as adding bedding or pillows, or when the seat is used for a child above three months, the child may roll over from the back to the stomach or side.

From 21^st April to 20^th May 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 2 recalls regarding Childcare and children’s products.

Type of Risk	Number of recalls	Notes
Choking hazard	1	The steam dome on the toy train’s engine car can be released.
Death	1	Infant fatalities have occurred with Rocking Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.