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Eurofins >> Consumer Product Testing >> Media Centre >> News >> Toys & Childcare | Monthly bulletin | April 2020

Toys & Childcare | Monthly bulletin | April 2020

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Eurofins newsflash Toys and Childcare

Regulatory news - Eurofins updates 

 

Regulatory news


 

Europe

 

New Circular Economy Action Plan

 

On 11th March 2020, the European Commission published the new Circular Economy Action Plan to work towards a cleaner and more competitive Europe. The plan presents a set of interrelated initiatives to establish strong and coherent product policy. Further measures will be put in place to reduce waste and ensure that the EU has a well-functioning internal market for high quality secondary raw materials. The EU’s capacity to take responsibility for its waste will be also strengthened. This document is addressed to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

 

To read the full official publication, please visit the European Commission website here.

 

Standards updates

 

Please see below a table summarising 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.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 14988:2017+A1:2020

Children's high chairs - Requirements and test methods

2023-02-28

-

EN IEC 62115:2020

Electric toys - Safety

2022-02-21

EN 62115:2005
EN 62115:2005/A11:2012
EN 62115:2005/A11:2012/AC:2013
EN 62115:2005/A12:2015
EN 62115:2005/A2:2011
EN 62115:2005/A2:2011/AC:2011

EN IEC 62115:2020/A11:2020

Electric toys - Safety

2022-02-21

-

 

France

 

Updated list of childcare article standards

 

On 8th February 2020, the French Official Journal (JORF) published a notice relating to the application of decree n° 91-1292 of December 20, 1991 in relation to the prevention of risks resulting from the use of childcare articles.

 

This text includes the list of references of the standards mentioned in article 4 of decree n° 91-1292 relating to the prevention of risks resulting from the use of childcare articles.

 

It cancels and replaces the notice with the update published in the JORF of March 24, 2019 (NOR: ECOC1908074V).

 

The reference to standard NF S 54-043 (September 2015) "Childcare articles: Rain coverings" is withdrawn. – “Minimum safety requirements and tests” is added to the new version of standard NF EN 1130 (November 2019) as is "Childcare furniture: Cradles - Safety requirements and test methods".

 

To read the publication in full, please visit the JORF website here.

 

Turkey

 

New Communiqué on Import Control of Toys

 

On 27th December 2019, the Turkish Ministry of Trade published Communiqué on Import Control of Toys (Product Safety and Inspection: 2020/10) under Number 30991 to establish a list of toy-related compliance. The main points include:

 

  1. A list of toys under specific HS codes that are subject to inspection
  2. Documents to be uploaded to TAREKS for products in relation to audits

This Communiqué replaced to the Communiqué on import control of toys (Product Safety and Inspection: 2019/10) No 30641 dated December 30, 2018. It is effective as of January 1, 2020.

 

India

 

Publication - Toy Quality Control Order

 

On 25th February 2020, The Ministry of Commerce and Industry published the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020. The main points covered include:

 

These updates come into effect as of 1st September 2020.

 

South Korea

 

Revision of common safety standards for children's products

 

On 3rd December 2019, The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of South Korea published Notice No. 2019-201, a revision of common safety standards in relation to children's products. It shall come into effect as of 3rd June 2020.

 

The main amendments are:

 

Substances

Requirement

Effective date

Note

Phthalate plasticizers (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DnOP)

The total content of the six phthalates shall not exceed 0.1%

3-6-2020

 

Lead

Lead content limit: 100 mg/kg

3-12-2020

The total lead and cadmium content limits shall not apply to textiles

Nitrosamnes:

 

  • N-nitrosodimethylamine
    CAS No. 62-75-9
  • N-nitrosodiethylamine
    CAS No. 55-18-5
  • N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine
    CAS No. 621-64-7
  • N-nitrosodi-n-buthylamine
    CAS No. 924-16-3
  • N-nitrosopiperidine
    CAS No. 100-75-4
  • N-nitrosopyrrolidine
    CAS No. 930-55-2
  • N-nitrosomorpholine
    CAS No. 59-89-2

Total ≤ 0.01 mg/kg 1

3-12-2020

This applies to elastomeric children’s products intended to be used in the mouth of children under 36 months old) (e.g., soother teats, toothbrushes)

Total ≤ 0.05 mg/kg 2

This applies to:

 

  1. Elastomeric children’s products intended to be used in the mouth of children under 36 months old [but not falling into the category in (1)]
  2. Elastomeric children’s products intended to be used in or put into the mouth of children over 36 months old

For example, balloons and mouthpieces

Nitrosatable substances:

 

  • N-nitrosodimethylamine
    CAS No. 62-75-9
  • N-nitrosodiethylamine
    CAS No. 55-18-5
  • N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine
    CAS No. 621-64-7
  • N-nitrosodi-n-buthylamine
    CAS No. 924-16-3
  • N-nitrosopiperidine
    CAS No. 100-75-4
  • N-nitrosopyrrolidine
    CAS No. 930-55-2
  • N-nitrosomorpholine
    CAS No. 59-89-2

Total ≤ 0.1 mg/kg 1

3-12-2020

This applies to elastomeric children’s products intended to be used in the mouth of children under 36 months old) (e.g., soother teats, toothbrushes)

Total ≤ 1.0 mg/kg 2

This applies to:

 

  1. Elastomeric children’s products intended to be used in the mouth of children under 36 months old [but not falling into the category in (1)]
  2. Elastomeric children’s products intended to be used in or put into the mouth of children over 36 months old

For example, balloons and mouthpieces

Note:

 

It shall not include drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, food containers, food packaging, amusement facilities and equipment

 

The standard requirements shall not apply to components that are not accessible to children during normal use

 

Hong Kong

 

Toys and Children ‘s Products Safety Ordinance amended

 

On 10th February 2020, Toys and Children‘s Products Safety Ordinance Amendment Notice 2020 was published, developed by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic development under section 37 of the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424). It is an amended set of the safety standards as set out in sections 3 and 4 of this ordinance.

 

It comes into effect as of the 1st October 2020.

 

US

 

CPSC Revised Safety Standard for Portable Bed Rails

 

On February 25, 2020, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a direct rule which revises the mandatory standards for portable bed rails, incorporating, by reference, the most current version ASTM F2085-19.

 

The revised rule 16 CFR 1224 requires that each portable bed rail shall comply with all applicable provisions of ASTM F2085-19. Compared to the former standards adopted by the CPSC, this rule changes test platform 2 requesting that the sheet content change to 60/40 cotton/polyester from 50/50 cotton/polyester blend.

 

The final rules will come into effect as of May 20, 2020, unless the Commission receives significant adverse comment by March 26, 2020.

 

Please click here for more information.

 

Standards updates

 

See below a table summarising some recent ASTM standards updates:

 

Reference

Title

ASTM F2923 - 20

Standard Specification for Consumer Product Safety for Children’s Jewellery

 

New CPSC Age Determination Guidelines

 

In January 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published the following CPSC staff document:

 

AGE DETERMINATION GUIDELINES: Relating Consumer Product Characteristics to the Skills, Play Behaviours, and Interests of Children.

 

This document presents age-grading information in the form of guidelines for toys and other articles, children’s toys, child care articles, and children’s products.

 

CPSC staff will begin using the 2020 Age Determination Guidelines as of June 1st, 2020, at which time the 2020 Guidelines will supersede the 2002 Guidelines.

 

International

 

Regulatory proposals notified to WTO

 

Please see the below table summarising the most recent notifications made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (non-exhaustive):

 

Notification number

Countries

Title

G/TBT/N/BRA/970

Brazil

Ordinance 04, from 10 February 2020 – Public consultation (Portaria Inmetro nº 4, de 10 de Fevereiro de 2020 - Consulta Pública)

 

Draft Technical Regulation that establishes the recognition of equivalence of tests and adjustments in regulations for child restraints

G/TBT/N/IND/143

India

Amendment in Policy Condition No. 2(iii) to Chapter 95 of ITC (HS), 2017- Schedule-I (Import Policy)

 

Policy condition No.2 (iii) of Chapter 95 of ITC (HS), 2017 has been revised and a new para is added to Section 2 (Indian Quality Standards) to the General Notes regarding import policy of ITC (HS), 2017

G/TBT/N/USA/1581

US

Act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to regulation of toxic chemicals in children's products

 

Establishes disclosure programme for chemicals of concerned used in the manufacturing of children's products and a process to review high priority chemicals of concern for future regulatory actions

 

Product Recalls / Alerts

 

Below you will find a monthly summary table 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 85 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 8 to week 11 of 2020.

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Burns, Chemical

1

Fancy-dress cape: Parts of the product are flammable and may catch fire if used next to an open flame. Also, the product contains an excessive amount of lead. Does not comply with EN 71-2

Chemical

10

Battery-operated toy: The batteries compartment can easily be opened without the use of any tools, leaving batteries accessible. Does not comply with EN 62115:2005+A2:2011+A2/2011/AC:2011++A11:2012+A11:2012/AC:2013+A12:2015

4

Plastic Dolls: They contain an excessive amount of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-‘isononyl’ phthalate (DINP)

3

Toy slime: The migration of boron from the toy slime is too high. Does not comply with EN 71-3

17

Plastic toys: They contain di-‘isononyl’ phthalate (DINP), tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

1

Toy slime: The migration of boron from the toy slime is too high. Does not comply with EN 71-3

Chemical, Choking, Injuries

2

Toy gun set:

 

  • The suction cups contain an excessive amount of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
  • The suction cups of the projectiles can easily detach
  • The kinetic energy of the projectiles fired from the toy gun is too high and may lead to injuries

Does not comply with EN 71-1

Choking

34

Push-along toy: A small part (plastic handle connector) may detach from the toy. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Toy kitchen set: Some parts (colander and lid) may break, generating small parts. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Educational toy: The fibrous stuffing material is accessible due to the weakness of certain seams. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Soother holders: The product has protruding parts. A small child could put the protruding part in the mouth, which could block the airways and cause choking. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Soft-filled toy: Both ears and the purple decorative circles of the wings can easily become detached, generating small parts. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Whistle toy: The toy can easily break generating small parts. A child can put them in the mouth and choke on them. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Toy construction set: The product has loose small parts and its packaging suggests its suitability for children under 3 years of age. Does not comply with EN 71-1 and EN 62115

Toy firetruck: Small parts can easily become detached from the toy. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Rattle toy: The small beads at the sides of the product can easily detach. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Soft toy: The squirrel's whiskers can easily be detached, generating small parts. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Whistle toy: The toy easily breaks generating small parts. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Plastic toy set: The suction cups of the projectiles can easily detach. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Plastic toy: The toy's switch may not work properly and may cause batteries to overheat, get damaged and leak acid. Does not comply with EN 71-1 and EN 62115

Baby teether: The toy contains protruding parts (plastic rings). Does not comply with EN 71-1

Choking, Injuries

3

Magnetic toy building blocks: The magnet can easily be detached from the square shape, generating a small part with a high magnet flux. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Finger paint: The plastic pump nozzle of the product can easily break releasing a small part. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Toy gun set: The water bullets expand in size by more than 50% when placed in water. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Choking, Suffocation

1

Soft toy: Small parts (zipper and its elements) can become easily detached from the toy. The plastic of the packaging is too thin. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Choking, Strangulation

1

Toy musical instrument: The toy's handle is too long. The strap attached to the toy does not have a quick release mechanism. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Damage to sight

1

Painting toy kit: The LED torch is too powerful. Does not comply with EN 62115

Injuries

6

Magnetic toy: The product contains small magnets with a high magnetic flux. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Booster seat: The waist harness can be used independently of the crotch restraint and there is no lateral barrier. Does not comply with EN 16120

Baby walker: There is no protection against falling down steps. Does not comply with EN 1273

Toy scooter: The front wheels are too small and could get stuck in holes in the ground. Does not comply with EN 71-1

Children's car seat: One of the handle attachment components may become loose

Children's high chair: The high chair is not sufficiently stable and can easily tip over backwards. Does not comply with EN 14988

Strangulation

1

Soft toy: The walk-along cord is too long and does not have a break-away feature. Does not comply with EN 71-1

 

US

 

From the 16th February 2020 to the 15th March of 2020, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 1 recall regarding Childcare and children’s products.

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Laceration

1

The shopping cart’s basket can break into sharp pieces

 

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