Toys & Childcare | Monthly bulletin | January 2020
Standards updates
Please see below a summary table outlining 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.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 |
|
Children's furniture - Cribs - Safety requirements and test methods |
2020-05-31 |
Alignment of Swiss and European legislation for toys
On 5th November 2019, Swiss confederation published the Official Collection 2019 - 3367 with the aim to align the Swiss Toys Ordinance with the European Toy Safety Directive and entry 51 to Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
It came into effect on the 1st December, 2019.
Please click here to read the amendment in different languages (German, french and italian).
Standards updates
See below a table summarising some recent ASTM standards updates:
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Reference |
Title |
|
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Portable Bed Rails |
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Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Swings |
New requirements for toys
On 2nd December 2019, The Directorate General of Foreign Trade of India published Notification No. 33/2015-2020 to amend Policy condition Nº2 (iii) to Chapter 95 of ITC (HS), 2017-Scheduke-1 (import Policy).
The main takeaways are:
- Imported toys shall be accompanied with a certificate demonstrating compliance with the BIS toy standards
- Imported toys shall be randomly tested by NABL-accredited laboratories. If the samples fail to meet the toy standards, the consignment will be sent back or destroyed at the cost of the importer
- Other toys, dolls and similar recreational goods shall also be governed by the BIS toy standards
The notification is effective immediately.
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
See below a table summarising some recent notifications to World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):
|
Notification number / Link |
Country |
Title |
|
Thailand |
Draft Thai Industrial Standard for Pacifier (TIS 1025 – 25XX(20XX))
The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed to replace the standard TIS 1025 – 2534 (1991) for Pacifier by the mandatory standard TIS 1025-25XX(20XX). It specifies requirements for Nipples for Feeding Bottles for child use including scopes; definitions; types; materials; sizes; requirements; packaging; marking and labeling; sampling and criteria for conformity and testing |
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Thailand |
Draft Thai Industrial Standard for Nipples for Feeding Bottles (TIS 969 – 25XX(20XX)) (12 page(s), in Thai)
The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed to replace the standard TIS 969 – 2533 (1990) for Nipples for Feeding Bottles by the mandatory standard TIS 969-25XX(20XX). This standard specifies requirements for Nipples for Feeding Bottles for child use including scopes; definitions; materials; requirements; packaging; marking and labeling; sampling and criteria for conformity and testing |
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Thailand |
Draft Thai Industrial Standard for Toys: Safety Requirements: Part 1 - Requirements (TIS 685 Part 1-25XX(20XX))
The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed the standard TIS 685 Part 1-25XX(20XX)) Toys: Safety Requirements: Part 1 – Requirements as a mandatory standard. This standard lays down safety requirements of all toys, including toy components and accessories, intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age. It also specifies scope, definition, prohibited material, requirement, flammability, packaging, marking and labelling, sampling and criteria, and testing and analysis |
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Taiwan |
Proposal for Legal Inspection of Children's Cots and Folding Cots for Domestic Use
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection intends to regulate the safety and quality of children's cots and folding cots for domestic use. The conformity assessment procedure is either Type-Approved Batch Inspection or Registration of Product Certification (Module II + Module III) |
As a reminder, below is a summary of the legislation that will come into force within the next six months and which will require application:
- Legislations:
Manufacturers and importers should carefully consider these upcoming dates of application and confirm that their products will comply with the following restrictions: -
- Europe: Directive 2012/19/EU - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Brief description:
On February 19, 2019 the European Commission adopted implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/290 which aims to harmonize the practices applied by Member States for the registration and reporting of producers of electrical and electronic equipment under Directive 2012/19/EU. The format for registration and reporting should be used by all producers. For further details, please refer to Annex I and II of Regulation (EU) 2019/290.
It will apply from 1st January 2020.
- Europe: Directive 2012/19/EU - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
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 116 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 47 until week 50 of 2019.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Chemical |
48 |
Phthalates contained: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) , diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) |
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Slime and drying modelling clay: high level of migration of Boron |
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Ballons: Excessive amount of nitrosatable substances generating n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) |
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Soft toy with keychain: Excessive amount of nickel |
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Toy steering wheel: The battery compartment lacks a fastening screw and could be opened without the use of a tool, leaving the batteries accessible. Not comply with EN 62115 |
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Choking |
53 |
Small parts. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Rattle toy set: The product has protruding parts and can also easily break, releasing small parts. Not complying to EN 71-1 |
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Toy gun set: The suction cups can easily detach from the projectiles. Not complying to EN 71-1 |
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Baby teether set / Teething ring: mall parts can easily detach from the teethers. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Wooden toy: Small parts. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Squeezable toy: The product, due to its characteristic form, colour and size, may be mistaken for foodstuff and small parts can easily be detached |
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Stationary: Due to its characteristic form, colour, appearance and size, the product may be mistaken for foodstuff. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Soft-filled Toy: The plastic sheeting on the product's paws can be easily broken and detached, generating small parts. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Damage to hearing |
3 |
Mobile phone toy: The sound level of the toy is too high. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Whistle: The sound level of the toy is too high. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Drowning |
1 |
Floating seat with steering wheel: It is not equipped with a self-closing valve. Not comply with EN 13138-3 |
|
Environmental |
4 |
Battery-operated toy: The solder contains an excessive amount of lead. Not comply with the Commission Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (ROHS 2) |
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Fire |
1 |
USB Nightlight: The product lacks a charging cut-off circuit, protecting the battery of unsuitable charging voltage or overcharging |
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Injuries |
3 |
Toy scooter: The front wheel is too small and could get stuck in holes in the ground and the steering tube is not sufficiently stable. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
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Children’s bicycle: The compression-based joint between the fork shaft and fork crown may become loose |
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Inflatable climbing and obstacle course: The climbing grips on the product can detach. Not comply with EN14960 |
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Microbiological |
2 |
Soft rubber ball: While playing with the ball, the liquid inside may leak out. The liquid contains an excessive amount of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and the presence of Burkholderia spp and Burkholderia cepacia has been detected |
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Squeezable toy: The liquid inside the product contains an excessive amount of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, among which Klebsiella oxytoca and Rhizobium radiobacter |
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Strangulation |
1 |
Wooden toys: The cord of the toy is too long. Not complying with EN 71-1 |
From 21st November to 20th December 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 3 recalls regarding Childcare and children’s products.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Several hazards |
1 |
Inclined sleeper accessory: Hazards include infant fatalities, fire, burn, choking, fall, laceration, skin irritation, explosion or other injuries depending on the product |
|
Fall hazard |
1 |
Bassinets: The bassinet’s support legs can break, posing a fall hazard to babies |
|
Choking |
1 |
Light-Up Magic Wands: The battery cover can detach and expose the button-cell batteries, posing choking and ingestion hazards to young children |
