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Eurofins >> Consumer Product Testing >> Media Centre >> News >> Toys & Childcare | Monthly bulletin | November 2019

Toys & Childcare | Monthly bulletin | November 2019

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Eurofins newsflash Toys and Childcare

 

Europe

 

Publication of harmonised standards list for toys

 

On 16th October 2019, the European Commission published:

 

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1728 of 15 October 2019 on harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

 

Which includes the official list of titles and references of published and withdrawn harmonized standards under Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC and repeals Decision (EU) 2019/1254.

 

The main update of this decision is:

 

  • The harmonization of the new version of the standard EN 71-3:2019. The previous version, EN 71-3:2013+A3:2018, will be in effect until 15th April 2020

 

Below, the references of current harmonised standards listed in Annex I to this Decision:

 

Reference of the standard

EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 Safety of toys — Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties

EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014 Safety of toys — Part 2: Flammability

EN 71-3:2019 Safety of toys - Part 3: Migration of certain elements

EN 71-4:2013 Safety of toys — Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities

EN 71-5:2015 Safety of toys — Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets

EN 71-7:2014+A2:2018 Safety of toys — Part 7: Finger paints — Requirements and test methods Note: For the allowed preservative climbazole (entry 22 in Table B.1 of Annex B to this standard) the presumption of conformity applies up to a maximum allowed concentration of 0,2 % (not: 0,5 %). This is based on the ‘ADDENDUM to the Opinion on Climbazole (P64) ref. SCCS/1506/13’ of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) that was adopted after the publication of the standard by CEN. https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_212.pdf

EN 71-8:2018 Safety of toys — Part 8: Activity toys for domestic use

EN 71-12:2013 Safety of toys — Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances

EN 71-13:2014 Safety of toys — Part 13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games

EN 71-14:2018 Safety of toys - Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use

EN 62115:2005 Electric toys — Safety IEC 62115:2003 (Modified) + A1:2004 EN 62115:2005/A11:2012/AC:2013 EN 62115:2005/A11:2012 EN 62115:2005/A12:2015 EN 62115:2005/A2:2011/AC:2011 EN 62115:2005/A2:2011 IEC 62115:2003/A2:2010 (Modified)

 

And the references of harmonised standards listed in Annex II to this Decision (withdrawn standards):

 

No

Reference of the withdrawn standard

Date of withdrawal

1.

EN 71-3:2013+A3:2018 Safety of toys - Part 3: Migration of certain elements

15 April 2020

2.

EN 71-14:2014+A1:2017 Safety of toys - Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use

22 January 2020

 

Click here for getting the official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

 

Update of toy guidance document for Soother holders

 

On 26th September 2019, the European Commission published the update of Guidance document No 19 on Soother holders.

 

The aim of this guide is to help distinguish between soother holders that are toys and those that are not. It provides a lot of examples with pictures to see the differences between a toy and childcare product in order to be able to have good criteria for classification.

 

It must always be kept in mind that, regardless of whether a soother holder is classified as a toy or not, it is a product for very young children that has to be safe.  The highest risks of soother holders lay in their mechanical and physical properties; thus the most important standards to consider for these products are:

 

  • EN 12586 Child use and care articles. Soother holder. Safety requirements and test methods
  • EN 71-1 Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties

 

Update of harmonised standards list under General Product Safety 

 

On 10th October 2019, the European Commission published:

 

Commission implementing decision (EU) 2019/1698 of 9 October 2019 on European standards for products drafted in support of Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on general product safety.

 

Which includes the official list of titles and references of published and withdrawn harmonized standards under General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) 2001/95/EC.

 

In this decision, Annex I includes the list of current harmonised standards under GPSD and Annex II includes the list of withdrawn standards.

 

Within this list of withdrawn standards, some of them (non-exhaustive):

 

  • EN 15649 series for floating leisure articles for use on and in the water
    • However, it is important to highlight that EN 71-1 on toy safety still contains a reference to EN 15649
  • EN 957 series (some parts) for Stationary training equipment (other parts still remain in the list of current harmonized standards)

Click here for getting the official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

 

Intention to restrict substances in disposable baby diapers submitted

 

On 9th October 2019, France submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) the restriction intentions about disposable baby diapers containing chemical/chemical groups, such as PAHs, Formaldehyde, dioxins, furans, PCBs,...

 

For more information, please click here.

 

US

 

CPSC Proposes to exempt certain unfinished manufactured fibers from ASTM F963 elements and Phthalates Tests

 

On 9th October 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a proposed rule which determines that certain unfinished manufactured fibers would not contain the ASTM F963 elements or specified phthalates exceeding the limits for children's toys and child care articles under CPSC's regulations.

 

This proposed rule defines unfinished manufactured fiber as one that has no chemical additives added to impart color or some desirable performance property like flame retardancy beyond those required to manufacture the fiber.

 

16 CFR 1253.2(b) specifies that the following unfinished manufactured fibers do not exceed the ASTM F963 elements solubility limits with a high degree of assurance:

 

  1. Nylon
  2. Polyurethane (Spandex)
  3. Viscose Rayon
  4. Acrylic and Modacrylic
  5. Natural Rubber Latex

And the 16 CFR 1253.2(c) specifies that the following unfinished manufactured fibers do not exceed the phthalates content limits under 16 CFR 1307 with a high degree of assurance:

 

  1. Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET)
  2. Nylon
  3. Polyurethane (Spandex)
  4. Viscose Rayon
  5. Acrylic and Modacrylic
  6. Natural Rubber Latex

Based on these proposed determinations, accessible component parts of children's toys and child care articles made with above unfinished manufactured fibers are not required to be third party tested for compliance with the requirements of the ASTM F963 elements or phthalates in 16 CFR 1307.

 

Comments can be submitted by December 23, 2019. Please click here for more information.

 

CPSC Publishes Amendment to Requirements for Consumer Registration of Durable Infant or Toddler Products

 

On 24th September 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a final rule on Federal Register which made some amendments for Registration requirements of durable Infant or toddler products.

 

As specified in this final rule, the Commission mainly revised the following information:

 

  • Update the definition of “durable infant or toddler product” to include the full statutory definition;
  • Clarify listed product categories using the product name in the applicable mandatory standard;
  • Clarify that the scope of each listed product category is further defined in the applicable mandatory standard;
  • Clarify the scope of the infant carriers and bassinets and cradles product categories; and
  • Use the term “baby changing products” to be consistent with the Commission's mandatory standard.

The rule came into effect on 24th October 2019 with exception for contoured changing pads until 24th September 2020. For more details please click here.

 

Taiwan

 

Mandatory inspection standard of children’s raincoat

 

Recently, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) published an announcement indicating the adoption of the recent version of standard CNS 15503 “General requirements for safety of children’s products”, as the inspection standard for children’s raincoat (for heights between 70 cm and 150 cm. Waterproof textiles are excluded).

Read more >>

 

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 69 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 39 until week 42 of 2019.

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Chemical

45

Phthalates contained: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) , diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)  and dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

Slime and drying modelling clay: high level of migration of Boron

Drawing kit: There is an excessive migration of copper from the blue ink pad

Street chalk: There is an excessive migration of lead from the yellow and red chalk

Wood pencil set: There is an excessive migration of lead from the lead and coating of the pencils

Coloured pencil set: The banana-scented colour pencil contains eugenol

Pencil case: The 3D plastic on the product contains an excessive amount cadmium

Button cell batteries: easily accessible. Not complying with Toy Safety Directive and standard EN 62115

Burns

1

Fancy-dress mask: it is flammable, does not self-extinguish and the fire spreads rapidly on it. Not complying with EN 71-2

Choking

10

Small parts. Not complying with EN 71-1

Toy gun set: The suction cups of the projectiles can easily detach. Not complying with EN 71-1

Bib: The button on the bib can easily come loose.  Not complying  with EN 12586

Expandable toy: it can cause fatal occlusion of the respiratory track or intestinal blockage of small children

Choking, Cuts, Suffocation

1

Toy Car: Small parts (wheel, cord holder) may be easily detached from the toy. Sharp element (metal axle) is easily accessible. The cross-section of cord attached to the toy is inadequate and the plastic bag of the packaging is too thin. Not complying with EN 71-1

Choking, Strangulation, Suffocation

1

Children's backpack: it has the following risk:

 

  • Small parts (button and zip tag) of the product can be easily detached
  • The fabric in the back panel of the bag is impermeable to air and the plastic in which is delivered is too thin
  • The fixed loops in the product are too big

Choking, Injuries

1

Wooden train set: Small parts with a high magnetic flux (carriage buffers) can easily be detached from the toy and If the small magnet and other metallic objects are swallowed, they could attract one another causing intestinal blockage or perforation. Not complying with EN 71-1

Choking, Damage to hearing

1

Rattle toy: The product has two protruding pieces which are too long and the sound level is too high and If the toy is used close to the ear, it could cause damage to hearing. Not complying with EN 71-1

Environment

2

Solders in the toy contain an excessive amount of lead and cadmium. It does not comply with RoHS 2 Directive

Damage to hearing, Suffocation

1

Push-along toy: The sound level produced by the toy is too high and the plastic bag of the packaging is too thin. Not complying with EN 71-1

Damage to sight, Microbiological

1

Bubble gun with LED: The lights of the LED are too powerful and the toy contains aerobic bacteria. Not complying with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 62115

Injuries

5

Baby walker: The stability of the product is inadequate and it may tip over during use. Not complying with EN 1273.

Children's high chair: The high chair is not sufficiently stable and can easily tip over sideways. Not complying with EN 14988

 

US

 

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

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Choking hazard

1

Infant Bibs: The snap on the bibs can detach