Toys & Hardlines regulatory updates September 2022
Assessment of the impact of inconsistences in the Toy Safety Directive
On 6 September 2022, the European Commission published Implementation of the Toy Safety Directive European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2022 on the implementation of Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety of toys (Toy Safety Directive).
Correct implementation review request of voluntary certification
On 14 September 2022, the European Commission published a note for the attention of market surveillance authorities and notifying authorities with the subject: Voluntary certification for products subject of EU technical harmonisation legislation.
With this note, the European Commission drew attention to voluntary certification, certification, and independent third-party terms, among others, which were often incorrectly used during the COVID-19 crisis.
European Commission requests for standards review of the circular economy
On 2 August 2022, the European Commission notified Commission implementing Decision with reference C(2022)5372 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical (CENELEC) Standardisation as regards plastics recycling and recycled plastics and in support of the European Circular Economy Strategy.
The aim is to draft and revise European standards and European standardisation deliverables in support of this matter.
New requirements for plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
On 20 September 2022, the European Commission published Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 of 15 September 2022 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foods, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 282/2008.
This Regulation concerns the categories of materials and articles into contact with food listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and, where appropriate, combinations of those materials and articles or recycled materials and articles.
Recent publication by the European Commission related to consumer products.
Please find a table summarising recent public initiatives (non-exhaustive).
Recent publications by DGCCRF (Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes) related to consumer products include.
National transposition of European allergenic fragrances requirements for toys.
On 5 July 2022, the BEK no. 815 of 7 June 2022 related to toys came into effect. This Decree Transposes Directives (EU) 2020/2088 and (EU) 2020/2089 related to two categories of allergenic fragrances to Denmark’s national law. Executive order no. 1800 of 3 December 2020, concerning safety requirements for toys, was repealed.
The latest updates in design standards and other recent publications by UK authorities related to consumer products include.
Prohibition of certain products that contain plastic
On 1 October 2022, the Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 is came into effect.
US Enacts “Reese’s Law” to Regulate Button Cell and Coin Batteries
On 16 August 2022, the United States enacted Public Law 117-171, also known as “Reese’s Law,” to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish a final consumer product safety standard for button cell or coin batteries and consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries, no later than 1 year after the Act’s enactment.
CPSC Updates Safety Standard for Frame Child Carriers
On 1 September 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a direct final rule (16 CFR 1230) to update the mandatory Safety Standard for Frame Child Carriers. The final rule incorporates the latest version of ASTM F2549-22, Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Frame Child Carriers, with no modifications.
CPSC Updates Safety Standard for Infant Bouncer Seats
On 1 September 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a direct final rule (16 CFR 1229) to update the mandatory Safety Standard for Infant Bouncer Seats. The final rule incorporates the latest version of ASTM F2167-22, Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Infant Bouncer Seats, with no modifications.
CPSC Updates Safety Standard for Infant Swings
On 20 September 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a direct final rule (16 CFR 1223) to update the mandatory Safety Standard for Infant Swings. The final rule incorporates the latest version of ASTM F2088-22, Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Infant Swings, with no modifications.
CPSC Approves New Safety Standard for Magnets
On 21 September 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued the new federal safety standard for magnets (16 CFR 1112 and 1262), in order to address the hazards associated with ingestion of one or more high-powered magnets.
China Updates Mandatory Standards for Food Contact Paper, Bamboo, and Wood Materials
On 28 July 2022, China’s National Health Commission and State Administration for Market Regulation issued a revised mandatory standard for food contact paper and paperboard materials (GB 4806.8-2022) and a new mandatory standard for food contact bamboo and wood materials and products (GB 4806.12-2022). Please see Table 1 below for more information:
RAPEX (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities)
OPSS issues Product Safety Alerts on the UK market. The following alerts regarding toys and childcare products were reported between week 34 and week 37 of 2022.
From 1 September 2022 to the 22 September 2022, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls.
