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Change ahead for Euro safety regs
November 7, 2008
Stricter toy safety regulations are on the docket in Europe.
The Brussels-based European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection has adopted a report that outlines new toy safety directives—scheduled to be voted upon next month—that were predicated on the belief that “the existing directive has given good service but needs replacing” nearly 20 years after its initial enactment.
“New types of toy have appeared on the market, with new materials and technologies being used for their manufacture,” said the EP in a press release on Nov. 7. “In addition, cases of toxic or dangerous toys being placed on the market, such as Mattel in 2007, have shown the need for tighter safety rules. Lastly, new horizontal rules, such as those on the ‘goods package,’ are about to enter into force and the toys directive needed to be brought into line with these.”
The rules—specifics of which were only vaguely outlined—would apply to any “toy” (a toy being defined as "a product intended to be used for playing by children under 14 years of age") available for sale in the EU market.
The new regs include:
• A clause that requires manufacturers and importers to keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for each item for a period of 10 years after the toy has been placed on the market.
• Clarified and strengthened rules regarding warnings on packaging and on toys themselves; to make them more visible, they must be preceded by the word "Warning".
• Higher safety standards for toys designed for children under 3 years old, such as prohibiting companies from labeling products "Not suitable for children under three years" if those products are clearly intended for such children.
• A partial ban on the use of some allergenic fragrances, expanding “considerably” the list of banned substances, traces of which must not exceed a certain limit. The regs will affect toys such as play dough and dolls. A limited number of substances listed will be allowed in educational toys designed to develop the senses, such as "olfactory, gustative and cosmetic games.”
• Tighter restrictions on substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR). The conditions for exemption will be clarified and made stricter. The committee also banned the use of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium (VI), lead, mercury and organic tin in the manufacture of toys.
• Other amendments toughen clauses seeking to reduce the risk of suffocation or strangling by small detachable parts or toys contained in food, such as in chocolate eggs or other types of candy.
We'll publish more details as they become available...
Posted by Cliff Annicelli on November 7, 2008 | Comments (0)
