Eurofins | Newsflash - July 2018 | Toys & Childcare

Europe

New Toy Standard versions: EN 71-1 and EN 71-3 The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has recently published new versions of the following toy standards: EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018- Safety of Toys- Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties. Date of availability 27th June 2018   EN 71-3:2013+A3:2018- Safety of Toys- Part 3: Migration of certain elements. Date of availability 13th June 2018. The main change in this amendment is the new lead migration limits according to Council Directive (EU) 2017/738 which will come into force in October 2018.

Following, a summary table with the current and new limits for lead by categories:
 

It is expected that these standards would be harmonised under Directive 2009/48/EC for Safety of Toys after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Europe

Squishies under the spotlight “Squishies” are toys made of flexible compressible polyurethane foam that, when released, return to their original shape. Squishies can be found in many different shapes, smells and colors and they are very attractive to young children. A lot of products found in the market are claimed by manufacturers to be intended for children from 6-8 years old, indicating in the label that they are "not suitable for children under 3 years of age".

Belgium has recently taken the decision to classify this kind of toys for children under 3 years because children do not need a special ability to play with these toys and it is foreseeable that children below 3 years will play with them. Click here for reading the SPF publication (Belgium government in French).

Other EU countries have quite the same position but it is not official yet.

In France, French authorities decided to keep these products for children over 3 years but this classification will be discussed again in the European Commission in the coming months.

On other hand, tests carried out by the Danish EPA show that 12 out of 12 tested products contained high levels of harmful chemicals. The Danish EPA test results will be shared with all EU Member States to make them aware of the problem.  The Minister for Environment and Food will, via EU cooperation, seek to ban these substances. The full press release from the Danish Ministry can be found here.

Europe 

Standards Updates

Below a summary table with some recent standards updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):

(*)Date of availability (dav) date when the definitive text in the official language versions of an approved CEN/CENELEC publication is distributed by the Central Secretariat.

France

Slime: fashion toy for kids The National Agency for Sanitary Security of Food, Environment and Labor (ANSES) and the DGCCRF call consumers for a greater vigilance on the risks associated with the manufacture and handling of Slime. It is a paste with viscous and malleable texture which is sold in stores “ready to use” or in the form of kits to prepare it.

Because of reported skin damage to ANSES by the poison control centers related to contact with toxic products, such as boric acid and its derivatives, during the manufacture and handling of slime, ANSES and DGCCRF call on users to respect the precautions for use included in these kits.

In this context, ANSES and the DGCCRF warn about the dangers in using these products and DGCCRF will continue their controls during 2018.

Click here for getting the publication in the DGCCRF about Slimes (in French).

US

CPSC Releases Final Rule for Non-full-size Baby Cribs  On 6th  June, 2018, US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a direct final rule to issue a safety standard for non-full-size baby cribs under section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). Cited in 16 CFR 1220, this final rule requires all non-full-size baby crib to comply with applicable provisions of ASTM F406-17, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs/Play Yards, excluding following sections:

• Sections 5.6.2 through 5.6.2.4 of ASTM F406-17
• Section 5.16.2 of ASTM F406-17
• Sections 5.19 through 5.19.2.2 of ASTM F406-17
• Section 7, Performance Requirements for Mesh/Fabric Products of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.11 through 8.11.2.4 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.12 through 8.12.2.2. of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.14 through 8.14.2 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.15 through 8.15.3.3. of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with section 8.16 through 8.16.3 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.28 through 8.28.4 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.29 through 8.29.3 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with sections 8.30 through 8.30.5 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with section 8.31 through 8.31.9 of ASTM F406-17
• Do not comply with section 9.3.2 through 9.3.2.4 of ASTM F406-17

The rule will take effect on September 10, 2018, unless the Commission receives significant adverse comment by July 6, 2018. Click here for more information.

US

Standards Updates

Below a summary table with some recent ASTM standards updates:

US

CPSC Updates Safety Standards for High Chairs On 19th June 2018, US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a rule to update the safety standard for high chairs by incorporating ASTM F404-18, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for High Chairs, as the mandatory safety standard for high chairs. This rule also amends the regulations regarding third party conformity assessment bodies to include the safety standard for high chairs in the list of Notices of Requirements.

CPSC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on November 9, 2015, proposing to incorporate by reference the then-current voluntary standard for high chairs, ASTM F404-15, with more stringent requirements for rearward stability and warnings on labels and in instructional literature. After the Commission issued the NPR, ASTM revised the voluntary standard several times and published the current version of the standard, ASTM F404-18, in March 2018.

Following this rule, ASTM F404-18 would become mandatory from June 19, 2019.

Click here for more information.

China

New draft requirements for toys and child cart products

On April 24, China notified to World trade Organization its proposal to adopt new mandatory product certification implementation rule: “General implementation rules for mandatory certification of toys and child cart products”.

Among other things, the rule is going to expand the scope to all toys within the scope of the GB 6675 “Toy Safety” series of standards, that is, toys designed or intended for use by children under 14 years of age, as well as to the products designed or intended for carrying children or baby stroller products.

A comparison on the scope between the original and new rule can be found in the table:
 

 
Toys are subject to certification procedures according to their classification.

The rule is expected to be adopted by July 1, 2018, and effective from June 1, 2020.

Click here for getting the publication in the European Commission website with reference G/TBT/N/CHN/1269.