Eurofins Toys & Hardlines Monthly Bulletin (August 2021)
EUROPE
New requirements for artificial sports pitches and playgrounds
On 21 July 2021, the European Commission published the following regulation on the restriction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in artificial sports pitches and playgrounds:
It applies to rubber granules or mulches which are used as infill material in synthetic turf pitches, playgrounds or in sport applications. The new limit is 20 mg/kg (0,002 % by weight) of the sum of all listed PAHs.
Hence the entry 50 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 was modified and expands the scope of the restriction on PAHs.
New General Product Safety regulation draws closer
The European Commission is working on the update of the General Product Safety Regulation. The table below summarises the recent proposal and drafts related to this matter:
|
Date |
Reference |
Title |
|
30/06/2021 |
COM/2021/346 final |
|
|
30/06/2021 |
SWD/2021/169 final |
|
|
01/07/2021 |
ST 10381 2021 INIT |
For more information about this procedure (2021/0170/COD), consult the European Commission here.
Perfluorinated carboxylic acids restricted under REACH Annex XVII Entry 68
On 5 August 2021, the European Union (EU) published Regulation (EU) No 2021/1297, which updated Annex XVII of REACH. Certain perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9-C14 PFCAs), their salts and C9-C14 PFCA-related substances will be banned from being placed on the market or used in most applications from 25 February 2023 onwards.
Read more about the main updates on the restricted substances here.
Please see the below table summarising the most 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.
(**) Date of availability: date when the definitive text in the official language versions of an approved CEN/CENELEC publication is distributed by the Central Secretariat
|
CENELEC / CEN |
|||
|
Reference |
Title |
Date of withdrawal (*) |
Supersedes |
|
Children’s Furniture - Seating for children - Safety requirements and test methods |
2022-01-31 |
||
|
Children's furniture - Mattresses for cots and cribs - Safety requirements and test methods |
2021-12-31 |
||
|
Child care articles - Child carriers - Safety requirements and test methods - Part 1: Framed back carrier |
2022-07-31 |
||
|
Reference |
Title |
Date of Availability (**) |
Supersedes |
|
Safety of toys - Interpretations - Part 2: Replies to requests for interpretation of the chemical standards in the EN 71-series |
2021-07-14 |
||
|
Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in electrical energy storage systems |
2021-07-09 |
||
|
Safety of toys - National translations of warnings and instructions for use in the EN 71 series |
2021-08-11 |
||
Please find below a table summarising recent technical publications (non-exhaustive):
|
Date |
Entity |
Comments |
|
29/07/2021 |
ANSES (France) |
Keep water beads out of the reach of children Information about the risk of swallowing water beads which can be found in toys for young children. |
|
09/08/2021 |
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) |
Safety assessment of the substance silver nanoparticles for use in food contact materials |
|
24/06/2021 |
ANSES (France) |
Keep objects containing magnetic balls out of the reach of children! Information about the risk of swallowing magnetic balls which can be found in toys for young children. |
FRANCE
Updated standards list for the use of childcare articles
On 18 July 2021, the Opinion on the application of decree n ° 91-1292 of December 20, 1991 relating to the prevention of risks resulting from the use of childcare articles was published.
This includes in the appendix the list of references of the standards mentioned in article 4 of decree n ° 91-1292 of December 20 1991, relating to the prevention of risks resulting from the use of childcare articles. The following table summarises the main changes:
|
Reference |
Title |
Type |
|
NF EN 14988 + A1: 2020 |
February 2020 “High chairs for children” |
New version |
|
NF EN 13210 -1 |
November 2020 “Harnesses and leashes for walking for children” |
New version |
|
NF EN 13210-2 |
November 2020 “Harnesses equipped with backpacks and walking leashes for children” |
New version |
|
NF D60-300-4 |
December 2019 “Children's furniture - Domestic use - Part 4: Requirements and test methods for beds without a carrycot” |
New version |
|
NF EN 15918 + A2 |
May 2018 “Cycles - Trailers for cycles - Safety requirements and test methods”. |
New standard |
|
Note:
|
||
To see the complete list, consult the official publication here.
UK
UK Government extends UKCA marking deadline
On 24 August 2021, the UK government announced that businesses have been given an additional year to apply the UKCA marking to their products, businesses now have until 1 January 2023 to apply the UKCA marking to their products.
After receiving feedback from the industry, the UK government has extended the date to give businesses more time to implement the changes necessary to comply with the UK marking requirements.
For more information, consult the UK government website here.
SWITZERLAND
Alignment of the Swiss toy requirements with the European Legislation
On 8 July 2021, the Ordinance of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) on the Safety of Toys (Toys Ordinance, RS 817.023.11; German, French and Italian versions) was amended by the Swiss Official Collection 2021 425 (German, French and Italian versions). The main changes are:
- Add substances to the list of allergenic fragrances.
- New Aluminium migration limits
- New Formaldehyde limits
- SN EN 71-3:2019 Replaces ‘SN EN 71-3:2013 with corrigendum A3:2018’ for the migration of certain elements
This amendment came into effect on August 1, 2021.
US
CPSC Approves New Rule 16 CFR 1236 Safety Standard for Infant Sleep Products
In June 2021, the Eurofins monthly bulletin informed you that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new 16 CFR 1236 Safety Standard for Infant Sleep Products (see news here). The rule has been published in the Federal Register, and will come into effect 23 June 2022, 12 months from date of publication in the Federal Register.
For more information, please click here.
Oregon Passes HB3379 into Law - Prohibiting Crib Bumper Pad
Recently, the governor of Oregon signed HB3379 into law, which is an amendment to the Oregon Revised Statute, ORS 646A.504 and 646A.506, to prohibit the sale and use of crib bumper pads in the state.
A “Crib bumper pad” means a pad, other than a mesh liner, that rests directly above the mattress in a crib, or that runs along the surface area or any of the interior sides of the crib.
The amendments prohibit the manufacturing, retrofitting, selling, leasing, subletting or placing into the stream of commerce any crib bumper pads or crib equipped with crib bumper pads or as an accessory. Any commercial user or place of public accommodation may not use or have on the premises a crib bumper pad unless a medical professional has determined that using a crib bumper pad is medically necessary for a particular infant that uses a crib on the premises of the commercial user or place of public accommodation.
These requirements come into effect on 8 June 2021.
For more information, please click here.
The table below summarises some recent ASTM standards updates:
|
Reference |
Title |
|
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant and Cradle Swings |
|
|
Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Carriages and Strollers |
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
Mandatory requirements for projectile toys
On 29 July 2021, The Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020 was amended to incorporate updates recently made to the voluntary Australian/New Zealand and International standards on which it is based.
The table below summarises the reference standards for projectile toys:
|
Region |
Title |
Reference |
|
Australia/ New Zealand |
AS/NZS 8124.1:2019 |
Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties (including amendments 1 and 2) |
|
Europe |
EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 |
Safety of Toys - Part 1: Mechanical and Physical Properties |
|
International |
ISO 8124.1:2018 |
Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties (including amendments 1 and 2) |
|
America |
ASTM F963-17 |
Consumer Safety Application for Toy Safety. |
There is a transition period for these mandatory standards and the suppliers will be able to adapt their Projectile toys by the deadlines. The main dates are:
|
Date |
Requirements |
|
Up to 11 June 2022 |
The Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020 or Consumer Protection Notice No. 16 of 2010 (Consumer Product Safety Standard for Children's Projectile Toys). |
|
From 12 June 2022 |
For more information, consult Product Safety Australia’s website here.
BRAZIL
New requirements for toys and childcare products
In July 2021, Inmetro (Brazil’s Ministry of Economy/National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) published the following Ordinances related to Childcare products:
|
Title |
Effective Date |
|
Ordinance No. 302 of July 12, 2021 on approving the Technical Quality Regulation and the Conformity Assessment Requirements for Toys - Consolidated. |
14/07/2021 |
|
Ordinance No. 301 of July 12, 2021 on approving the Conformity Assessment Requirements for Pacifiers - Consolidated |
16/07/2021 |
INTERNATIONAL
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
The table below summarises the most recent notifications made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) (non-exhaustive):
|
Notification number |
Countries |
Title |
|
Europe |
Draft Commission Regulation refusing to authorise a health claim made on foods and referring to children's development and health |
|
|
Peru |
Draft Health Standard regulating bisphenol A in varnishes and coatings used in packaging for foods for infants and young children. |
|
|
Australia |
Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury – Final Regulation Impact Statement. Australia proposes to:
These amendments, along with other domestic law changes, will allow Australia to ratify and comply with the obligations of, the Minamata Convention on Mercury. |
|
|
Israel |
SI 6558 part 1 - Jewellery safety: Children's jewellery - Safety requirements This draft standard revision adopts the American Standard ASTM F2923 - 20 dealing with the safety requirements for children's jewellery. |
The table below summarises some recent international regulation news:
|
Date |
Country |
News |
|
16/06/2021 |
Thailand |
Thailand’s Ministry of Industry published a regulation on the teat products which indicate that the standard TIS 1025-2562 (2019) for pacifiers is mandatory. It indicates materials, construction, performance, packaging and product information requirements. |
|
07/06/2021 |
India |
India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry published the Order S.O.2166(E) - the Plugs and Socket-Outlets and Alternating Current Direct Connected Static Prepayment Meters for Active Energy (Quality Control) Order, 2021. |
Below you will find a monthly table summarising product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RAPEX” and “RASFF”) and the U.S. (Source “CPSC”)
Europe
The following 70 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys were reported, between week 25 and week 31 of 2021.
|
Types of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Burns |
2 |
Children's fancy dress costume: The fancy dress costume is easily flammable and the flame propagation is too high. If it catches fire, the child could suffer burns. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-2. |
|
1 |
Costume The mask is easily flammable and the flame propagation is too high. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-2. |
|
|
1 |
Electric toy The surface of the battery compartment can overheat. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1 and EN 62115. |
|
|
Burns, Cuts, Injuries |
1 |
Toy tent The tent material is easily flammable and the flame propagation is too high. Furthermore, the tent's frame is not sufficiently stable and can break when using the product. It has sharp edges. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1 and EN 71-2. |
|
Chemical |
12 |
Plastic toys The toy contains an excessive amount of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-isonylephthalate (DINP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and the flame retardant tris(2-chlor-1-methylethyl phosphate (TCPP). It does not comply with Toy Safety Directive nor with REACH |
|
1 |
Slime The migration of boron from the toy slime is too high. It does not comply with the REACH, the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-3. |
|
|
1 |
Set of plastic balls They contain an excessive amount of diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). They do not comply with the REACH Regulation. |
|
|
1 |
Finger paint set There is an excessive migration of lead in the white paint and the red and green finger paints release an excessive amount of nitrosamines , among which n-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) is included. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and with the EN 71-3 and EN 71-12. |
|
|
Chemical, Damage to hearing |
1 |
The product’s plastic contains an excessive amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), notably benzo[a]anthracene (BaA). Furthermore, the sound pressure level is too high. It does not comply with the REACH Regulation and the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
Chemical, Damage to sight |
1 |
Balloons The rubber of the red balloons releases an excessive amount of nitrosatable substances, which generate nitrosamines. The design of the safety goggles is inappropriate to protect against droplets. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive, EN 71-4 and EN 71-12. |
|
Chemical, Choking |
2 |
The battery compartment can be easily opened without the use of a tool, meaning that the button batteries are accessible. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 62155. |
|
Chemical Choking Strangulation |
1 |
Toy guitar The toy breaks easily releasing small plastic parts which, when swallowed, could cause choking. The battery compartment can be easily opened, leaving batteries accessible. A child may ingest them, which could cause damages to the gastrointestinal tract. Finally, the strap of the toy guitar has no quick release mechanism. If worn around the neck, it could form a loop and become trapped, leading to strangulation. It does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1 and EN 62115. |
|
Choking |
15 |
Small parts. It does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
Choking Injuries |
1 |
Wooden rattle The product has a protruding part. If a child puts the toy in the mouth and falls face down, the protruding part could obstruct the airways, causing choking and injuries around the pharynx or trachea area. It does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
Choking, Strangulation |
1 |
Caterpillar toy Small parts can easily detach (caterpillar's feelers). Furthermore, the cord of the toy is too long. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
Choking, Suffocation |
1 |
Small parts may easily detach from the toy. The fibrous stuffing material of the toy is easily accessible due to the weakness of certain seams. It does not comply with the regulations on the safety of toys and EN 71-1. |
|
Cuts Fire Injuries |
1 |
Toy tent It poses a risk of fire due to the high flammability of the material of the tent. A child may also break the tent's frame and get injured or suffer cuts because of sharp elements of the frame. It does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1 and EN 71-2. |
|
Entrapment |
1 |
Playground with slide and swing It has accessible holes which may cause entrapment of fingers when the body of the child is in a forced movement (close to the starting section of the slide). It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71. |
|
1 |
Toy scooter There are accessible gaps between moving parts of the scooter's handlebar. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
|
Entrapment, Injuries |
1 |
Toy scooter There are accessible gaps between moving parts of the scooter's handlebar. The wheels are too small and could get stuck in holes in the ground. Additionally, the scooter's frame lacks the mark indicating the minimal insertion depth of the handlebar, which might be insufficiently inserted and detached while the child is riding the scooter. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
2 |
The product has accessible openings and accessible holes, in which children can become trapped or suffer injuries. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-8. |
|
|
1 |
Play frame with slide and swings The toy has partially closed openings and accessible holes (between the seat and the backrest of the face-to-face swing), in which children can become trapped or suffer injuries. It does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-8. |
|
|
1 |
Foldable sunbed Due to the sunbed folding mechanism, the user's fingers can get trapped between the seat and the folding mechanism. This can also lead to injuries and even amputation of one or more fingers. It does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive and EN 581-1 |
|
|
Injuries |
2 |
Toy magnetic set The toy contains a small magnet with a high magnetic flux. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
1 |
Clothing, textiles and fashion items It has long functional cords in the waist area. It does not comply with the General Product Safety Directive and EN 14682. |
|
|
1 |
Childcare articles and children's equipment The locking mechanism of the drop side may not work properly and the distance between the floor and the drop side in its lowest position is too small. It does not comply with the General Product Safety Directive and EN 716-1. |
|
|
4 |
Children's bed The construction of the children bed is not stable enough and during normal play (when jumping). It does not comply with the General Product Safety Directive and with EN 1725. |
|
|
3 |
Magnetic toy The product can easily break into small parts, containing magnets with a high magnetic flux. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
|
1 |
Toy scooter Some parts of the product (the metal latch and the steering tube) don't lock properly. Additionally, the handlebars may easily detach. As a consequence, a child might fall or body parts may become trapped. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1 |
|
|
1 |
Toy scooter There are accessible gaps between moving parts of the scooter. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
|
Entrapment, Injuries, Strangulation, Suffocation |
1 |
Baby nest If the head of the baby is placed into the wrong direction, it may get trapped in the gap opening. Because of horizontal gaps, the bumper part may cover the baby's mouth and nose causing suffocation. The product has long cords that can cause injuries and strangulation. Furthermore, the product is not accompanied by any purchase information, warnings, nor instructions for use. It does not comply with the General Product Safety Directive and EN 16890, EN 16780 and EN 16781. |
|
Entrapment Injuries |
1 |
Wooden swing It has accessible openings and accessible holes, in which children can become trapped or suffer injuries. It does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-8. |
|
Injuries, Strangulation, Suffocation |
1 |
Baby nest The cords could potentially trap the child’s toes, possibly leading to injuries. The child’s nose and mouth could become stuck in the horizontal gaps between the mattress and the side of the nest, leading to a risk of suffocation. The presence of openings at the junction of the sides of the baby nest, at the end, could trap the child’s head, leading to a risk of strangulation. It does not meet the General Product Safety Directive and EN 16890. |
|
Strangulation |
1 |
The toy contains a long cord made from elastic material and can be considerably stretched during use. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
1 |
Plastic toy The toy is elastic and can be considerably stretched during use. A child could swing the toy around the head and twist it around the neck, causing strangulation. It does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71-1. |
|
|
Suffocation |
1 |
Sleep bag The neck opening is too large in relation to the child’s height/age. It does not comply with the General Product Safety Directive and EN 16781. |
US
From 21 June 2021 to 20 August of 2021, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 3 recalls regarding Childcare and children’s products
|
Hazard |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Fall |
1 |
Adapters included with stroller: The adapters can detach. |
|
Choking |
1 |
Baby rattle Sets: The feet on rattle can detach |
|
Choking |
1 |
Teether Rings: The finished wooden ring can break into small parts. |