Eurofins Toys & Hardlines Monthly Bulletin (January 2024)

EUROPE

New update to Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)

On 23 January 2024, the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) released the new Candidate List of SVHCs. With the addition of five new substances, the current list of SVHCs now contains 240 substances.

See below a table indicating the latest substances addition:

Nº	Substance name	EC number	CAS number	Reason for inclusion	Examples of use(s)
1	2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol	211-989-5	732-26-3	Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c) Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) (Article 57d)	Manufacture of another substance; formulation of mixtures and in fuel products.
2	2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol	221-573-5	3147-75-9	Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) (Article 57e)	Air care products, coating products, adhesives and sealants, lubricants and greases, polishes and waxes and washing and cleaning products.
3	2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(morpholin-4-yl)phenyl]butan-1-one	438-340-0	119344-86-4	Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)	Inks and toners, coating products.
4	Bumetrizole	223-445-4	3896-11-5	vPvB (Article 57e)	Coating products, adhesives and sealants and washing and cleaning products.
5	Oligomerisation and alkylation reaction products of 2-phenylpropene and phenol	700-960-7	-	vPvB (Article 57e)	Adhesives and sealants, coating products, fillers, putties, plasters, modelling clay, inks, toners and polymers.

Legal obligations for companies using SVHC substances include:

Suppliers provide customers and consumers with enough information to allow for safe use of products that contain a substance of very high concern (SVHC) above a concentration of 0.1 % (weight by weight)
Importers and producers of these products must notify the ECHA if their article contains SVHC substances above a concentration of 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) and the substance is present in those products in quantities totalling over 1 tonne per producer or per importer per year. The notifications must be submitted within six months from the date that the substance is included in the list.
Suppliers of substances on the Candidate List, supplied either on their own or in mixtures, must provide their customers with a safety data sheet.
Under the Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC on waste- WFD), any supplier of an article containing a substance of very high concern (SVHC) in a concentration above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) on the EU market is required to submit a SCIP Notification on that article to ECHA, as of 5 January 2021. SCIP is the database holding information on Substances of Concern in articles, as such or in complex objects (products), established under the WFD. The SCIP database complements the existing notification obligations for Candidate List substances in articles subject to REACH regulation and its related communication through the supply chain, according to Articles 7 (2) and 33 respectively.

Click here to view the official List from the ECHA’s website.

Dibutyl phthalate entry update on the SVHCs list of REACH

On 23 January 2024, the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) updated the existing Candidate List of SVHCs for dibutyl phthalate entry. Its endocrine disrupting properties for the environment are included.

See below a table indicating the update for dibutyl phthalate entry:

Nº	Substance name	EC number	CAS number	Reason for inclusion	Examples of use(s)
1	Dibutyl phthalate (updated entry)	201-557-4	84-74-2	Endocrine disrupting properties (Article 57(f) - environment)	Metalworking fluids, washing and cleaning products, laboratory chemicals and polymers.

Legal obligations for companies using SVHC substances include:

Suppliers provide customers and consumers with enough information to allow for safe use of products that contain a substance of very high concern (SVHC) above a concentration of 0.1 % (weight by weight)
Importers and producers of these products must notify the ECHA if their article contains SVHC substances above a concentration of 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) and the substance is present in those products in quantities totalling over 1 tonne per producer or per importer per year. The notifications must be submitted within six months from the date that the substance is included in the list.
Suppliers of substances on the Candidate List, supplied either on their own or in mixtures, must provide their customers with a safety data sheet.
Under the Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC on waste- WFD), any supplier of an article containing a substance of very high concern (SVHC) in a concentration above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) on the EU market is required to submit a SCIP Notification on that article to ECHA, as of 5 January 2021. SCIP is the database holding information on Substances of Concern in articles, as such or in complex objects (products), established under the WFD. The SCIP database complements the existing notification obligations for Candidate List substances in articles subject to REACH regulation and its related communication through the supply chain, according to Articles 7 (2) and 33 respectively.

Click here to view the official List from the ECHA’s website.

Update on the European Commission’s toys guidance

In December 2023, the European Commission published two publications related to the safety of toys.

One of them is the European Guidance document Nº 7 on the application of directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys and other products used in or on the water. This document has been revised to help with the classification, deciding if a product is a toy or not.

The other publication is the notes from market surveillance authorities related to small magnetic balls and magnetic building kits. The main point is that small magnetic balls and magnetic building kits must comply with the general safety requirement in Article 10 (2) of the Toy Safety Directive to be sold in the EU market. If the toy does not comply, immediate action shall be taken by the market surveillance authorities of a Member State to bring the toy into compliance with those requirements, to withdraw the toy from the market, or to recall it within a reasonable period, commensurate with the nature of the risk, as they may prescribe.

Standard updates

The below table summarises the most recent standard updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):

(*) Date of withdrawal: The latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

CEN
Reference	Title	Reference	Supersedes
EN 15372:2023	Furniture - Strength, durability and safety - Requirements for non-domestic tables	30 June 2024	EN 15372:2016
EN 17850:2023	Hardware for furniture - Starbases for seating - Requirements and test methods	30 June 2024
EN 1273:2020+ A1:2023	Childcare articles - Baby walking frames - Safety requirements and test methods	30 June 2024	EN 1273:2020 /FprA1 EN 1273:2020
EN 15185:2023	Furniture - Assessment of the surface resistance to abrasion	30 June 2024	EN 15185:2011
EN 17428:2023	Packaging - Determination of the degree of disintegration under simulated home composting conditions	30 June 2024

FRANCE

New packaging requirements for intimate protection products

On 31 December 2023, the French authorities published Decree No. 2023-1427 of 30 December 2023 relating to information on certain intimate protection products. The main points are the definition of this type of product and the information that must appear on the packaging or instructions for intimate protection products such as absorbent towels, panty liners, menstrual panties, tampons, menstrual cups, menstrual sponges, as well as the terms according to which they are brought to the attention of the consumer. These provisions do not apply to medical devices defined by the aforementioned regulation of April 5, 2017.

The provisions of the decree come into force on 1 April 2024.

For more information, read the official publication on the Legifrance website here.

Relevant publications related to ERP and AGEC Law

According to the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR), waste management must be ensured by the producers of said products. To fulfil their obligations, they must join an approved eco-organisation or set up an approved individual system. The following texts indicate approved eco-organisations for different product categories.

Date	Publication
28 December 2023	Order of 21 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of the producer of DIY and garden items. VALOBAT is approved until 31 December 2027.
30 December 2023	Order of 21 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of producers of furnishing elements VALDELIA is approved until 31 December 2029.
30 December 2023	Order of 21 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of producers of furnishing elements. VALOBAT is approved until 31 December 2029.
29 December 2023	Order of 27 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of producers of furniture elements in the application of article L. 541-10 of the environmental code. ECOMAISON is approved until 31 December 2029.
29 December 2023	Order of 27 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of the producer of packaging, printed paper and paper for graphic use whose final holders produce household and similar waste in the application of the article L. 541-10 of the environmental code. CITEO is approved from 1 January to 31 December 2024.
29 December 2023	Order of 27 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of the producer of packaging, printed paper and paper for graphic use whose final holders produce household and similar waste in the application of the article L. 541-10 of the environmental code. ADELPHE is approved from 1 January to 31 December 2024.
29 December 2023	Order of 27 December 2023 approving an eco-organization in the extended responsibility sector of the producer of packaging, printed paper and paper for graphic use whose final holders produce household and similar waste in the application of the article L. 541-10 of the environmental code. LEKO is approved from 1 January to 31 December 2024.

Technical publications

The latest publications by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) related to consumer products and toys:

DGCCRF sheet – Management of alerts concerning toys
DGCCRF investigation report – How the DGCCRF ensures the safety of toys
DGCCRF sheet – Essential oils
DGCCRF sheet - Beware of unfair clauses on online marketplaces
DGCCRF sheet – Bulk sales: consumers, what to watch out for?
DGCCRF sheet - Bulk sales: professionals, what are the regulations?

SWITZERLAND

Harmonisation of the national law with European legislation for food contact materials

On 8 December 2023, Switzerland published the Official Collection 2023 836 (German, French and Italian versions) to revise the Ordinance on Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Foodstuffs (817.023.21).

The main point is to harmonize the nation’s law on food contact materials (FCM) and articles with those in the European Union.

It mainly incorporates provisions from:

Regulation (EU) 2020/1245 on food contact plastics
It adopts Directive 84/500/EEC for materials and articles made of ceramic, glass, enamel, or other similar materials
It establishes a declaration of conformity (DoC) for packaging inks

between other amendments and requirements.

TURKIYE

New statement on control of imports of toys and consumer products

On 31 December 2023, Turkey’s Ministry of Commerce published three communications which established the nation’s import control requirements for toys and some consumer products. They became effective on 1 January 2024. Below is a summary containing information on these new communications:

Communiqué on Import Control of Toys (Product Safety and Inspection: 2024/10)
Communiqué on Import Control of Consumer Products (Product Safety and Inspection: 2024/12). The consumer products which are included in this Communiqué are:

Cufflinks and similar items
Imitation jewellery
Mobile phone and computer cases
Mobile phone and computer tablet cover and screen protection films.
Mousepads
Plastic gloves for domestic use
Stationery items (except toys)
Watches and straps

Communiqué on Import Control of Maternity and Baby Products (Product Safety and Inspection: 2024/17). Below is a non-exhaustive list of the scope of this Communique:

Toilet seats for children
Teethers
Products falling under the scope of the following standards:

TS EN 1273 ‘Baby walking frames’
TS EN 1400+A2 ‘Soothers for babies and young children’
TS EN 1466 ‘Carry cots and stands for domestic use’
TS EN 13138-3 ‘Buoyant aids for swimming instruction’
TS EN 14350+A1 ‘Drinking equipment intended for young children’
TS EN 14988+A1 ‘Children’s highchairs’
Certain products which are inspected for compliance with the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Substances and Materials in Contact with Food (KODEKS).

In general, they require those products to comply with a list of documents, test reports and specified chemical restrictions under Turkey’s REACH (Kimyasalların Kaydı, Değerlendirilmesi, İzni Ve Kısıtlanması Hakkında Yönetmelik (KKDIK)), other pieces of legislation and/or standards to be upload to TAREKS.

CPSC approves revised ASTM F963-23 as a mandatory toy standard

On 18 January 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published in the Federal Register a direct final rule to approve the revised ASTM F963-23 as the mandatory toy safety standard. The direct final rule incorporates by reference ASTM F963-23 and updates the existing notice of requirements (NOR) that provide the criteria and process for the CPSC’s acceptance of accreditation of third-party conformity assessment bodies for testing toys to ASTM F963-23.

Technical requirements for the following toy safety requirements were revised:

Battery-operated toys
Expanding materials
Sound producing toys (acoustics)
Projectile toys

The standard was also revised to align with the CPSC requirements for phthalate content, heavy elements (metals) – toy substrate material exemptions, and CPSIA Section 103 tracking labels for children’s products.

The rule is effective from 20 April 2024, unless the CPSC receives a significant adverse comment by 20 February 2024. Toys manufactured on and after 20 April 2024 will require testing to ASTM F963-23 at a CPSC accepted third-party lab for certification.

Source:

Direct final rule: 2024-00741.pdf (govinfo.gov)

Standards updates

See below a table summarising some recent ASTM standards updates:

Reference	Title
ASTM F2417	Standard Specification for Fire Safety for Candles

CANADA

Canada updates standards under the glazed ceramics and glassware regulations

Canada recently published the Regulations Amending Certain Department of Health Regulations (Miscellaneous Program): SOR/2023-247 in the Canada Gazette to update two test methods for demonstrating compliance with the migratable limits for lead and cadmium under the Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations (SOR/2016-175).

Please see Table 1 for a summary of the updated test methods:

Section of Schedule	Standard	Effective Date
1	ISO 6486-1:2019, entitled Ceramic ware, glass ceramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact with food — Release of lead and cadmium — Part 1: Test Method, third edition, August 2019	24 November 2023
2	ASTM C927-80 (2019)e1, entitled Standard Test Method for Lead and Cadmium Extracted from the Lip and Rim Area of Glass Tumblers Externally Decorated with Ceramic Glass Enamels	24 November 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Regulatory proposals notified to WTO

The table below summarises the most recent notifications made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (non-exhaustive):

Notification number	Countries	Title
G/TBT/N/BRA/1518	Brazil	Ordinance No. 579, 5 December 2023 Amends Ordinance No. 5 December 2023 establishes the risk classification of economic activities associated with acts of release under the responsibility of Inmetro within the scope of the Compulsory Conformity Assessment. It revokes provisions to the contrary Ordinance No. 75, 4 February 2021, which approves the Technical Regulation for the Quality of Spring Mattresses and the Conformity Assessment Requirements for Spring Mattresses -Consolidated. It also revokes No. 35 5 February 2021 which approves the Technical Regulation for Quality and the Assessment Requirements of Compliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Mattresses and Mattresses -Consolidated.
G/TBT/N/ISR/1304	Israel	SI 1003 part 1.2 -Release of lead and cadmium from ware in contact with food: Ceramic ware, glass-ceramic ware and glass dinnerware -Permissible limits. First amendment to the Mandatory Standard SI 1003 part 1.2. This amendment changes the labelling requirements based on Article 15 –Labelling of the European Regulation EC 1935/2004. Relevant documents: Israel Mandatory Standard SI 1003 part 1.2 (August 2022); International Standards ISO 6486 -2-Second edition:1999-12-15. European Regulation EC 1935/2004.
G/TBT/N/ISR/1305	Israel	SI 1003 part 3.2 -Release of lead and cadmium from ware in contact with food: Glass hollowware -Permissible limits. The second amendment to the Mandatory Standard SI 1003 part 3.2. This amendment changes the labelling requirements and is based on Article 15, Labelling, of the European Regulation EC 1935/2004. Relevant documents: Israel Mandatory Standard SI 1003 part 3.2 (June 2013) and Amendment 1 (March 2019). International Standards ISO 7086-2 -Second edition: 2000-03-01. European Regulation EC 1935/2004.
G/TBT/N/ISR/1306	Israel	SI 562 part 3 -Safety of toys: Migration of certain chemical elements Revision of the Mandatory Standard SI 562 part 3, dealing with the migration of certain chemical elements from toys. This draft standard revision adopts the European Standard EN-71-3: 2019 + A1: April 2021, with a few changes that appear in the standard's Hebrew section. Both the old standard and this new revised standard will apply from entry into force of this revision for 12 months. During this time, products may be tested according to the old or the new revised standard. Relevant documents: Israel Mandatory Standard SI 562 part 3 (October 2022); European Standard EN-71-3: 2019 + A1: April 2021.

PRODUCT RECALLS / ALERTS

Below, you will find a monthly table summarising product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source” Safety Gate (RAPEX)” and “RASFF”) and the U.S. (Source “CPSC”)

Europe

Safety Gate (RAPEX) (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities)

The following 42 alerts regarding toys, childcare articles and children's equipment products were reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 3 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Burns	1	Children's fancy-dress mask The product is highly flammable. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive nor with the European standards EN 71-1 and EN 71-2.
Chemical	5	Plastic doll The plastic material of the head of the doll has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). These products do not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Plastic toys The plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). This product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	2	Slime toy The migration of boron from the toy slime is too high. These products do not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-3.
	1	Plastic figurines The toy has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Plastic ball with plastic rod The plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Fancy dress costume The product has an excessive concentration of bis(pentabromophenyl) ether (decaBDE). The product does not comply with the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation.
	1	Balloons The rubber of the balloons releases an excessive amount of nitrosatable substances. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-12.
	1	Soother The soother releases an excessive amount of bisphenol A. This product does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
Chemical, Damage to sight	1	Electric toy train The cover of the battery compartment opens easily if the toy is dropped and the batteries become accessible and may be ingested by a child. This product does not comply with the Toy Safety Directive or EN 62115.
Chemical, Environment	2	Pencil case The plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (measured value up to 10.6% by weight) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation or the Regulation on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Choking	1	Toy gun set The toy gun set has small parts. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
	3	Toy car Small pieces can easily detach from the toy. These products do not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
	1	Musical toy The product (set of rattles) has small parts. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
	1	Nesting toy dolls The toy set has small parts, in particular the smallest figure (nesting doll). The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
	1	Soft toy The fibrous stuffing material of the toy is easily accessible due to the weakness of certain seams. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
	1	Rattle toy set The set of rattles has small parts. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
	1	Toy crossbow and pistol The suction cups of the arrows can easily detach. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Choking, Damage to sight	1	Gel blaster The gel beads can be put into the mouth and swallowed by children. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Choking, Injuries	1	Expandable toy The product expands 50% in size when in contact with water. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Choking, Injuries	1	Toy bow The suction cups of the projectiles can be easily detached. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Choking, Strangulation	1	Soother holder The product can easily break, resulting in small parts. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive or EN 12586.
Damage to sight, injuries	1	Toy crossbow The toy can launch the projectile or an improvised projectile with excessive kinetic energy, causing injury to a person in the path of that projectile, with a particular risk of eye damage. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Damage to sight, injuries	1	Plastic toy The protective cap of the projectile can easily be detached. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Environmental	2	Toy car The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead. These products do not comply with the requirements of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2 Directive).
	2	Toy gun The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead. These products do not comply with the requirements of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2 Directive).
	1	Toy keyboard The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of Cadmium. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2 Directive).
	1	Toy hair set The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2 Directive).
	2	Children's watch The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead and cadmium. These products do not comply with the requirements of the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS 2 Directive).
Injuries	1	Toy motorcycle There are inadequate distances between the elements of the toy (wheels and motorcycle body). The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.
Injuries	1	Toy scooter The locking mechanisms of the steering tube are inadequate, the handlebar may slide. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-1.

The following 1 alert regarding furniture was reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 03 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Choking	1	Armchair for children The armchair contains holes and the padding is thus accessible. The fibrous stuffing material of the armchair is easily accessible due to holes. This product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive.

The following 14 alerts regarding jewellery were reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 3 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Chemical	1	Watch The bracelet has an excessive concentration of lead and nickel. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	4	Necklace The product contains or releases an excessive amount of cadmium. These products do not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Ear cuff The product contains or releases an excessive amount of cadmium. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Bracelet The bracelet has an excessive concentration of nickel. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Tiara The product has an excessive concentration of lead. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Earrings The product contains or releases an excessive amount of cadmium. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	4	Rings The product contains or releases an excessive amount of cadmium. These products do not comply with the REACH Regulation.
Chemical, Environment	1	Necklace The plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The metal parts of the product have an excessive concentration of cadmium. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation or the Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

The following 11 alerts regarding miscellaneous products were reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 3 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Chemicals	2	Jumping rope The plastic material of the product contains an excessive amount of diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). These products do not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Dumbbell The product has an excessive concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Water shoes The shoes contain an excessive amount of bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Floor PVC tiles The black plastic material of the product contains an excessive amount of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Jumping ball The product has an excessive concentration of diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
Chemical, Environment	1	Artificial Christmas tree The red plastic material of the product has an excessive amount of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The product does not comply with the Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP Regulation) or the REACH Regulation.
	1	Inflatable PVC pillow The product has excessive concentrations of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). The product does not comply with the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation or the REACH Regulation.
	1	Power wheel The black plastic handle of the product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-‘isononyl’ phthalate (DINP) and short-chained chlorinated paraffines SCCP. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Massage yoga ball The product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The product does not comply with the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation or the REACH Regulation.
	1	Fancy dress The plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of cadmium and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. The product does not comply with the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation or the REACH Regulation.

RASFF (European Commission Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed - Alerts reported by EU national authorities)

The following 2 alerts regarding Food Contact Materials related to children's tableware were reported from 21 December 2023 to 20 January 2024.

Product	Notes
Plastic feeding bottle	Migration of DBP in feeding bottles	RASFF Window - Notification detail (europa.eu)
Melamine and bamboo fibre dishes (consist of a plate, bowl, cup and spoon)	The use of bamboo fibres mixed with plastics is unauthorised for use in food contact materials throughout the European Union.	RASFF Window - Notification detail (europa.eu)

OPSS issues Product Safety Alerts on the UK market.

The following 21 alerts regarding toys and childcare products were reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 3 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Asphyxiation	1	Plush toy The flexible plastic bag used for packaging has an area greater than 100mm x 100mm and was found to have a bag thickness of 0.035 ± 0.002mm. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Burns	1	Halloween mask Flammability testing found that the product stayed alight for longer than the permitted length of time. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Chemicals	5	Baby doll The plastic material from the doll’s head contains 0.11 ± 0.01% dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and 3.11 ±0.25% bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The product does not meet the requirements of the REACH Regulations 2008 or the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Choking	1	Plush Christmas gonks The sequins can easily detach from all three gonks, producing a small part. Additionally, the seams on the red gonk were too weak, enabling access to internal fibrous filling material and an internal plastic bag containing small stones/grit. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
	1	Caterpillar tunnel toy When tested in accordance with the tension test, one of the toggles detached at less than the specified minimum requirement. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
	3	Dolls The battery compartment of the products is not secured by a screw, allowing easy access to the compartment and button cell batteries. These products do not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
	1	Toy race car The battery compartment of the products is not secured by a screw, allowing easy access to the compartment and button cell batteries. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
	1	Activity toy Small parts can detach from the product under force or when dropped. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
	1	Busy board The busy board fits entirely inside a small parts cylinder. The product also requires improvements to marking and labelling. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
	1	Pen and visual card set The pens have easily removable caps which do not have any vent holes and that fit wholly into a small parts cylinder. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Choking, asphyxiation	1	Fishing toy game The wooden fish constitute a small part. The magnets were also easily detachable and were a small part. Furthermore, the flexible plastic bag used for packaging has a thickness less than the minimum requirement. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Choking, asphyxiation	1	Fishing toy game The orange rings connecting the hanging toys to the arch measured greater than the maximum permitted 30mm. The product was also missing some of the required documentation and markings. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Choking, suffocation	1	Toy slide The plastic bag packaging supplied has a thickness less than the minimum requirement. Furthermore, small parts were produced during the abuse test from the stickers. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Choking, suffocation and strangulation	1	Teether & beaded clip The teethers are missing ventilation holes. The cord lengths of the beaded decoration exceed the maximum permissible length. The product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Injuries	1	Army combat max gun The toy may allow sharp objects to be placed into the chamber and fired. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Injuries	2	Baby walker It failed the tipping test. These products do not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Strangulation	1	Playhouse tent The ribbons hanging from the roof of the tent all have flowers attached to them and therefore have the potential to tangle. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Strangulation	1	Veterinarian toy set The cords of the accompanying stethoscope can be twisted together to form a loop. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.

The following 2 alerts regarding jewellery were reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 3 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Chemical	1	Aromatherapy bracelet The product was found to release nickel at levels higher than the permitted limit. The product does not meet the requirements of the REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008.
Chemical	1	Necklace and earring The cadmium content was found to be greater than the maximum permissible limit. The product does not meet the requirements of the REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008.

The following 2 alerts regarding miscellaneous products were reported between week 50 of 2023 and week 3 of 2024.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Injuries	1	Ladder Testing found the ladders would collapse and bend under various testing conditions and fail the minimum requirement for normal use. This product does meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Injuries	1	Large monitor stand SMART has identified that the wheelbase on a limited batch of FSE-400 mobile stands may bend or break when the stand is being moved. The product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

U.S.

From 21 December 2023 to 25 January 2024, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls:

3 recalls regarding toys and childcare products

Hazard	Number of alerts	Notes
Lead and Phthalates	1	Dress-up playsets and slime eggs All the dress-up playsets and the slime eggs contain levels of certain phthalates that exceed the federal phthalate standard. In addition, the Litti City teacher purse dress-up playset, the Litti Pritti handbag playset, and the slime eggs contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead and phthalates are toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Finger laceration and entrapment	1	High chairs The high chairs pose a suffocation risk because they were marketed, intended, or designed for infant sleep, and they have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees in violation of the CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule and the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. In addition, the high chairs pose finger laceration and entrapment hazards as they failed to meet mandatory requirements under the high chair standard.
Suffocation	1	Crib mattresses The recalled play yard mattresses violate multiple provisions of the federal safety regulation for crib mattresses, including the thickness test, and are missing warnings and labels. The product poses a suffocation hazard to infants.

10 recalls of consumer products

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Injury	1	Casement windows The window’s sash can detach from the frame and fall, posing an injury hazard to consumers.
Fall	1	Tree stands Testing determined the safety harness does not comply with voluntary industry safety standard ASTM F2337-21, and the stitching can rip, posing a fall hazard to the user.
Perforations, twisting and/or blockage of intestines, infection, blood poisoning and death	1	High-powered magnetic balls The recalled 5mm magnetic ball sets do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal magnet regulation because the sets contain one or more magnets that fit within CPSC’s small parts cylinder, and the magnets are stronger than permitted. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract each other, or another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, and death.
Head injury	1	Bicycle helmets The strap anchor can become dislodged from the helmet when sufficient force is applied and therefore violates the CPSC federal safety regulation for bicycle helmets. The helmets can fail to protect in the event of a crash, posing a risk of head injury.
Head injury	1	Bicycle helmets The recalled helmets do not comply with the coverage, positional stability, and labelling requirements of the CPSC federal safety regulation for bicycle helmets. The helmets can fail to protect in the event of a crash, posing a risk of head injury.
Fall and laceration	1	Bath and shower seat The wall mounting bracket and seat rods supporting the Tilt-Up Bath & Shower Seat can corrode and break, posing fall and laceration hazards.
Fire	1	Mattress pad The recalled mattress pads violate the mandatory federal flammability regulation for mattress pads, posing a fire hazard.
Burn and poisoning	1	Water bottle The portable fuel bottles do not meet the child-resistant requirements for closures under the Children's Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (CGBPA). The closure for the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of burn and poisoning to children.
Lead	1	Children’s rhinestone silver tiaras The rhinestones embedded in the recalled tiaras contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Impact	1	Ceiling fans The fan’s blade can crack or break and fall off the unit, posing an impact injury hazard.

4 recalls of furniture

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Fall	1	Chair set The wooden frame of the chair can break or collapse when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing a fall hazard.
Tip-over and entrapment	1	Furniture tip-over restraints The plastic zip tie used with the recalled furniture tip kits can become brittle or break, which can allow a clothing storage unit that is anchored to the wall to detach during a furniture tip-over event, posing a tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or serious injuries to children.
Fall and injury	1	Bed frame The recalled beds can break, sag or collapse during use, posing fall and injury hazards to consumers.
Fall	1	Plastic chairs The plastic chairs can break apart while in use, posing a fall hazard.