Eurofins Toys & Hardlines Monthly Bulletin (February 2026)
Extended validity of multiple EU Ecolabel criteria
On 6 January 2026, the European Union adopted Commission Decision (EU) 2026/66, extending the validity of several sets of EU Ecolabel criteria that were nearing expiration. The move follows earlier decisions establishing ecological criteria for a range of consumer and industrial products, ensuring continuity of the EU’s environmental quality mark.
The new expiry dates of EU Ecolabel criteria for five key product groups are:
|
Product group |
Original Decision |
Previous expiry |
New Dates |
|
Textile products |
2014/350/EU |
31 Dec 2025 |
31 Dec 2028 |
|
Bed mattresses |
2014/391/EU |
31 Dec 2026 |
31 Dec 2030 |
|
Furniture |
2016/1332 |
31 Dec 2026 |
31 Dec 2029 |
|
Footwear |
2016/1349 |
31 Dec 2025 |
31 Dec 2028 |
|
Wood-, cork-, bamboo‑based floor coverings |
2017/176 |
31 Dec 2026 |
31 Dec 2029 |
The decision is grounded in Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, the legal framework governing the EU Ecolabel programme. Under Article 8(2), the Commission has the power to set, update, or extend the validity of Ecolabel criteria for specific product groups.
The act was adopted 23 December 2025 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 6 January 2026. It is now in force.
New Rules on Disclosure of Discarded Unsold Consumer Products
On 10 February 2026, the European Commission formally adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2, establishing detailed rules and a harmonised reporting format for how companies must disclose information regarding discarded unsold consumer products. This implementing act supports the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, which strengthens EU ecodesign requirements to advance sustainability across the internal market.
The products covered by these reporting obligations are listed in Annex II, including categories such as apparel and clothing accessories, blankets, bed linen, electrical and electronic devices, furniture, sanitary towels and tampons, among others. Under the new rules, companies must provide transparent information on:
- The number and weight of unsold consumer products they have discarded.
- The reasons these products were discarded.
- Any relevant derogations that applied.
- The proportion of discarded products that entered specific waste treatment operations (reuse preparation, recycling, recovery, or disposal).
- Measures taken and planned to prevent product destruction in the future.
To reduce administrative burden, these obligations do not apply to micro and small enterprises. By mandating greater transparency, EU policymakers aim to promote:
- More responsible and efficient inventory management.
- Stronger incentives to donate, recycle, or repurpose unsold goods.
- Reduced environmental impact by limiting unnecessary waste generation.
The new regulation will apply from 2 March 2027. Overall, this initiative forms part of a broader EU movement towards enhanced corporate accountability and greater transparency in sustainability practices, ensuring that consumers and stakeholders can better assess the environmental performance of businesses.
Updated regulations on textile waste management
On 29 January 2026, the French government introduced a new regulatory update to the national framework governing textile waste management. The Arrêté du 26 janvier 2026, published in the Journal Officiel (JORF n°0024), modifies the earlier Arrêté du 23 novembre 2022 regarding the operational requirements for eco‑organisations and individual systems within the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles, footwear, and household linen (TLC).
The updated regulation aims to refine how eco‑organisations support waste sorting operations. Earlier amendments issued in 2025 introduced exceptional financial support for sorting activities for 2025 and 2026. This new 2026 arrêté adjusts the rule governing the maximum tonnage eligible for support, ensuring a more equitable and sustainable distribution of funds among stakeholders in the textile waste sector.
The arrêté came into effect the day following its publication in the Journal Officiel, ensuring immediate applicability for all regulated entities
WTO notification on new draft Ecodesign Regulation for sustainable products
On 22 January 2026, Turkey formally submitted a new draft regulation to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement, issuing notification G/TBT/N/TUR/232. The proposal sets out Ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, signalling Turkey’s upcoming regulatory shift toward stricter sustainability‑aligned product standards.
The measure focuses on sustainable products. It introduces Ecodesign requirements, aiming to improve the environmental performance of goods placed on the Turkish market.
However, it specifically excludes several categories such as food and feed, medicinal products for both human and veterinary use, and live biological entities like plants and animals.
Turkey intends to align its product policies with environmental objectives similar to those found in EU sustainability frameworks, such as energy efficiency and material use standards.
This notification reflects Turkey’s increasing participation in the global regulatory shift toward sustainability, and it aligns with international efforts to reduce environmental impact through product‑level intervention.
Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source: “Safety Gate (RAPEX)”) and the U.S. (Source “CPSC”).
Safety Gate (RAPEX) (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).
The following 6 alerts regarding toys, childcare articles and children's equipment products were reported between week 4 and week 7 of 2026.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Chemical |
1 |
Toiletry bag The plastic material in the bag has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation. |
|
1 |
Sandals The plastic material of the product contains an excessive amount of dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Moreover, the product contains lead. The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation. |
|
|
Chemical, Environment |
1 |
Pencil case The product contains an excessive amount of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation. |
|
Environment |
1 |
Flashing shoe The solders in the product have an excessive concentration of lead and 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). |
|
Injuries |
1 |
Fancy-dress costume The product has functional cords at the back of the white bib. These cords can become trapped during various activities of a child. The product does not comply with the General Product Safety Regulation nor with EN 14682. |
|
Strangulation |
1 |
Children's swimsuit Due to the presence of a waist cord without an anchor, the child can become trapped during various activities. The product does not comply with the General Product Safety Regulation nor with EN 14682. |
U.S.
From 5 February 2026 to 5 March 2026, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls:
6 recalls regarding toys and childcare products
|
Hazard |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Strangulation |
1 |
Children’s clothing The drawstrings in the recalled clothing can get caught on objects and cause death or serious injury to children due to the strangulation hazard. The clothes are in violation of the federal rule for children’s upper outerwear and present a substantial product hazard. |
|
Ingestion |
1 |
Headbands The recalled headbands violate the mandatory standard for consumer products with button cell and coin batteries because the button cell batteries in the headbands can be accessed easily by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Additionally, the packaging and product do not have the warnings required under Reese’s Law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, and death. |
|
Serious burn |
3 |
Pajamas The recalled children’s pajamas violate the mandatory flammability standard for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of serious burn injuries or death. |
|
Choking |
1 |
Children’s sleepsuits The zipper head can detach from certain sleepsuits, posing a choking hazard to infants. |