Explanation of the latest EU Toys Directive 2009/48/EC
The current EU Toy Directive 88/378/EEC has been in effect for over 20 years. During this time, toy products have continuously evolved, and the current directive can no longer comprehensively cover toy safety issues. Due to increasing consumer concern about toy safety, the EU issued a new Toy Directive 2009/48/EC in June 2009, aiming to address new safety issues and strengthen enforcement. The new Toy Directive will come into effect in July 2011, at which time the current Directive 88/378/EEC will be repealed. New chemical requirements will come into effect in July 2013.
– New leaching limits for 19 restricted elements;
– Toys should comply with the EU REACH regulation;
– Ban on CMR substances (substances that are carcinogenic, induce mutations in organisms, or are toxic to the reproductive system);
– 55 allergenic aromatic substances are prohibited from use in toys, and only trace amounts below 100 ppm (parts per million) are permitted if they are technically unavoidable.
– Cosmetic toys should comply with Directive 76/768/EEC;
– If a toy contains any of the 11 allergenic aromatic substances listed in Annex II of 76/768/EEC, and the content exceeds 0.01% by weight, this should be indicated on the toy.
– Toys in food must be individually packaged;
– Toys must not adhere firmly to food;
– New regulations concerning sound-producing toys;
– New regulations regarding warnings and labeling;
– Toys for children under 36 months of age or toys that come into contact with the mouth must not contain nitrosamines or nitrosatable substances;
– Toys intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured to be cleanable (see below for details).
Other requirements include an EC Declaration of Conformity, a safety assessment in accordance with Article 18, and production control of the manufacturing process.
Cleaning requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months: The new Toy Directive includes a new requirement for all toys intended for children under 36 months: effective July 20, 2011, all toys for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured to be washable. Under this regulation, toys made of textiles must be washable unless they contain mechanical devices that may be damaged by soaking. Furthermore, toys must still meet safety requirements after being washed according to regulations and manufacturer guidelines.
Except for textile toys which must be washable (unless they contain mechanical parts that may be damaged by soaking and washing), there are no restrictions on the cleaning methods for other toys.
The guidelines issued by the European Commission define textile toys as: "Toys made entirely of textiles, excluding the materials inside the toy and small components or decorations (such as eyes and noses) sewn/glued to the outside. Such toys may contain non-textile mechanical parts (mechanical devices) inside." Therefore, textile toys include plush toys and dress-up clothing for children under 36 months of age. For more examples of products, please refer to the guidelines document. Additionally, the guidelines document states regarding "immersion washing" as "immersing the toy in water or other liquids; this process does not necessarily have to be machine washing, but can also be hand washing."
After cleaning the toy, the manufacturer should analyze whether the toy has any of the hazards listed in Section 18, including health hazards, and assess the potential exposure to all of these hazards, such as assessing the hazards of small parts that may appear after cleaning or soaking. Additionally, as part of the safety assessment that manufacturers must conduct under Section 18, the manufacturer must consider which safety features of the toy will be affected after washing, and, where applicable, conduct relevant tests after washing for evaluation.
Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network
