Press Room: 04 Mar 10
New Toy Safety Directive enforceable in 2011
Forthcoming changes to toy safety legislation will impact on many businesses, not least those in the gift and home industry. The new European Toy Safety Directive, enforceable from July 2011 has widened the definition of toys to “products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age”. This will embrace more products than previously and impose more rigid regulation, including the restriction of 19 chemical elements as opposed to the current 8. The existing BS: EN – 71-3 testing standard is therefore being modified to ensure compliance to the new regulations.
The change in legislation has been driven by the emergence of new scientific evidence as to potential dangers to health, innovative new types of toys being introduced and a massive increase in the volume of toys being imported from outside the EU. The new Directive is detailed and lengthy but inevitably there are grey areas, which will impact on businesses working not strictly in the toy industry. For example children’s fashion jewellery items are specifically deemed NOT to be toys, but fancy dress outfits and accessories are covered by the legislation.
The new Toy Safety Directive does not affect the requirement that all items must comply with the existing General Product Safety Directive, which defines a safe product as one that “presents minimal or no risk when used in a foreseeable way.” The Laboratory at Birmingham Assay Office, with which The GA has a close relationship, is working hard to understand the implications of the new legislation and can offer GA members the advice and testing services that they require in order to comply.
Telephone 0121 262 1036 or email testing@theassayoffice.co.uk for further information. www.thelaboratory.co.uk
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