EU Toy Directive 2009/48/EC and harmonized standard EN71
On June 30, 2009, the official journal of the European Union published a new version of the Toy Directive 2009/48/EC to replace the original Toy Directive 88/378/EEC. The purpose of the new toy directive is to improve the safety of toys and to improve the efficiency of the implementation of the directive.
Scope of Directive 2009/48/EC.
This Directive applies to products designed or intended for play by children under 14 years of age (hereinafter referred to as toys).
The toys in Annex I of the Directive are excluded: puzzles with more than 500 pieces, baby soothers, slingshots, etc.
The EU Toy Safety Directive states that when a toy product is placed on the market, it must ensure that the product meets the general safety requirements and the provisions of Annex II (Special Safety Requirements). Annex II of the Toy Safety Directive specifies the physical and mechanical properties requirements, flame retardant properties, chemical properties, electrical properties, health requirements and radiological requirements for EU toy products
The main content includes (not limited to) the following five major parts.
1. toys should comply with the relevant EU regulations for certain product categories or banned substances and mixtures, such as REACH Directive, CLP Directive, etc. 2.
2. 2009/48/EC Directive harmonized standards: EN71 standard series and safety requirements for electric toys EN62115. toys exported to the EU must be labeled with the CE mark, and the label must meet the most basic toy safety requirements (i.e. harmonized standards - Table 1).
3. 2009/48/EC Directive Appendix C is for children's toys less than 36 months of age or other toys designed to be placed in the mouth of the chemical requirements and limit values, including: formaldehyde, bisphenol A, flame retardants, phenol, formamide, preservatives, aniline, etc.. 4. 2009/48/EC Directive Appendix C is for children's toys less than 36 months of age or other toys designed to be placed in the mouth of the chemical requirements and limit values.
4. 2009/48/EC Directive proposed to prohibit the use of 58 allergenic aromatic agents in toys and 72 allergenic aromatic agents that require labeling when the content exceeds 0.01%. 5.
5. cosmetic toys need to comply with the requirements of the Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC.
Table 1.
2009/48/EC Toy Safety Directive - | ||||
Harmonization of standards EN71 series and EN62115 | ||||
1 | EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 Toy safety - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties | |||
2 | EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014 Toy safety - Part 2: Flammability | |||
3 | EN71-3:2019+A1 (Safety of toys - Part 3: Migration of 19 elements) | |||
Category I | Category II | Category III | ||
mg/kg in dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable toy material | mg/kg in liquid or sticky toy material | mg/kg in scraped off toy material | ||
- | - | (mg/kg) | ||
Aluminum | 2250 | 560 | 28130 | |
Antimony | 45 | 11.3 | 560 | |
Arsenic | 3.8 | 0.9 | 47 | |
Barium | 1500 | 375 | 18750 | |
Boron | 1200 | 300 | 15000 | |
Cadmium | 1.3 | 0.3 | 17 | |
Chromium (III) | 37.5 | 9.4 | 460 | |
Chromium (VI) | 0.02 | 0.005 | 0.053 | |
Cobalt | 10.5 | 2.6 | 130 | |
Copper | 622.5 | 156 | 7700 | |
Lead | 2 | 0.5 | 23 | |
Manganese | 1200 | 300 | 15000 | |
Mercury | 7.5 | 1.9 | 94 | |
Nickel | 75 | 18.8 | 930 | |
Selenium | 37.5 | 9.4 | 460 | |
Strontium | 4500 | 1125 | 56000 | |
Tin | 15000 | 3750 | 180000 | |
Organic tin | 0.9 | 0.2 | 12 | |
Zinc | 3750 | 938 | 46000 | |
4 | EN 71-4:2013 Safety of toys - Part 4: Experimental devices for chemical and related activities | |||
5 | EN 71-5:2015 Toy safety - Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets | |||
6 | EN 71-7:201+A3:2020 Toy safety - Part 7: Finger coatings - Requirements and test methods | |||
7 | EN 71-8:2018 Toy safety - Part 8: Household activity toys | |||
8 | EN 71-12:2016 Safety of toys - Part 12: N-nitrosamines and N-nitroso substances Information Note: The limit values in point 2 a) of Table 4.2 of the standard "EN 71-12:2016 Safety of toys - Part 12: N-nitrosamines and N-nitroso substances" are lower than the limit values to be complied with Annex II, part III, point 8 of Directive 2009/48/EC. In particular, these values are as follows. | |||
Matter | EN71-12:2016 | Directive 2009/48/EC | / | |
N-Nitrosamines | 0.01 mg/kg | 0.05 mg/kg | ||
N-Nitroso | 0.1 mg/kg | 1 mg/kg | ||
9 | EN 71-13:2014 Toy safety - Part 13: Olfactory board games, make-up kits and taste games | |||
10 | EN 71-14:2018 Toy safety - Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use | |||
11 | EN IEC 62115:2020 Electric toys - Safety | |||
EN IEC 62115 : 2020 /A11 : 2020 |