SGS Informs on Improved Market Surveillance through Stricter EU and US Toy Safety Regulations

HONG KONG, China - Sept. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- In the USA, a tough testing regime has seen notifications drop, as non-compliant products do not reach the marketplace.  In the EU though, toys must comply with the requirements of the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC). This comprehensive set of requirements includes the safety assessment, which highlights any issues, thereby helping to reduce recalls in the EU by preventing non-compliant products from reaching the market.

EU RAPEX System and Increased Toy Recalls

Over the years, toys have been one of the most frequent products being notified under the EU RAPEX system. Since 2012, toy notifications have increased from 366 to 580, an increase of 58%.

According to RAPEX, toys were recalled for failure to meet the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC and chemical requirements, including choking hazards, strangulations, sharp edges, chemicals, food imitation or microbiological risks.

From the documented list of noncompliant parameters, the most common violations were:
- The presence of small parts for violation of the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC
- Excessive levels of phthalates for violation of ANNEX XVII of REACH

Toy recalls (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Product-Recal...) as a result of excessive levels of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), have increased steadily since the restriction/prohibition of SCCPs in articles, including toys, was implemented under Regulation 519/2012 on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Regulation).

Toys entering the EU must undergo a safety assessment, as required by Article 18 of the Toy Safety Directive.  The objective is to identify any potential hazards (physical, chemical, electrical, flammability, etc.) that a toy may present, to improve design and minimize risk.

In addition to meeting harmonized toy safety standards, toys destined for the EU market must meet all applicable standards and legislation at EU and national levels. These standards and legislation are summarized in Table 1 within the latest Consumer Compact Toys article (http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/News-and-Media-Center/N...).

US Toy Recalls under Consumer Product Safety Act

In the 2013 fiscal year, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued only 31 toy recalls (against 172 in fiscal year 2008), none of which involved a lead violation. The majority of toy recalls announced in 2013 involved ingestion hazards, including chemical and magnetic dangers.

In the last few years, the range of hazards identified by CPSC includes aspiration and choking (small parts), fire and burn, ingestion and strangulation.

Toys and children’s products entering the US must undergo mandatory third party testing and certification to all applicable consumer product safety rules, any other rule, regulation, standard or ban under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), or any other statutes enforced by the CPSC. Toys destined for specific states are also required to conform to toy safety legislation/standards at the state level.

During the last five years, the CPSC and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have stopped more than 9.8 million units of about 3,000 different toys for violation of applicable standards.

RAPEX – The EU Toy Safety System

RAPEX is the European rapid alert system for dangerous products with the exception of food, pharmaceutical and medical devices, as these are regulated by other mechanisms. It facilitates the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the Commission on measures taken, prevention or restriction on the sale of consumer products posing a serious risk to consumer health and safety.

US CPSC Toy Safety System

In recent years, the CPSC has created a robust toy safety system, by requiring testing by independent, third party testing laboratories around the world; enforcing stringent lead and phthalates limits for toys; imposing some of the most stringent toy standards in the world; and stopping non-compliant and dangerous toys at ports and in the marketplace before they reach children’s hands.

Key Safety Testing and Inspection Strategies to Avoid Toy Recalls

Testing, at every stage of development and manufacture, can identify problems before toys reach the marketplace, minimizing the risk of product recall. Key testing categories include mechanical/physical, flammability, chemical and electrical safety.

For further details, please contact an SGS expert.

Website: www.sgs.com/toys

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.