SGS Summarizes EU Regulations on Chemicals in Juvenile Products

April 23, 2015 - PRLog -- Chemical Regulations to Ensure Safe Juvenile Products

Babies and young children explore the world in many ways. When they come into contact with juvenile products, they will often put them into their mouths. Safe Products must conform to EU-wide and member state regulations and requirements relating to chemicals, including:

- General Product Safety Directive (GPSD)

- REACH (SVHCs and Annex XVII)

- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

- Food contact materials

- Bisphenol A (BPA)

- Member state legislation/standards

The EU General Product Safety Directive

The GPSD is an umbrella Directive that ensures a high level of product safety throughout the EU for consumer products that do not have sector specific legislation. Conformity can be achieved by demonstrating compliance with the GPSD’s harmonized EN standards.

The application of EN 71-3 (Migration of Certain Elements) is different and is dependent on the standard for juvenile products:

-  Standards which clearly apply limits of EN 71-3:1994

- Standards in which reference to EN 71-3 is not dated but request limits of EN 71-3:1994

- Standards in which reference to EN 71-3 is not dated and implying application of 2013 requirements (including any amendments)

Juvenile products are subject to the GPSD when they are not subject to any specific European or member state legislation.

REACH Regulation - A Framework for Chemical Use

The REACH regulation provides a high level of protection to human health and the environment from chemical use. It places responsibility for understanding and managing the risks posed by chemicals in products on manufacturers and importers, including substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and prohibited or restricted substances.

- SVHCs are hazardous substances with serious consequences. They can cause cancer and have other harmful properties. They can also remain in the environment for a long time.

- Prohibited and restricted substances are listed in Annex XVII of REACH. Of all the products listed, the juvenile products industry needs to be aware that some substances are all listed as prohibited and/or restricted.

Persistent Organic Pollutants in Juvenile Products

A global treaty under the Stockholm Convention in 2001 and across the EU under Regulation (EC) 850/2004 defines POPs (http://www.sgs.com/en/White-Paper-Library/Proliferation-R...) as toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and damage the environment. Their danger lies in their ability to be transported by wind and water and to persist in the environment for long periods of time.

EU Legislation on Food Contact Materials

The Food Contact Materials & Articles Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 states that any material intended to come into direct contact with food must be sufficiently inert to preclude substances from being transferred to food in quantities which could endanger human health, bring about unacceptable changes to the composition of the food, or cause the organoleptic properties to deteriorate.

For child care articles made of plastics, the Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on Plastic Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food applies.

Other Applicable Juvenile Product Safety Standards

Across the EU, there is a number of EU-wide and member state specific standards that should also apply to juvenile products. For instance, Germany published new specifications for PAHs under the voluntary GS-Mark. PAH restriction under REACH Annex XVII entry 50 includes juvenile products. An expert understanding of the destination market can identify any additional regulations and requirements that must be met.

About SGS Safety Solutions for Juvenile Products

SGS has an international team of professional experts with a comprehensive knowledge of safety for juvenile products for the European market. The company’s global network delivers consistent and coherent testing, certification (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juve...) and verification services to expedite products’ route to market.

For further details contact an SGS local sales representative or the global team.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

Catherine Follin-Arbelet
Senior Expert, Juvenile Products
SGS CTS France
t: +33 4 42 61 64 57

HingWo Tsang, Ph.D.
CTS Toys and Juvenile Products
Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Limited
t: +852 2774 7420

Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/juvenileproducts

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.