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In order to ensure a high level of safety of toys for the EU markets, revision of the Toy Safety! y8 O% E; o3 F; V: s8 Y& |! \+ d
Directive 88/378/EEC has been adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2008.3 U/ v2 @% a8 @/ s
Publication of the revised directive on the Official Journal is expected in first quarter of 2009.. ^* U. }7 S: p( J/ a2 I
The revision shall replace the current 20 years old toy safety directive that does not adequately5 p. M- n* k7 T; C
deal with the risks and dangers of newly toy designs.
( I Y$ c& Z( q- _( z2 D, MProvisions have been laid down for obligation of manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys,
! @4 u+ t K9 y- ]+ a. q+ F2 Mwhile the essential safety requirements of toys have much more related to the chemical properties
& h# [3 T4 Q w6 j1 n. G% band labeling of toys.
0 T* S) n; t* E, d- h0 \) n. wObligation of toy manufacturers:' B& L/ N3 i9 v: M
a. To ensure their toys have been designed and manufactured
7 X7 Q+ z% O( N; h* D, j0 P: ]in accordance with the essential safety requirements;
2 H, _7 t* Q8 y% [% _6 Vb. To draw up a complete product file for each toy and to carry& H% p2 I0 }8 K' j& u
out conformity assessment prior to marketing of toy;! q; E# |2 i7 Q; J. L/ j
c. To draw up an EC declaration of conformity based on the0 Z/ s" l. @+ p' x# _/ r& N' R, J
assessment procedure and affix the CE marking;
0 d* @! O* a: n" K7 {d. To have unique identification by type, batch or serial or model number or any other7 N; T4 Q" i3 ~- J
element on the toy or packaging or document accompany the toy;% O N. U) m- ]8 `' t+ C8 M" s4 \
e. To accompany toy by appropriate safety warnings and instructions in a language or
0 _7 ?4 n' \: u. slanguages easily understood by consumers;
' w# D, y1 Y B9 S) Ff. To keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of
: _% d9 O) H5 W7 c, N2 P3 q; n- ]ten years after a toy has been placed on the EU market (This also applies to the
' V* m- o# B9 e' Jauthorized representatives and importers of toys);
0 B9 j0 e" p! G* M; D9 p1 J$ W5 n) h2 Tg. To indicate their name, registered trade name/mark and address on the toy or packaging or6 q- c& u: _0 P1 n& d0 w
document accompanying the toy (This also applies to the authorized representatives and
/ K$ @* ^: U2 y7 O+ Ximporters of toys).% P. i5 q3 g: v. ?, m1 F
Essential safety requirements of toys have been amended with following additions:3 @3 O0 Z8 }0 Z' e6 D% ^
a. Where appropriate, toys shall bear warning label that specify appropriate user limitation.' f2 w# Q" D. g
However, warnings that contradict the intended use of the toy are prohibited, e.g. label! ]2 u* U- M8 }% B8 S \
likes "Warning: Not for use by children under three years of age" on infant toys (e.g.6 A0 r0 s; R% Q/ h# o
rattle) will not be allowed;
$ M" t7 Y* P3 F# s2 v4 \# Lb. A toy intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured in such% ?/ R5 C7 k, k# k: u( b/ w
a way that it can be cleaned. A textile toy shall be washable, except if it contains a4 {3 ^ ~: R# p6 H
mechanism that may be damaged if soak washed;
& x8 ]* H8 D) W% t0 P4 K# ~c. Toys attached to a food product that must be consumed in order to get direct access to the
, U2 L0 @+ A, }8 H8 H9 stoy shall be prohibited, whereas toys contained within food or mixed with a food product
! J: V# o% }7 d$ H9 X% [" jmust have their own packaging;% K0 h6 x( a# T/ ]
d. Substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction
* @" C( \7 _- U. b% P(CMRs), category 1A, 1B or 2 (except for nickel in stainless steel) shall not be used in" B T X1 }/ h* o. r ?
toys or toy components; |
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