|
In order to ensure a high level of safety of toys for the EU markets, revision of the Toy Safety- D) C3 H9 y+ y" q) C
Directive 88/378/EEC has been adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2008.
) }& G; G7 \% A5 Q" K. s: mPublication of the revised directive on the Official Journal is expected in first quarter of 2009./ y# T2 ]5 {& T5 d+ L
The revision shall replace the current 20 years old toy safety directive that does not adequately& W" ~2 W/ A" x- u! d; c, \
deal with the risks and dangers of newly toy designs.3 b2 A; e9 b" |$ g1 o
Provisions have been laid down for obligation of manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys,
7 e: w6 |1 O3 ?+ V& Q. [while the essential safety requirements of toys have much more related to the chemical properties
- U. i* H' n& N2 q; J: a( d3 Fand labeling of toys.* i( b* p/ `. `; ^6 h5 B
Obligation of toy manufacturers:/ t3 O& U. ]5 I: y; B2 q
a. To ensure their toys have been designed and manufactured
M4 G* D* e* @0 m' q) s$ i' Q- win accordance with the essential safety requirements;
7 m- a1 I1 O g- ^7 Sb. To draw up a complete product file for each toy and to carry
+ R1 z$ d9 q& M8 Eout conformity assessment prior to marketing of toy;
4 c. @+ s: I2 vc. To draw up an EC declaration of conformity based on the& s [" | |$ G: m S+ G3 s
assessment procedure and affix the CE marking;
- [% g( u$ G+ v2 F3 `: ^6 jd. To have unique identification by type, batch or serial or model number or any other' k X6 `4 z* q) T
element on the toy or packaging or document accompany the toy;
1 x" | E- d8 ?# ?5 V7 v3 Ye. To accompany toy by appropriate safety warnings and instructions in a language or
$ Z; d+ |5 v& ~# Glanguages easily understood by consumers;
9 c/ B$ Z; \9 if. To keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of: ?; L) W# w4 \* u( J1 j# Y
ten years after a toy has been placed on the EU market (This also applies to the
4 \3 K2 K/ K, T" Z( e. bauthorized representatives and importers of toys);+ Z* k: p% w* x6 v) b% @
g. To indicate their name, registered trade name/mark and address on the toy or packaging or& R* F( D$ {8 c0 K% t9 D; ~9 _! E
document accompanying the toy (This also applies to the authorized representatives and
1 E$ K! p i4 L b+ ]& L! G rimporters of toys).) J9 n' X& M; f/ b7 C2 P
Essential safety requirements of toys have been amended with following additions:0 I. K u% D+ }/ \% x# F6 a" ?+ _) e0 p
a. Where appropriate, toys shall bear warning label that specify appropriate user limitation.
, k0 O- H8 V, lHowever, warnings that contradict the intended use of the toy are prohibited, e.g. label
- @8 a8 h1 R5 N s! m6 @likes "Warning: Not for use by children under three years of age" on infant toys (e.g. M0 ~& r/ N( j* P
rattle) will not be allowed;. L8 F2 t# i0 o+ k
b. A toy intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured in such
$ l" y T7 L& X" h/ Ba way that it can be cleaned. A textile toy shall be washable, except if it contains a
3 J5 e0 H [0 h" G- G" U$ omechanism that may be damaged if soak washed;) }9 U0 |% a3 {6 B1 M
c. Toys attached to a food product that must be consumed in order to get direct access to the
/ [" H' e! a& M# W W, F4 vtoy shall be prohibited, whereas toys contained within food or mixed with a food product; H G% J% v2 U/ q
must have their own packaging;! u, C% e) L$ k: u
d. Substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction( e5 E# v: R9 n5 M5 r; {
(CMRs), category 1A, 1B or 2 (except for nickel in stainless steel) shall not be used in; T( z% v1 V- r! |( L
toys or toy components; |
|