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In order to ensure a high level of safety of toys for the EU markets, revision of the Toy Safety
- L6 B2 o* A& y3 _% K: I( z( c3 ?/ V; n; P- MDirective 88/378/EEC has been adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2008.
3 R+ V: f8 V; S. I/ Z2 ]Publication of the revised directive on the Official Journal is expected in first quarter of 2009.; |; b# U) q0 I9 c S! |0 b
The revision shall replace the current 20 years old toy safety directive that does not adequately
/ Q& [5 P( O$ Q5 c% b2 N7 S* _9 qdeal with the risks and dangers of newly toy designs.
6 l J% T! S5 GProvisions have been laid down for obligation of manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys,
% B! Q, F5 f. r2 X1 B' Lwhile the essential safety requirements of toys have much more related to the chemical properties8 I2 P' g( O7 q* n9 S
and labeling of toys.
# Q7 h: m1 D4 QObligation of toy manufacturers:
+ v n- v7 G& ^9 h, pa. To ensure their toys have been designed and manufactured
% B7 k7 L8 y: `# win accordance with the essential safety requirements;
+ L1 b! I) Q, Hb. To draw up a complete product file for each toy and to carry& ?5 Z6 M2 ]; u5 e
out conformity assessment prior to marketing of toy;, @8 E1 V8 ]; Z3 G
c. To draw up an EC declaration of conformity based on the4 \2 Z# W8 h; |* w3 S `
assessment procedure and affix the CE marking;
2 M6 w! p! _# [& g+ S- w" ad. To have unique identification by type, batch or serial or model number or any other
K1 T3 \" k! x0 \3 }" q: b0 }- delement on the toy or packaging or document accompany the toy;
4 c+ O- z, L5 l( [1 {% q! v# U* {' Ge. To accompany toy by appropriate safety warnings and instructions in a language or1 ~7 v/ X; ^, D
languages easily understood by consumers;8 T- e& L) h. h, s4 G- b7 \
f. To keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of: w% s/ ]% d7 v, u
ten years after a toy has been placed on the EU market (This also applies to the2 H* Y* j l/ {2 ?
authorized representatives and importers of toys);
( G5 v4 n; C1 x2 Sg. To indicate their name, registered trade name/mark and address on the toy or packaging or) l$ m( `+ m: l: u
document accompanying the toy (This also applies to the authorized representatives and
6 f: g) [7 P, a$ `& N+ u1 k4 Uimporters of toys).
" y! E% T/ t5 Q8 QEssential safety requirements of toys have been amended with following additions:
4 A% r; P6 A! l* G5 ]4 `; V* ma. Where appropriate, toys shall bear warning label that specify appropriate user limitation.
1 O! A# K. U# h5 Z" YHowever, warnings that contradict the intended use of the toy are prohibited, e.g. label0 K, F0 e3 {8 F9 g
likes "Warning: Not for use by children under three years of age" on infant toys (e.g.. i2 K: A8 L9 {% z( U
rattle) will not be allowed;
% U5 u6 ?6 y0 p* C( V/ cb. A toy intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured in such2 `: a/ I$ p) ?4 P" Y/ y; S/ n1 q3 i
a way that it can be cleaned. A textile toy shall be washable, except if it contains a% d/ h$ v* V) ^6 P+ E
mechanism that may be damaged if soak washed;
, B( \, f; \2 R$ k7 i" \! xc. Toys attached to a food product that must be consumed in order to get direct access to the
" c8 J" N& t! H! d9 _toy shall be prohibited, whereas toys contained within food or mixed with a food product
+ T9 H* H. Q& H/ t, ^must have their own packaging;
+ x1 K& P1 r ?: c& yd. Substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction
% Y/ H" P1 Q+ T1 U/ R7 ~- n(CMRs), category 1A, 1B or 2 (except for nickel in stainless steel) shall not be used in3 B0 m0 B2 l% `6 a# s3 N4 q
toys or toy components; |
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