EUROPEAN COMMISSION TOYS STANDARDS - Maureen Logghe

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
TOYS STANDARDS

Maureen Logghe

THE STANDARDISATION PROCESS

• CEN has accepted the mandate from the Commission
• CEN is requested to revise existing or draw up new standards
  that meet requirements of 2009/48/EC
• Timeframe: Two years for EN 71-1, 71-2, and 71-8 and four
  years for EN 71-3, 71-4, 71-5, 71-7 and EN 71-X
  (Nitrosamines) Four years apply also to toys that emit sound
  (in EN 71-1)
• CEN TC 52 has adopted a work plan for the work required
  under the mandate
• TC 52 has allocated the standardization projects to three of its
  working groups (WG) and to one task groups (TG)

ALLOCATION OF THE WORK

 WG 3: Mechanical and Physical properties
     o EN 71-1 “Mechanical and Physical properties” (includes also
       requirements for toys designed to emit sound)
 TG 2: Interpretations/proposals for improvements in EN 71-2
     o EN 71-2 “Flammability”
 WG 5: Chemical Properties (and its TGs)
     o   EN 71-3 “Migration of certain elements”
     o   EN 71-4 “Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities”
     o   EN 71-5 “Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets”
     o   EN 71-7 “Finger paints”
     o   EN 71-X “N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances”
 WG 10: Activity toys
     o EN 71-8 “Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor
       family domestic use”

THE STANDARDISATION PROCESS (cont.)

 The task of the WGs/TG: Develop revised/new EN-standards
 When a draft is agreed in the WG/TG, the draft is released for
  public comment – the “CEN Enquiry”
 During CEN Enquiry (5 months), all stakeholders may
  comment on the draft (manufacturers, public authorities,
  consumer organizations, etc.)
 Stakeholder comments are collated by the 31 National
  Standards Bodies who each submit a vote (with comments)
 It is of utmost importance that all stakeholders submit all their
  technical comments at the CEN Enquiry stage

THE STANDARDISATION PROCESS (cont.)

 The comments received are analyzed and taken into account
  by the WG/TG
 A final version of the standard proposal is drafted in the
  WG/TG and presented to TC 52 who decides to submit the
  draft to the CEN Members for a weighted Formal Vote
 During and after this voting stage (2 months), technical
  comments cannot be introduced in the standard
 After adoption of the standard in the Formal Vote, the National
  Standards Bodies publish the new EN
 Thus, the new standards become national standards in the 31
  member countries of CEN

THE STATUS OF THE ONGOING WORK

EN 71-1
 WG 3 agreed in January to submit a draft for revised EN 71-1
  to CEN Enquiry (launched May 6th, closes October 6th, 2010)
EN 71-2
 TG 2 agreed in March 2010 to submit a draft for revised EN 71-
  2 to CEN Enquiry (launch: June 24, closure Nov. 24, 2010)
EN 71-8
 WG 10 agreed in March to submit a draft for revised EN 71-8
  to CEN Enquiry (launch July 15, closure Dec. 15, 2010)

Remark: currently two restrictions published in the OJEU
GOAL: Standards published before July 20, 2011

PLANS FOR THE REVISION OF EN 71-1

EN 71-1
 The draft with changes deriving from the new directive (EN 71-
  1-rev) is presently out for CEN Enquiry
 In parallel, four other amendments to EN 71-1 are out for final
  voting and will be published during 2010
 The four published amendments will be merged with EN 71-1 –
  rev after CEN Enquiry to form a consolidated “EN 71-1:2011”
 prEN 71-1:2011 will be submitted to formal vote in 2011 with
  the ambition to also have it harmonized before July 20, 2011

TSD-CHANGES THAT AFFECT EN 71-1

New TSD –requirements that affect EN 71-1 are, for example:

   Products not considered to be toys and toys that are excluded
   “Small-parts ban” on all toys intended to be put in the mouth
   New requirement for internal airway obstruction (suction cups)
   Requirements for toys in various combinations with food
   New requirements for warnings (general and for specific texts)
   New and more detailed requirements for packaging

 Several updates have already been introduced in EN 71-1 over
  the years but other updates require changes in the standard

CHANGES IN ”EN 71-1-rev”

 Introduction of definitions for choking, suffocation and
  asphyxiation
 Small parts: No small parts to be released from any part of a toy
  intended to be used in the mouth (all age groups)
 Parts of toys attached to food (otherwise than “firmly”) shall not
  be small parts or small balls (all age groups)
 Reference to TSD for other requirements on toys and food:
       toys in food shall have their own packaging which must not
        fit in the small parts cylinder
       toys that are firmly attached to food are not permitted
       outer packaging must carry a warning if a toy is inside

CHANGES IN ”EN 71-1-rev”

 Reference to the directive’s requirements regarding hygiene:
       toys for < 36 months shall be possible to clean
       textile toys for < 36 months shall be washable unless they
        have a mechanism that can be damaged if soaked
 Deletion of the exemption for hemispheric shaped packaging
  that can cover the mouth and nose
 Extended seam test that covers also soft-filled toys without small
  parts in the filling material
 Information on marking (CE-mark, addresses etc) inserted
 New general requirements for warnings added
 New detailed text for warnings inserted

CHANGES IN ”EN 71-1-rev”

 Packaging (all age groups) must not be a small ball and must
  not be separable if
       it is a small ball, or
       if it is cylindrical shaped with rounded ends, fits in the
        small balls template and has a major dimension

EN 71-1: PLANNED AMENDMENTS

prA10: Cords in toys (formal vote launched August 2010)
 Straps prohibited in toys for children under 36 months if the toy is intended to
  be worn fully or partially around the neck (binoculars, guitars but not back-
  packs) New, clearer definitions (cord, strap, ribbon, elastic material, yoyo-ball)
 New requirements:
      Yoyo-balls – test method to define when the are hazardous
     • Max length of cords which can form a tangled loop or a noose (cords
       with attachments)
          • Toys for children under 18 months: 220 mm
          • Toys intended for children 18 to 36 months: 300 mm
     • Warning if length exceeds 220 mm in toys for children under 36 m
     • Max length of cords with a free end (no attachments)
          • Toys for children under 18 months: 300 mm
          • On pull-along toys intended for children under 36 m: 800 mm
     • Warning on toys with electrical cables exceeding 300 mm

EN 71-1: PLANNED AMENDMENTS

prA11: Suction cups on projectiles intended for children
  >3 (formal vote launched August 2010)
 Based on a COM-decision that these toys must be EC
  Type approved since the present standard requires a
  tension test of 60 N and since they wish to see a 90 N
  tension test + a torque test

EN 71-1: PLANNED AMENDMENTS

prA12: Bicycles, scooters and ride-on toys (formal vote
  launched August 2010)
 Electrical ride-on toys:
     max. design speed 6 km/h (children 0-6 years)
     max. design speed 6 or 8,2 km/h if a tool is required for an
      adult to adjust to the higher speed
     Ride-on toys for standing use banned for children

EN 71-1: PLANNED AMENDMENTS

prA14: Suction cups and expanding material (formal vote
  launched August 2010)
 Clarification regarding toys intended for children < 3:
    • Toys with suction cups (attached to the toy directly or by a
       string) must not fully pass through template E (44,5 mm)
     • Suction cups attached to a toy by a string, where the string
       does not pass the 90 N tension test, must not pass entirely
       through template E
 Expanding material:
 The requirement for max. 50 % expansion in any
  dimension shall be fulfilled after 24, 48 and 72 hours
  soaking

CHANGES PROPOSED TO EN 71-2 & 71-8

EN 71-2
 New definitions of “flammable” and “highly flammable” liquids
  (from regulation (EC) No 1272/2008)
 Modifications regarding meaning of “highly flammable solids”
 Modifications/clarifications of clause 4.2 “Toys to be worn on the
  head” (clarification was needed – not TSD-related)
 Modified ANNEX ZA (relation between standard and TSD)
EN 71-8
 New definition of “Activity toy”
 Requirements for “Paddling pools” including warning regarding
  risk of drowning
 Warning requirement “Only for domestic use”

Questions or comments?