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In order to ensure a high level of safety of toys for the EU markets, revision of the Toy Safety
) L! g9 T8 v* e- F. e6 EDirective 88/378/EEC has been adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2008.
# ]' c7 w* Q/ xPublication of the revised directive on the Official Journal is expected in first quarter of 2009.6 u0 s1 e9 U+ T+ I
The revision shall replace the current 20 years old toy safety directive that does not adequately
- W! l( k) t- f0 T' }2 `deal with the risks and dangers of newly toy designs.
* ?! G3 ?+ o4 z6 e7 n& S$ M; b% V) BProvisions have been laid down for obligation of manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys,& _; A$ E( {6 h) f
while the essential safety requirements of toys have much more related to the chemical properties1 d1 f2 j+ b7 N1 v- z
and labeling of toys.6 E3 d4 b) C. W7 ~* m6 ]
Obligation of toy manufacturers:
3 p; ]$ H$ T: C' S9 [1 `a. To ensure their toys have been designed and manufactured& ~5 `* e( S0 B. F
in accordance with the essential safety requirements;2 P9 j$ `$ j# J" p) }+ i
b. To draw up a complete product file for each toy and to carry* Q" c. `& J B3 O0 ]
out conformity assessment prior to marketing of toy; F6 J }. w4 O$ `( X
c. To draw up an EC declaration of conformity based on the# R+ w" P4 [* H6 W9 H3 D
assessment procedure and affix the CE marking;
% D: G& M# x# i$ d9 i, Zd. To have unique identification by type, batch or serial or model number or any other
- g5 k @/ {. A- i& M. Selement on the toy or packaging or document accompany the toy;
8 P# k0 L1 y9 K+ ~7 @8 pe. To accompany toy by appropriate safety warnings and instructions in a language or6 C9 H, F/ G0 p2 h
languages easily understood by consumers;
. C# [, B. q3 n" [f. To keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of/ P+ o$ X1 n; }8 v
ten years after a toy has been placed on the EU market (This also applies to the! ^: d1 P7 ]9 P7 e
authorized representatives and importers of toys);
# u: R5 D' G4 H5 A9 m. ]g. To indicate their name, registered trade name/mark and address on the toy or packaging or/ L3 v- t& m! J8 g5 K
document accompanying the toy (This also applies to the authorized representatives and
; g& c5 y2 u6 R' }& `) [importers of toys). {, `8 z9 z% U/ ?$ H% P
Essential safety requirements of toys have been amended with following additions:% k1 s5 s2 w5 Z6 H2 p3 H4 Z
a. Where appropriate, toys shall bear warning label that specify appropriate user limitation.: T/ v& Y+ _5 _) S
However, warnings that contradict the intended use of the toy are prohibited, e.g. label$ T# q* \+ \1 A
likes "Warning: Not for use by children under three years of age" on infant toys (e.g.
$ d$ _: S( |5 O9 C8 irattle) will not be allowed;
) J; u' Z2 q6 L$ n2 L# D+ wb. A toy intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured in such8 T, X5 ~$ Y, \8 |
a way that it can be cleaned. A textile toy shall be washable, except if it contains a
9 ~1 `/ [/ ~; `: q; Z8 l2 N3 G% I" [mechanism that may be damaged if soak washed;- l& q% u& B8 a
c. Toys attached to a food product that must be consumed in order to get direct access to the
& f" c0 {9 r8 l8 P* ttoy shall be prohibited, whereas toys contained within food or mixed with a food product
# S/ c. G2 V- O! w2 f8 }must have their own packaging;& k! Z+ ]( N- _% v0 W" z
d. Substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction' H" y' ^# ~' S. e! e
(CMRs), category 1A, 1B or 2 (except for nickel in stainless steel) shall not be used in9 l+ F) ^; v" x8 q/ ?) z# j
toys or toy components; |
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