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In order to ensure a high level of safety of toys for the EU markets, revision of the Toy Safety
# L9 C: O$ k4 f. A' |& zDirective 88/378/EEC has been adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2008.! E& U, K# Q! H7 t. q
Publication of the revised directive on the Official Journal is expected in first quarter of 2009.& f& F7 ^) r" d3 Y2 C2 Q4 n. h
The revision shall replace the current 20 years old toy safety directive that does not adequately( O- z- ^/ t, z; {3 A# d7 c
deal with the risks and dangers of newly toy designs.2 f7 H( z5 t. Q3 E \' b! s
Provisions have been laid down for obligation of manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys,
1 R' k2 r1 l$ Bwhile the essential safety requirements of toys have much more related to the chemical properties
0 R7 J! _. _* r* wand labeling of toys.
4 B! W9 ]% J6 O O, X9 EObligation of toy manufacturers:
1 W4 j" U# j3 `1 `8 L' va. To ensure their toys have been designed and manufactured6 e8 ` m# K. s
in accordance with the essential safety requirements;6 m* w! n1 O7 ^; u3 z( S
b. To draw up a complete product file for each toy and to carry
5 g* l( [- v9 I' B1 E3 M" lout conformity assessment prior to marketing of toy;
8 c. e6 Z6 w! G3 B% \" E! @c. To draw up an EC declaration of conformity based on the% @/ \, |" Q; b" s i( _! o
assessment procedure and affix the CE marking;
$ K4 Z+ c& P3 @8 g; {7 N; g: d1 c/ ^d. To have unique identification by type, batch or serial or model number or any other. t% n& {- q; f
element on the toy or packaging or document accompany the toy;' P6 m" z; l5 c3 Y! b1 m
e. To accompany toy by appropriate safety warnings and instructions in a language or4 C: X, x7 z3 g3 m, s4 K# Z
languages easily understood by consumers;
9 P- P) ?* r( {: i3 N, H# [f. To keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of
: M, S9 K- x" A, I. bten years after a toy has been placed on the EU market (This also applies to the
- g( b% g5 v: x$ c# K) Pauthorized representatives and importers of toys);
, m# s3 F4 g C" {g. To indicate their name, registered trade name/mark and address on the toy or packaging or
: r% F4 c- c1 U# |' \0 H' k5 Jdocument accompanying the toy (This also applies to the authorized representatives and+ J* y; I+ ]! x0 ^! N/ S: D
importers of toys)., ]! V& Q' V4 ?! L
Essential safety requirements of toys have been amended with following additions:
5 c: U) ], l! Ga. Where appropriate, toys shall bear warning label that specify appropriate user limitation.
# Z9 G1 K, Y+ P- `6 B) HHowever, warnings that contradict the intended use of the toy are prohibited, e.g. label
$ k: `# ^8 y& x, e8 v9 V" ?0 Zlikes "Warning: Not for use by children under three years of age" on infant toys (e.g.: Y/ ?: H9 b N2 k y
rattle) will not be allowed;% z* j( z3 p& s; J, ]! e
b. A toy intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured in such% c0 [( r* w6 X6 ?/ w
a way that it can be cleaned. A textile toy shall be washable, except if it contains a: B/ K' L8 `' u5 K2 u
mechanism that may be damaged if soak washed;7 c- U8 h0 s6 `1 ^0 O) T/ l/ N6 k
c. Toys attached to a food product that must be consumed in order to get direct access to the6 T: R2 L) e- Y, ]
toy shall be prohibited, whereas toys contained within food or mixed with a food product
/ R! }: m7 O1 z& i" mmust have their own packaging;
6 x d1 n# S% md. Substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction( y2 L! z; z, M( [
(CMRs), category 1A, 1B or 2 (except for nickel in stainless steel) shall not be used in
& i0 l9 H! b: R9 y' C' F) u9 k6 btoys or toy components; |
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