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In order to ensure a high level of safety of toys for the EU markets, revision of the Toy Safety
) f* V# e+ a7 a9 @9 |6 o7 A% `* A7 _2 NDirective 88/378/EEC has been adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2008.$ d; G; Z' q' N# T% t
Publication of the revised directive on the Official Journal is expected in first quarter of 2009.$ [# [7 E9 r B* B4 v+ e' g
The revision shall replace the current 20 years old toy safety directive that does not adequately
8 R! v& M* B. o% Vdeal with the risks and dangers of newly toy designs.
0 f* \! K& i' w i% J1 NProvisions have been laid down for obligation of manufacturers, importers and retailers of toys,
C$ Q- |% m3 e0 qwhile the essential safety requirements of toys have much more related to the chemical properties* C+ r* ^ Z5 O g5 Z% O
and labeling of toys.
# H% m. q% o2 x. h- _7 i! H% LObligation of toy manufacturers:
5 O4 V4 }9 C' |a. To ensure their toys have been designed and manufactured4 r# a! b6 [2 ?! m/ k" g
in accordance with the essential safety requirements;
4 |8 I5 u5 w7 G& W0 Q1 B0 tb. To draw up a complete product file for each toy and to carry
3 ]0 b# x' o2 o1 Xout conformity assessment prior to marketing of toy;
& [: @% A F* W0 O$ ec. To draw up an EC declaration of conformity based on the
) b( B" a* F4 r- \ passessment procedure and affix the CE marking;
5 S4 l3 [! [0 v! L. p" dd. To have unique identification by type, batch or serial or model number or any other
. C9 e |& z7 ]/ M$ V$ yelement on the toy or packaging or document accompany the toy;
# y& ^9 r# s: S- |e. To accompany toy by appropriate safety warnings and instructions in a language or8 B1 v# p- D, H# g
languages easily understood by consumers;" q5 Z% M9 k/ z8 z0 B
f. To keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of
$ E5 m8 N0 A$ T! X2 nten years after a toy has been placed on the EU market (This also applies to the
+ ` V7 j+ @1 y4 f2 H& s j; R( ]authorized representatives and importers of toys);; c1 n& m8 w# B* [0 W
g. To indicate their name, registered trade name/mark and address on the toy or packaging or! J1 h- d6 I( ]3 S& P8 g
document accompanying the toy (This also applies to the authorized representatives and C9 `. _4 i6 v! a/ z, U+ S
importers of toys).6 s. w+ m1 ?) F4 S/ c
Essential safety requirements of toys have been amended with following additions:! }. N+ Z2 f2 D5 I% M; m) n
a. Where appropriate, toys shall bear warning label that specify appropriate user limitation.
- b4 r% B2 J( x% i6 p2 S2 AHowever, warnings that contradict the intended use of the toy are prohibited, e.g. label' m% d/ c% T7 B: S; ~4 z
likes "Warning: Not for use by children under three years of age" on infant toys (e.g.4 g) T$ F' U1 F& i! \) z7 O, t
rattle) will not be allowed;
1 c8 s1 W- G- ]( J( ?( r5 nb. A toy intended for children under 36 months must be designed and manufactured in such
: G5 i5 o: z0 p( Ha way that it can be cleaned. A textile toy shall be washable, except if it contains a
) o, \! Y& y& N+ P7 l7 ?mechanism that may be damaged if soak washed;
* `& n) H) S, Z. n; }7 r6 Xc. Toys attached to a food product that must be consumed in order to get direct access to the
s0 {. Y3 X3 p5 _8 N1 Ltoy shall be prohibited, whereas toys contained within food or mixed with a food product
' U7 K$ m, n' X' V! c3 w0 Gmust have their own packaging;! B, o5 B" U5 U: J# N, ]
d. Substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction! R9 }( U- ~! b2 n
(CMRs), category 1A, 1B or 2 (except for nickel in stainless steel) shall not be used in
9 D& p% i( |: R8 xtoys or toy components; |
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