The Council of the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament have recently reached a provisional agreement on the Regulation updating the safety requirements for toys placed on the EU single market. This agreement strengthens already high safety standards, aligns the obligations of economic operators (both EU and third countries) with existing EU rules, clarifies the EU product digital passport rules and bans or limits chemicals that may be dangerous for children.
The future rules thus regulate the use of harmful chemicals in toys, extending the ban on carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances, as well as other harmful substances such as endocrine disruptors. It would also ban skin sensitisers and toys treated with biocides, except for toys that must be kept outdoors.
On preservatives, the agreement limits their use and eliminates the use of allergenic fragrances in toys for children under three years of age or in toys intended to be put in the mouth. In addition, the intentional use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in toys is limited, with exceptions for those components that are necessary for the electronic or electrical functions of the toy, provided that the substance or mixture is completely inaccessible to children.
The agreement strengthens the safety of toys, especially imported toys, by incorporating a digital product passport containing safety-related information. The aim is to allow consumers as well as customs and border control authorities to access key information without compromising business confidentiality. This digital passport will allow both consumers and customs and border control authorities to have easier access to key information without compromising business confidentiality.
In addition, in order to give companies time to adapt to the new rules, a transition period of four and a half years is foreseen to allow industry to effectively implement the new requirements. This interim agreement must now be endorsed and formally adopted by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
About biocidal products
Biocidal products are substances used to control unwanted organisms that are harmful to health or the environment, or that may cause harm to human activities.
On perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances
These are chemicals that are used in many products and some have been classified as carcinogens or endocrine disruptors.
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