European Union (EU)
1. CEN publishes Amendment 3 to EN 71-7 "Finger Paints"
In April 2020, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published EN 71-7:2014+A3:2020, the new toy safety standard for finger paints. According to EN 71-7:2014+A3:2020, this standard will become a national standard before October 2020, and any conflicting national standards will be repealed by this date at the latest. Once the standard is accepted by the European Commission (EC) and published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), it is expected to harmonize with the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD).
2. The EU regulates PFOA chemicals under the POP Recast Regulation
On June 15, 2020, the European Union (EU) published Regulation (EU) 2020/784 to amend Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POP recast) to include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances with specific exemptions on intermediate use or other specifications. Exemptions for use as intermediates or other special uses are also included into the POP regulations. The new amendment became effective on July 4, 2020.
3. In 2021, ECHA established the EU SCIP database
As of January 5, 2021, companies supplying articles to the EU market need to provide the SCIP database with information on the items containing Candidate List substances with a concentration of more than 0.1% weight by weight (w/w).
4. The EU has updated the number of SVHCs on the Candidate List to 209
On June 25, 2020, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added four new SVHCs to the Candidate List. The addition of the new SVHCs brings the total number of Candidate List entries to 209. On September 1, 2020, the ECHA conducted a public consultation on two substances that were proposed to be added to the list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs). This public consultation ended on October 16, 2020.
5. The EU strengthens the migration limit of aluminum in toys
The European Union released the Directive (EU) 2019/1922 on November 19, 2019, which increased the aluminum migration limit in all three types of toy materials by 2.5. The new limit came into force on May 20, 2021.
6. The EU restricts formaldehyde in certain toys
The European Union released Directive (EU) 2019/1929 on November 20, 2019 to restrict formaldehyde in certain toy materials in Annex II to TSD. The new law stipulates three types of formaldehyde restriction levels: migration, emissions and content. This restriction came into force on May 21, 2021.
7. The EU revises again the POPs Regulation
On August 18, 2020, the European Commission released the Authorization Regulations (EU) 2020/1203 and (EU) 2020/1204, amending the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulations (EU) 2019/1021 Appendix I, Part A. Exemption clauses for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS), and the addition of restrictions on dicofol (Dicofol). The amendment came into force on September 7, 2020.
United States of America
New York State amends the "Toxic chemicals in children's products'' bill
On April 3, 2020, the Governor of New York State approved A9505B (companion bill S7505B). This bill partially amends Title 9 to Article 37 of the Environmental Conservation Law, which involves toxic chemicals in children's products. The amendments to New York State's "Toxic chemicals in children’s products'' bill include restructuring the regulatory framework for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to designate chemicals of concern (CoCs) and high-priority chemicals (HPCs), as well as establishing a children’s product safety council to make recommendations on HPC. This new amendment (Chapter 756 of the laws of 2019) became effective on March 2020.
The US State of Maine recognizes PFOS as a notified chemical substance in children's articles
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released in July, 2020 a new Chapter 890 to expand its list of priority chemical substances, stating that "perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its salts as priority chemicals and requires reporting for certain children’s products that contain PFOS or its salts." According to this new chapter, manufacturers and distributors of certain categories of children's products containing intentionally added PFOs or its salts must report it to the DEP within 180 days from the effective date of the amendment. This new rule became effective on July 28, 2020. The report deadline was January 24, 2021. If a regulated children's product goes on sale after January 24, 2021, it must be notified within 30 days after the product goes on the market.
The US State of Vermont releases the latest Chemicals in Children's Products Regulations
The Vermont Department of Health in the United States has approved the amendment of the regulations for the declaration of chemicals of high concern in children's products (Code of Vermont Rules: 13-140-077), which became effective on September 1, 2020.
Australia
Consumer Goods (Toys with Magnets) Safety Standard 2020
Australia released Consumer Goods (Toys with Magnets) Safety Standard 2020 on August 27, 2020, updating the mandatory safety standards for magnets in toys. Magnet in toys are required to comply with the magnet-related provisions specified in one of the following toy standards: AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019, EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018, ISO 8124-1 :2018 and ASTM F963-17. The new magnet safety standard came into effect on August 28, 2020, with a one-year transition period.
Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020
Australia released the Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020 on June 11, 2020. Aquatic toys are required to comply with the warning label format requirements and the aquatic-related provisions specified in one of the following toy standards: AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019 and ISO 8124-1:2018. By June 11, 2022, aquatic toys must comply with either the Consumer Product Safety Standard for floating toys and aquatic toys (Consumer Protection Notice Nº 2 of 2009) or one of the new aquatic toys' regulations. Starting from June 12, 2022, aquatic toys must comply with the new Aquatic Toys Safety Standard.
Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020
Australia released the Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020 on June 11, 2020. Projectile toys are required to comply with warning label requirements and the projectile-related provisions specified in one of the following toy standards: AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019, EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018, ISO 8124-1 :2018 and ASTM F963-17. By June 11, 2022, projectile toys must comply with either the Consumer Product Safety Standard for Children's Projectile Toys (Consumer Protection Notice Nº 16 of 2010) or one of the new projectile toy regulations. Starting from June 12, 2022, projectile toys must comply with the new Projectile Toys Safety Standard.
Brazil
Brazil released Ordinance Nº 217 (June 18, 2020)
Brazil released Ordinance Nº 217 (June 18, 2020) on June 24, 2020. This ordinance amends the following ordinances on toys and school supplies: Ordinance Nº 481 (December 7, 2010) on Assessment Requirements for Compliance with School Supplies, and Ordinance Nº 563 (December 29, 2016) on Technical Regulation and Conformity Assessment Requirements for Toys. The new amendment came into force on June 24, 2020. Japan
Japan
Japan releases the third revision of Toy Safety Standard ST 2016
Japan releases the third revision of Toy Safety Standard ST 2016, which essentially updated Part 1 regarding cords, acoustic requirements and expandable materials. The amendment became effective on June 1, 2020.
ISO, International Organization for Standarization
ISO 8124.1:2018+A1:2020+A2:2020
In June 2020, ISO 8124-1 was revised and two amendment versions were added. Some of the updated requirements concerned flying toys, toys' assembly and expandable materials. The objective was to harmonize and follow the relevant requirements of the two toy standards EN71-1 and ASTM F963.
Post time: Jul-09-2021