Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC
The EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (Toy Safety Directive) applies to “products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age”. Particular safety requirements are detailed in Annex II of the Directive and cover the following safety aspects:
Physical and mechanical properties
To minimise physical injuries such as cuts, choking, strangulation, or asphyxiation.
Product flammability
To reduce the risk of burns, fires or explosions.
Chemical properties, including limits on 19 migratable elements, nitrosamines and nitrosatable substances, a general ban on CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction), and allergenic fragrances.
Electrical properties, to minimise the risk of electric shock and against fire hazards.
Hygiene considerations, such as whether a toy can be effectively cleaned to avoid a risk of infection or contamination. A textile should be washable, except if it contains a mechanism that may be damaged after soak washed.
Radioactivity, to concern health protection from radiation.
The Directive on the Safety of Toys also requires manufacturers to supply consumers with warnings and precautions regarding the safe use of toys. These warnings are dependent on the specific function of the toy, and are detailed in Annex V of the Directive.
Manufacturers whose toys have been declared to meet the safety requirements detailed in the Directive should bear the CE Mark to the toy, to an affixed label or to the packaging, as an indication of conformity with the Directive.