New Toy Standard to Improve Safety of Toys

June 16, 2011

New Toy Standard to Improve Safety of Toys

To help toy manufacturers ensure their products are safe BSI is publishing a major revision of the toy safety standard BS EN 71-1 in June.

There are new requirements for expanding materials, toys attached to food, soft filled toys, toys with cords attached, packaging, labelling and warnings, and activity toys.

BSI Director of Standards, Mike Low, said: “Standards have a significant role in promoting consumer safety, and the new toy safety standard BS EN 71-1 is expected to make a major contribution to ensuring that children playing with toys have fewer injuries but just as much enjoyment.”

The standard provides the detail which underpins the new EU Toy Safety Directive. Manufacturers have until 20 July to meet the requirements of the new Directive. After this date, all toys placed on the market will have to conform to the new requirements and carry the CE mark to show conformity to the new Directive.

The standard is part of the BS EN 71 series of standards that deal with every aspect of toy safety from flammability and toxicity, to their potential to trap clothing or injure a child physically,

Toys and games are vital tools for child development, but the importance of keeping children safe from accidents while they play cannot be overstated. Ensuring safety requirements and standards keep up with the latest toy trends is vital, especially as new materials and manufacturing processes are constantly being developed.

Notes for editors

There are around 80 million children under 14 in the EU and about 2000 companies (mostly SMEs) employing over 100,000 people directly in the toys and games sector.

This is the first change to the Toy Safety Directive (TSD) in over twenty years and there are significant changes to safety requirements, definitions and obligations. For example, when a toy is placed on the market, the manufacturer must draw up an EC Declaration of Conformity (DoC). By doing so the manufacturer certifies and assumes responsibility for the compliance of the toy with the essential requirements of the new TSD. The manufacturer or the authorised representative established within the EU must keep the DoC for ten years after the toy is put on the market. The DoC must contain specific information particularly with regard to tracability.