The EU has recently strengthened the migration of lead in toys by approximately 7-fold. The new restrictions will become effective on October 28, 2018.
In September 2016, we [1] informed you that the World Trade Organization (WTO) had circulated a notification announcing a draft regulation from the European Union (EU) to retain the proposed migration limits for lead in toys. This draft regulation strengthens each of the three toy material categories by approximately 7-fold and was adopted by the Council of the EU in Q1 of 2017 [2].
On April 27, 2017, Directive (EU) 2017/738 [3] was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). This new piece of legislation amends Annex II of Directive 2009/48/EC, the so-called Toy Safety Directive (TSD), as an adaptation to technical progress (ATP).
The new restrictions will become effective on October 28, 2018.
Highlights of lead migration limits falling under the new Directive and the TSD are summarized in Table 1.
| Migration Limit for Lead (mg/kg) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toy Material | ||||
| Category I (Dry, brittle, powder like or pliable) | Category II (Liquid or sticky) | Category III (Scraped-off) | Effective Date | |
| TSD | 13.5 | 3.4 | 160 | Jul, 2013 |
| Directive (EU) 2017/738 amending the TSD | 2.0 | 0.5 | 23 | Oct 28, 2018 |
Table 2.Definitions
| Toy Material Category | Toy material | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | Dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable |
|
| II | Liquid or sticky toy | Bubble solutions, finger paints, liquid adhesives, poster paints and slimes |
| III | Scraped-off |
|
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that your products comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive. We offer training, safety/risk assessment, technical documentation check, labelling review, testing according to harmonised standards, SVHC screening, inspections and audits. With the largest global network of toy experts and testing facilities around the world - around 20 toy labs worldwide including 3 EU Notified Bodies (France, Germany and Netherlands), SGS is the partner to trust. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or visit our website.
For enquiries, please contact:
Hing Wo Tsang
Global Hardlines Information and Innovation Manager
t: +852 2774 7420
Stay on top of regulatory changes within your industry: subscribe to SafeGuardS!
© SGS Group Management SA - 2017 - All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA. This is a publication of SGS, except for 3rd parties’ contents submitted or licensed for use by SGS. SGS neither endorses nor disapproves said 3rd parties contents. This publication is intended to provide technical information and shall not be considered an exhaustive treatment of any subject treated. It is strictly educational and does not replace any legal requirements or applicable regulations. It is not intended to constitute consulting or professional advice. The information contained herein is provided “as is” and SGS does not warrant that it will be error-free or will meet any particular criteria of performance or quality. Do not quote or refer any information herein without SGS’s prior written consent.
