After issuing guidance on the use of magnets in toys, Canada has now amended its toy regulations to include magnet requirements.
On June 25, 2018, Canada published an amendment to it’s Toy Regulations. The new magnet requirements will come into force on December 25, 2018, 6 months after publication in the Canada Gazette.
The aim is to harmonize Canadian toy regulations regarding magnets in toys with those in the EU and USA. The Canadian regulations are a combination of both USA and EU regulations, but are slightly different. Concerns with magnets in toys are related to the ingestion of small powerful magnets by children. Once ingested the magnets can attract each other and may cause serious health issues, like perforation of the intestines.
The basic principles for avoiding such hazards is to ensure the magnets in toys are too large to be swallowed or too weak to attract each other.
Small magnets that may be ingested may not be stronger then 0,5 T2mm2.
This applies to lose small magnets and magnets that can get released during play.
The potential release of magnets is checked by performing use and abuse tests.
These tests include:
- Drop, tension, torque, impact and compression tests
- Soaking test for wooden toys, toys intended to be used in water and toys intended to be used in the mouth
- Tests to check if a magnet can be released using the magnetic force of another magnet or a metal disk
SGS is committed to providing information about development in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Through a global network of laboratories, SGS provides a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
For enquiries, please contact:
Sanda Stefanovic
Toy expert
t: +31 6 51542190
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