ISO Issues Amendment 1 to ISO 8124-3:2020 ‘Migration of Certain Elements’

SafeGuardSHardgoodsApril 14, 2023

SG 46/23

ISO has published ISO 8124-3:2020/Amd.1:2023 for the migration of certain elements in relation to toy safety. This revision can be considered as effective immediately.

In March 2023, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 8124-3:2020/Amd.1:2023 ‘Safety of Toys – Part 3:Migration of certain elements – Amendment 1: Limits for boron and other elements in slime, and barium in modeling clay’ (Amendment 1).

The latest revision determines the migration of antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se) and boron (B) from toy materials and toy parts.

Highlights of major changes in ISO 8124-3:2020/Amd.1:2023 are summarized in Table 1.

Clause to Amendment 1	Highlights
3.13 ‘Slime’	Adds new definition for ‘slime’: “water-based gel or gel like material, clear or colored, which is viscous, slippery, and often non-Newtonian fluids, intended for play by hand manipulation, kneading and stretching”
3.14 ‘Modeling clay and putty’	Introduces new meaning
4.2 Table 1 ‘Maximum acceptable element migration from toy materials’	Expands the number of toy categories from three to four (see Table 2 below for details): New category ‘slime’ with a new set of limits Putty is expressly placed in the same category as modeling clay Migration of barium becomes less stringent and new limit for boron in ‘modeling clay and putty’
4.2 Table 2 ‘Analytical corrections’	New set of analytical corrections that includes boron
9.8.1 ‘Test portion preparation’	Clarifies slime is not to be dewaxed
Annex D, D.3 ‘Specific requirements’	Provides rationale for raising soluble barium in modeling clays from 250 mg/kg to 350 mg/kg Provides a justification for the maximum level of boron in modeling clay, putties and slime.

Table 1

Clause 4.2 Table 1 ‘Maximum acceptable element migration from toy materials (per Amendment 1 text)

Toy Material	Element (mg/kg)
Any toy material given in Clause 1, except modeling clay and putty, finger paint, and slime	Sb	As	Ba	Cd	Cr	Pb	Hg	Se	B
	60	25	1,000	75	60	90	60	500	-
Modeling clay and putty	60	25	350	50	25	90	25	500	3,750
Finger paint	10	10	350	15	25	25	10	50	-
Slime	10	10	350	15	25	25	10	50	1,250

Table 2

SGS can help you to sell and distribute your toys internationally. As a global leader in testing, inspection and certification, we have the regulatory knowledge and industry expertise to assess your products and ensure they meet the relevant requirements for sale and distribution in different global markets. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.

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