NEW EU TOY DIRECTIVE

STRINGENT TOY REQUIREMENTS IN THE EU

A new European Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (PDF 995 KB) has been published on 30th June 2009 in the Official Journal of the EU. The Directive will replace the 20 year old 88/378/EEC. The Directive will come into force on 20th July 2009.

To become a legal document in European Member States the directive has to be implemented in national legislation. Member States have 18 months to do so.

Transitional periods

2 years: both the old end the new directive may be used during the transitional period (until 20th July 2011)

4 years: for the chemical requirements the transitional period is 4 years (until 20^th July 2013)

Major proposed changes compared to the current toy directive 88/378/EEC are:

• EC declaration of conformity
  A requirement for an EC declaration of conformity drawn up by the manufacturer is added.
  
  
• Safety assessments/risk assessments
  It is specified safety assessments/risk assessments must be carried out. Manufacturers are obliged to identify any hazards that a toy may present. The assessment must be kept in the technical documentation.
  
  
• Production control
  Requirements for production control are more specified. Internal production control is based on the manufacturer’s own responsibility and requires self verification and monitoring of the manufacturing process by the manufacturer in order ensure compliance of the manufactured product
  
  
• New chemical requirements
  
  
• New mechanical requirements for toys sold with food