Toy Chemical Safety – Europe Restricts New Preservatives in Certain Toys

The European committee for toy safety has recently agreed to restrict 4 preservatives in certain toys.  

Toy Chemical Safety – A Move in the EU

The committee also set a requirement for formamide content in foam toy materials, with formamide emission as an alternative to the content limit. The enforcement date is dependent on the nature of the chemical and will start in 18 months after publication in the Official Journal.  

In October 2014, SGS informed that the European Commission (EC) had notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a proposal to restrict 6 chemicals in toys intended for children under 36 months or other toys intended to be placed in the mouth*. That proposal would amend the chemical requirements under Appendix C of Annex II in the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD).

6 Chemicals under Discussion

The 6 chemicals are:

1 – 1,2-Benzisothiazol- 3(2H)-one (1, BIT, CAS 2634-33-5)
2 – 5-Chloro-2-methylisothiazolin-3(2H)-one (CMI) and 2-methylisothiazolin-3(2H)-one (MI) (2, CMI:MI = 3:1, CAS 55965-84-9)
3 – 5-Chloro-2-methylisothiazolin-3(2H)-one (3, CMI, CAS 26172-55-4)
4 – 2-Methylisothiazolin-3(2H)-one (4, MI, CAS 2682-20-4)
5 – Formamide (5, CAS 75-12-7)
6 – Phenol (6, CAS 108-95-2)

On 8 June 2015, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that an agreement was made by the European committee for toy safety to restrict four preservatives (1-4) under Appendix C of Annex II in the TSD.

Formamide Restriction in Toys

According to the draft Commission Directive on formamide dated 8 June 2015, the committee also set a restriction of no more than 200 mg/kg for formamide (5) content in foam toy materials. It also has an emission limit of 20 microg/m³ after a maximum of 28 days as an alternative to the formamide content limit.   

The committee did not have sufficient time to vote for phenol (6).

The enforcement dates are dependent on the nature of the chemical:
- 18 months after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) for chemicals (1, 5 and 6).
- 24 months after publication in the OJEU for chemicals (2, 3 and 4)   

Highlights of the latest draft Commission Directives for the 6 chemicals are summarized in a table within the latest Safeguards bulletin.

About SGS Toy Safety Services

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS can provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy, for restricted substances in toys for the EU under the Toy Safety Directive and for international markets.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
HingWo Tsang
Global Toys and Juvenile Products Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Limited
1/F On Wui Centre
25 Lok Yip Road
Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong, China

t: +852 2774 7420
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sgs.com/toys

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.