SGS : EU Proposes to Restrict Formaldehyde in Certain Toys

The EU is proposing to restrict formaldehyde in specific toy materials under Appendix C to the Toy Safety Directive. The restrictions could become effective at the end of 2020.

SAFEGUARDS | Toys & Juvenile Products NO. 009/19

In December 2018, the World Trade Organization (WTO) circulated a notification announcing a proposal from the European Union (EU) to restrict formaldehyde in specific toy materials under Appendix C to Annex II of Directive 2009/48/EC, the Toy Safety Directive (TSD). The draft Directive [1], attached to WTO document number 18-7997 and notified under G/TBT/N/EU/635 [2], would expand the number of substances in Appendix C to the TSD from 10 to 11, and establish three levels of formaldehyde restriction (migration, emission and content).

According to the WTO notification, the draft Directive is proposed to be adopted in Q2 of 2019 and the proposed date of entry into force is Q4 of 2020 (18 months after publication in the Official Journal of the EU).

Highlights of the draft Directive are summarized in Table 1.

WTO Document Number 18-7997 of December 18, 2018 Draft Directive to Amend Appendix C under Annex II of the TSD 'Toys intended for children under 36 months or other toys intended to be placed in the mouth'
Substance	Method (Preamble)	Toy material	Requirement
Formaldehyde migration	EN 71-10:2005 and EN 71-11:2005	Polymeric	≤ 1.5 mg/L
Formaldehyde emission	EN 717-1:2004	Resin-bonded wood	≤ 0.1 mL/m³
Formaldehyde content	EN ISO 14184-1:2011	Textiles	≤ 30 mg/kg
	EN ISO 17726-1:2008	Leather	≤ 30 mg/kg
	EN 645:1993 and EN 1541:2001	Paper	≤ 30 mg/kg
	EQDM method*	Water-based	≤10 mg/kg
*Determination of free formaldehyde in cosmetic products by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare

Table 1.

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 harmonized 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:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: [phone]

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