January 2020 Regulatory Update
As of January 1, 2020, manufacturers and distributors of lithium ion cells and batteries and equipment powered by cells and batteries are required to provide a Test Summary as specified in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 38.3, paragraph 38.3.5. It should be noted that the test summary also applies to the cells and batteries contained in equipment when the cell or battery is added to a product.
View Story Read MoreThe Test Summary shall include the information as below; however, there is no defined required format to follow.
| Lithium cell or battery test summary in accordance with sub-section 38.3 of Manual of Tests and Criteria |
The following information shall be provided in this test summary:
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Contact: Vivian Chan (Technical Consultant)
Phone: (852) 3185 8052
Email: vivian.chan@qima.com
On December 2, 2019, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued notification No.33/2015-2020 to amend the import policy for toys distributed in India. This was effective immediately.
View Story Read MoreAccording to the amendment, the requirement of testing toys at laboratories accredited by the India’s National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has been removed. Instead, the authority will randomly select samples from each consignment arriving in India and sent them to NABL accredited laboratories for clearance. Failure in complying to the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) toy standards may result in the consignment being sent back or destroyed at the cost of the importer. The example of BIS toy standards are shown as below.
- IS 9873-1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties
- IS 9873-2: Flammability
- IS 9873-3: Migration of Certain elements
- IS 9873-4: Swings, slides and similar activities - toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use
- IS 9873-7: Requirements and test methods for finger paints
- IS 9873-9: Certain phthalates in toys and children’s products
- IS 15644: Electric toys
Contact: Andy Choi (Senior Manager)
Phone: (852) 3185 8045
Email: andy.choi@qima.com
On September 30, 2019, the Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam approved QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN Technical Regulations for Toy Safety.
View Story Read MoreThe key amendments to the Technical Regulation on Toy Safety are summarized below:
- Revised the version of standards for physical and mechanical properties, flammability and migration of certain elements:
Requirements QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN
(Effective January 1, 2021)QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN
(Current version)Physical and mechanical properties TCVN 6238-1: 2017
(ISO 8124-1: 2014)TCVN 6238-1:2008
(ISO 8124-1:2000)Flammability TCVN 6238-2: 2017
(ISO 8124-2: 2014)TCVN 6238-2:2008
(ISO 8124-2:2007)Migration of certain elements TCVN 6238-3:2011
(ISO 8124-3:2010)TCVN 6238-3:2008
(ISO 8124-3:1997) - Introduced Phthalates requirements (BBP, DBP and DEHP for all toys, and DIDP, DINP and DNOP for toys, which can be placed in the mouth)
- Updated the toy labeling requirements in accordance with Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP of April 14, 2017
The new Technical Regulation will come into force on January 1, 2021. Toys that are tested and comply with Technical Regulation,QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN, can be sold in the market until December 31, 2021.
Contact: Andy Choi (Senior Manager)
Phone: (852) 3185 8045
Email: andy.choi@qima.com
On December 1, 2019, the Hong Kong Government proposed the adoption of up-to-date safety standards for toys and certain children’s products listed in Schedule 2 under the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap 424).
View Story Read MoreThe Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance stipulates that a person must not manufacture, import or supply a toy or Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the safety standards specified in Schedules 1 and 2 respectively in the Ordinance. The standards specified are international standards adopted by major economies.
Schedule 1 Toy Standard
| Current Standard | Proposed substitute standards |
| ISO 8124-3:2010 (incorporating Amendment 1:2014) | ISO 8124-3:2010 (incorporating Amendment 2:2018) |
| ISO 8124-4:2014 (incorporating Amendment 1:2017) | ISO 8124-4:2014 (incorporating Amendment 2:2019) |
| BS EN 71-1:2014 | BS EN 71-1:2014 + A1:2018 |
| BS EN 71-3:2013 + A3:2018 | BS EN 71-3:2019 |
| BS EN 71-14:2014 + A1:2017 | BS EN 71-14:2018 |
Schedule 2 Children’s Product Standard
| Current Standard | Proposed substitute standards |
| Babies’ Dummies | |
| BS EN 1400:2013 + A1:2014 | BS EN 1400:2013 + A2:2018 |
| Baby Walking Frames | |
| ASTM F977-12 | ASTM F977-18 |
| Child Safety Barriers For Domestic Use | |
| ASTM F1004-18 | ASTM F1004-19 |
| Children’s Cots For Domestic Use | |
| ASTM F1169-13 | ASTM F1169-19 |
| ISO 7175-1:1997 | ISO 7175-1:2019 |
| ISO 7175-2:1997 | ISO 7175-2:2019 |
| Children’s High Chairs and Multi-purpose High Chairs For Domestic Use | |
| ASTM F404-18 | ASTM F404-18a |
| Children’s Paints | |
| BS EN71-3:2013 + A3:2018 | BS EN71-3:2019 |
| ISO 8124-3:2010 (incorporating Amendment 1:2014) | ISO 8124-3:2010 (incorporating Amendment 2:2018) |
| Playpens For Domestic Use | |
| ASTM F406-17 | ASTM F406-19 |
| Wheeled Child Conveyances | |
| BS EN 1888:2012 | BS EN 1888-1:2018 and BS EN 1888-2:2018 |
| ASTM F833-15 | ASTM F833-19 |
Contact: Vivian Chan (Technical Consultant)
Phone: (852) 3185 8052
Email: vivian.chan@qima.com
In Australia, when hazards are identified in consumer products, they will be recalled and published in the Recalls and Safety Alerts Database on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission website, which is updated daily. The Australia recalls from June 2, 2019 - November 29, 2019 are summarized below:
View Story Read More
| Hazards | Frequency |
| Injury Hazard | 24 |
| Fire Hazard | 23 |
| Choking Hazard | 20 |
| Burn Hazard | 10 |
| Suffocation Hazard | 8 |
| Other Hazards* | 32 |
*Other Hazards include Allergic Hazard, Chemical Hazard, Drowning Hazard, Electric Shock Hazard, Electrical Hazard, Entrapment Hazard, Fall Hazard, Ingestion Hazard, Laceration Hazard and Strangulation Hazard with a frequency of less than 7.
| Product Categories | Frequency |
| Toys and Childcare Articles | 28 |
| Fabric / Textile / Garment / Home Textile | 22 |
| Furniture | 9 |
| Cosmetics / Bodycare | 6 |
| Sporting Goods / Equipment | 5 |
| Other Categories^ | 23 |
^Other Categories include Candles & Burning Items and Accessories, Computer / Audio / Video / Other Electronics & Accessories, Eyewear, Food Contact Material, Home Electrical Appliances (Hair Dryer, Iron, etc.), Homeware, Lighting Equipment and Pet Supplies with a frequency of less than 5.
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