December 2023 Regulatory Update

On 25 October 2023, the European Committee for Standardization released a new standard CEN/TS 17973:2023 "Safety of toys - Categorization of slime type material", to give some clarification on slimes and their behaviour, methodology for the characterization as well as an approach for a suitable categorization.

This standard specifies the test method for categorization of slime types of products to support users in the categorization of products with slime-like behaviour into material category I (dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable toy material) or category II (liquid or sticky toy material) in EN 71-3 Safety of toys - Migration of certain elements testing.

There are several crucial pieces of information included in CEN/TS 17973:2023, such as

• 1) Background sharing: mention for two historical methods for the categorization of slime type material (Tube Test / Shape Test) and the corresponding limitation on these two methods.
• 2) Introduction for the new "test method for categorization of slime type methods - Rod Test", which is an "easy-to-use" procedure exhibiting an acceptable accuracy for the categorization of slime type material in EN 71-3 testing.
• 3) (Informative section) Annex A - imparts background knowledge on slimes, highlighting the potential deception through putties and doughs labeled as "slime" but possessing diverse qualities and characteristics.

On 12 December 2023, the guidance document No. 7 “Guidance document on toys used in or on the water” was updated by the European Commission, with an aim to provide assistance in identifying and classifying if a product used in or on the water is a toy or not.

New product examples and photographs have been added to the updated version of the guidance document.

Product categories mentioned in the guidance that are generally covered and those that are not covered by Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC are listed below.

Product categories covered by the Toy Safety Directive

• Bath toys
• Small, battery powered toy vessels (remote controlled or not)
• Inflatable PVC toys - simple inflatable toys (not exclusively for use in the water and non-weight bearing) & inflatable toys for use in water (buoyant) and intended to be played on
• Bathing rings
• Fish rings (no buoyancy)

Products not covered by the Toy Safety Directive

• Articles designed for life saving
• Floating leisure articles
• Floating seats
• Swimming aids and swimming learning devices (armbands, swim vests, neck-rings, snorkeling masks, diving rings and other diving products)
• Other categories: water walking balls

*Other Hazards include Microbiological Hazard, Burn Hazard, Damage to Sight, Fire Hazard, Cut Hazard, Suffocation Hazard, Health Risk Hazard and Entrapment Hazard with a frequency of less than 4.

*Other Categories include Furniture, Footwear, Machinery, Tools and Hardware, Protective Equipment, Stationery, Home Electrical Appliances, Accessories, Household Items, Sporting Goods / Equipment, Food Contact Material and Pet Items with a frequency of less than 6.

*Other Countries include Czechia, Poland, Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Estonia, Romania, Norway, Finland, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Latvia, Austria, Denmark and Iceland with a frequency of less than 6.

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*Other Hazards include Suffocation Hazard, Risk of Death, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard, Drowning Hazard, Entrapment Hazard, Impact Hazard and Explosion Hazard with a frequency of less than 4.

*Other Categories include Electrical Appliances, Footwear, Outdoor Living Items, Computer / Audio / Video / Other Electronics & Accessories, Accessories, Fabric / Textile / Garment / Home Textile and Chemicals with a frequency of less than 2.

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*Other Hazards include Crash Hazard, Entanglement Hazard, Aspiration Hazard, Choking Hazard, Laceration Hazard and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard with a frequency of less than 2.

*Other Categories include Household Items, Home Electrical Appliances, Tools and Hardware and Chemicals with a frequency of less than 2.

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*Other Hazards include Electric Shock Hazard, Laceration Hazard and Explosion Hazard with a frequency of less than 2.

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*Other Hazards include Crash Hazard, Microbiological Hazard, Fall Hazard, Risk of Death, Skin Irritation Risk, Strangulation Hazard, Cut Hazard, Suffocation Hazard, Crushing Hazard, Damage to Skin, Risk of Allergy, Laceration Hazard, Swallowing Risk and Explosion Hazard with a frequency of less than 4.

*Other Categories include Household Items, Toys and Childcare Products, Electrical Appliances, Car Components, Construction Products and Protective Equipment with a frequency of less than 5.

*Other Provinces include Gansu, Hunan, Beijing, Sichuan, Guangxi, Fujian, Hebei, Jiangsu, Henan, Shanxi and Zhejiang with a frequency of less than 3.

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