New Requirements of EU Toy Safety Directive

On 20 and 21 May 2021, the two Commission Directives (EU) 2019/1922 and 2019/1929 will come into effect. The main points of these Directives are:

Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1922
(Applied in point 13 of part III of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC)

Effective date : 20/05/2021

Element: Aluminium

mg/kg in dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable toy material: 2 250

mg/kg in liquid or sticky toy material: 560

mg/kg in scraped-off toy material: 28 130

Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1929
(Applied in Appendix C to Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC)

Effective date: 21/05/2021

Substance: Formaldehyde

CAS No: 50-00-0

Limit value:

1,5 mg/l (migration limit) in polymeric toy material
0,1 ml/m3 (emission limit) in resin-bonded wood toy material
30 mg/kg (content limit) in textile toy material
30 mg/kg (content limit) in leather toy material
30 mg/kg (content limit) in paper toy material
10 mg/kg (content limit) in water-based toy material’

Toxic-Free Kids Act: Implementation of Phase 3

On 1st March 2021, the Oregon Health Authority published Phase 3 of the Toxic-Free Kids Act which requires manufacturers of children's products sold in Oregon to report products that contain one or more high priority chemicals of concern for children's health (HPCCCH), and ultimately remove these chemicals, look for an alternative to make the product less hazardous or seek a waiver approved by the Authority.

This Phase indicates detailed requirements for manufacturers of three specific categories of children's products: 

• Children under three years old;

• "Mouthable" items, per ORS 431A.253(8); and

• Children's cosmetics.

To read the HPCCCH list, visit the Oregon Health Authority website here.

New requirements for packaging and packaging components

n February 2021, the Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation was updated by the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH).

This Legislation was developed in 1989 to reduce the amount of heavy metals in packaging and packaging components. TPCH Model Legislation prohibit the intentional use of lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium (VI) in any finished package or packaging component, as well as limiting, the total incidental concentration to 100 parts per million by weight (0.01%).  This legislation was adopted by nineteen states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The main changes are as follows:

• The sum of the concentration levels of phthalates should not exceed 100 parts per million by weight (0.01%).

• Prohibition of sale or distribution of a package or packaging components containing PFAS.

• Criteria for the identification and prohibition of packaging chemicals of high concern

This legislation shall become effective immediately upon adoption.

To read the official news, visit the TPCH’s website here.