June 15, 2011
Details
On June 8, 2011 the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) made available EN 71-1:2011 Safety of Toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties. This revision of EN 71-1:2005 addresses provisions of the new Toys Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) which will become applicable on July 20, 2011. This document can now be obtained through the national standard organisations.
EN 71-1:2011 specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys. This new version also encompasses requirements for toys attached to food and for packaging. Furthermore, requirements for aquatic toys have been extended to cover all inflatable toys and new test methods (e.g. seam test) have been introduced.
Once listed in the Official Journal of the European Union, EN 71-1:2011 will provide presumption of conformity to the 2009/48/EC directive.
Why It Matters
EN 71-1:2011 addresses safety of toys for children, defined as any product or material designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It also applies to new toys, taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behavior of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under the age of 36 months (three years old), children under 18 months, and for children who are too young to sit up unaided.
How UL STR Can Help
UL STR's state-of-the-art laboratories provide a wide range of customized quality assurance solutions for toy testing. Our physical and mechanical hazards services include testing for small parts, sharp edges and points, drop impact, torque, tension and compression studies. UL STR's product design evaluations involve product age determination, risk assessments, injury data analysis and human factors reviews. Our chemical and analytical services include testing for cadmium, lead, other heavy metals, phthalates, and other toxic chemicals. UL STR Responsible Sourcing can help you establish effective traceability programs for raw materials.
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