Hong Kong Issues Notice to Revise the Version of Children's Product and Toys Safety Standards

HONG KONG, May 29, 2013 (Press-News.org) The 2010 Safety Ordinance Amendment

In February 2010, the Hong Kong SAR Government amended the Toys and Children's Product Safety Ordinance (1).According to the amendment, a toy should comply with one of three toy safety standards. Children's products are required to comply with certain European (BS EN), American (ASTM), Australian (AS), Joint Australian /New Zealand (AS/NZS) or International standards (ISO).

Five Safety Standards for Toys Updated

On 15 March 2013, the Hong Kong SAR Government published in the Gazette the Toys and Children's Product Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Notice 2012 (2, 3). The Notice sought to update five safety standards for toys and some of the standards for eight types of children's products. The children's products whose requirements are changed are:

- Babies' dummies
- Baby walking frames
- Bunk beds for domestic use
- Child safety barriers for domestic use
- Children's cots for domestic use
- Children's paints
- Playpens for domestic use and
- Wheeled child conveyances

The amendment was in view of the changes to children product safety standards promulgated by relevant standard institutions and will take effect on 1 July, 2013. Highlights of the amendments are summarized in Table 1 (http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201303/15/P201303150281.htm) (SafeGuard No. 063/13).

About SGS Juvenile Products and Childcare Articles

Throughout a global network, SGS offers consultation and comprehensive testing services (physical/mechanical, chemical, flammability, electrical safety, etc) covering the full spectrum of international product safety and regulatory standards for a wide range of toys, juvenile products and childcare articles (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Juvenile-Products-and-Childcare-Articles.aspx). SGS laboratories are internationally recognized by major industry associations, accreditation bodies and authorities. With the largest global network of toy experts and testing facilities around the world (including 5 EU Notified Bodies and about 40 CPSC-Accepted Testing Laboratories), SGS is the partner to trust.

References:

(1) Safeguard 035/10 (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/SGS-Safeguards-03510-HK-updates-Toy-Safety-Standards-EN-10.pdf)
(2) Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1 and 2) Notice 2013 Gazette, L.N. 30 of 2013, 15 March 2013 (http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr12-13/english/subleg/negative/ln030-13-e.pdf)

Feel free to contact the SGS experts for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Janet Chan
Technical Team (Toys & Juvenile Products)
SGS Hong Kong Limited

t: + (852) 2774 7176 (Ext. 1176)
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Juvenile-Products-and-Childcare-Articles.aspx

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 75 000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1 500 offices and laboratories around the world.

SGS Consumer Testing Services ensures the quality and safety of every kind of consumer products, from textiles, electronics and furniture to food and automotive. Our customers in these distinct manufacturing industries rely on our inspection and testing capabilities and laboratories to help them comply with the regulatory requirements governing their products, as well as to ensure the integrity of the inputs received from their suppliers.

For more information, please visit: http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail.aspx