A Few Weeks Left Before New EU Toy Directive Takes Effect
2011 is a crucial year for all actors in the European toy industry. The new toy directive will come into force on July 20, 2011, except for the chemical requirements that have a further transitional period of two years.
June 19, 2011
This is a decisive year for all actors in the European toy industry supply chain. The main provisions of the new toy directive come into force on July 20, 2011, excluding the chemical requirements, which have a further transitional period of two years until July 20, 2013.SGS showcased its toy solutions (link to: http://www.hardlines.sgs.com/toys.htm) at international toy fairs taking place in Hong Kong, Nuremberg (Germany) and London (United Kingdom) in January and February 2011. SGS toy experts were available to explain in detail to EU toy manufacturers, retailers and importers how the directive will impact their products. All companies actually highlighted the importance of understanding the changes of the directive, but above all, they requested a comprehensive compliance solution with step by step guidance to meet the deadlines of 2011 and 2013.
Guidance Documents
The Technical Documentation guidance document (link to: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/files/tsd_rev_1.2_explanatory_guidance_document_en.pdf) prepared by the EU commission expert group was published in April 2011. This document provides guidance on the details needed for the Technical Documentation including BOM, BOS, SDS, EC type examination procedure, safety assessments, etc.
You can also visit the EU Commission website (link to: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/) where all guidance documents are stored including the explanatory guidance document of the Toy Directive.
SGS Toy Services
Manufacturers, retailers and importers can rely on our network of labs (about 20 toy labs around the world, including four EU notified bodies in France, UK, Germany and Netherlands) and our toy experts to ensure EU compliance. SGS has set up dedicated services to comply with the Toy Directive. We can assist you at any stage of the product life cycle and develop with your staff a customized solution including training, safety /risk assessments, safety data sheets (SDS) preparation, declaration of conformity (DoC) preparation, labeling review and technical documentation validation, as well as testing according to toystandards and other legislation such as REACH (Link to: http://www.reach.sgs.com/index.htm).
For further information on the new EU Toy Directive, please contact:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Serge Milon
Toy Manager, SGS France
215 Avenue Paul Langevin Pôle d'activites Aix Les Milles, 13854 Aix-en-Provence, France
t: +33 4 42 97 72 38
f: +33 4 42 39 40 33
E-mail: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/toys