Date: 2021-11-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1992 of 15 November 2021 on harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1992 publishes harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC. It replaces Implementing Decision EU 2021/867 and includes a list of harmonised standards, repealing older versions. The decision provides dates for the withdrawal of references to the older standards, allowing manufacturers time to adapt to the revised specifications. The decision enters into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
Harmonised Standards and Conformity:
Toys that conform to harmonised standards, the references of which are published in the Official Journal of the European Union, are presumed to conform with the requirements of Directive 2009/48/EC.
Revised Standards:
* EN 71-2:2020 (Flammability): This standard is clearer and more precise than EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014, with further definitions, clearer wording, new specifications for toy disguise costumes, and improved testing specifications.
* EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 (Migration of Certain Elements): Updates the list of legal limit values for elements in toys, including strengthened limits for aluminium and changes regarding chromium VI.
* EN 71-4:2020 (Experimental Sets for Chemistry): Clearer than EN 71-4:2013 with editorial changes, consistent use of pictograms and signal words, reliance on international standards for child-resistant containers, required eye protection for certain sets, and more explanations on specifications.
* EN 71-13:2021 (Olfactory Board Games, Cosmetic Kits, Gustative Games): Specifications are more clearly linked to Directive 2009/48/EC, with extended specifications for warnings and child-resistant closures based on EN ISO 8317:2015.
Replacement and Withdrawal of Standards:
* EN 71-2:2020, EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021, EN 71-4:2020, and EN 71-13:2021 replace EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014, EN 71-3:2019, EN 71-4:2013, and EN 71-13:2014, respectively.
* References to the older standards will be withdrawn from the Official Journal of the European Union on May 15, 2022.
* References to EN 71-7:2014+A2:2018, EN 71-12:2013 and EN 62115:2005 will be withdrawn from the Official Journal of the European Union on 28 November 2021 and 21 February 2022.
Publication and Implementation:
The references of harmonised standards are published in Annex I. Implementing Decision EU 2021/867 is repealed but remains applicable until the dates in Annex II.
Impact Analysis:
Toy Manufacturers:
* Impact: Must ensure their toys comply with the revised harmonised standards (EN 71-2:2020, EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021, EN 71-4:2020, EN 71-13:2021) to maintain presumption of conformity with Directive 2009/48/EC.
* Action Required: Adapt their products and manufacturing processes to meet the new specifications in the revised standards by the specified withdrawal dates of the older standards.
European Committee for Standardisation (CEN):
* Impact: Responsible for drafting and revising harmonised standards to support Directive 2009/48/EC.
* Action Required: Continue to assess and update harmonised standards based on the Commission's requests and evolving safety requirements.
European Commission:
* Impact: Responsible for assessing the harmonised standards drafted by CEN and publishing their references in the Official Journal of the European Union.
* Action Required: Ensure that harmonised standards comply with the requirements of Directive 2009/48/EC and update the list of references in the Official Journal.
Key Entities Referenced
European Parliament: Legislative branch of the European Union.
Council of the European Union: A body composed of government ministers from each EU member state.
European Commission: Executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's budget.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining the scope of the EU's powers.
Regulation EU No 1025/2012: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European standardisation.
Directive 2009/48/EC: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety of toys.
European Committee for Standardisation CEN: An organization responsible for developing European standards.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation CENELEC: European organization responsible for standardization in the electrotechnical engineering field.
L 405/14 EN Official Journal of the European Union 16.11.2021
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2021/1992
of 15 November 2021
on harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012on
European standardisation, amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC,
95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council(1), and in particular Article 10(6) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with Article 13 of Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), toys
which are in conformity with harmonised standards or parts thereof, the references of which have been published
in the Official Journal of the European Union, are to be presumed to be in conformity with the requirements covered
by those standards or parts thereof set out in Article 10 of Directive 2009/48/EC and Annex II to that Directive.
(2) Directive 2009/48/EC lays down, in Part I of Annex II thereto, specific requirements on physical and mechanical
properties (including provisions aimed at ensuring that toys are manufactured in such a way as to avoid causing
burns, scalds or other physical injury) and in Part II of Annex II thereto, specific requirements in order to ensure a
high level of toy safety with regard to flammability hazards. Directive 2009/48/EC also lays down, in Part III of
Annex II thereto, specific requirements in order to ensure that there are no risks of adverse effects on human health
due to exposure to the chemical substances or mixtures of which the toys are composed or which they contain.
Moreover Article 10(2) lays down the general safety requirement, Article 11(2) lays down requirements for
warnings on toys, and Annex V to Directive 2009/48/EC lays down warnings for toys, including specific warning
for chemical toys.
(3) By letter M/445(3)of 9 July 2009the Commission made a request to the European Committee for Standardisation
(CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) for the drafting of new and the
revision of existing harmonised standards in support of Directive 2009/48/EC.
(4) On the basis of the request M/445 of 9 July 2009, CEN revised harmonised standard EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014 ‘Safety
of toys – Part 2: Flammability’, the reference of which was published by Commission Implementing Decision (EU)
2021/867(4). This resulted in the adoption of harmonised standard EN 71-2:2020.
(5) Harmonised standard EN 71-2:2020 is clearer and more precise than its predecessor EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014. It
includes: further definitions, thus describing better to which toys the standard’s specifications apply; clearer, more
precise wording; new specifications for toy disguise costumes which contain loose stuffing; additional specifications
to wash or cleanse (or not) toy disguise costumes prior to testing; specifications on the testing of smaller parts of
toys by combining them, as well as the testing of fillings, trims and embellishments; illustrative examples of disguise
toys (such as face masks or helmets) and toy disguise costumes and indications on how to test them; flowcharts
showing how to obtain test specimens from toy disguise costumes.
(1) OJ L 316, 14.11.2012, p. 12.
(2) Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys (OJ L 170, 30.6.2009,
p. 1).
(3) M/445 of 9 July 2009 on a standardisation mandate addressed to CEN and CENELEC within the framework of Directive 2009/48/EC
revising Directive 88/378/EEC concerning the safety of toys.
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/867 of 28 May 2021 on harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive
2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 190, 31.5.2021, p. 96).16.11.2021 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 405/15
(6) On the basis of the request M/445 of 9 July 2009, CEN also revised harmonised standard EN 71-3:2019 ‘Safety of
toys - Part 3: Migration of certain elements’, the reference of which was published by Implementing Decision (EU)
2021/867. This resulted in the adoption of harmonised standard EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021.
(7) Harmonised standard EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 updates its list of legal limit values, taken from Directive
2009/48/EC, for the elements in toys. The update concerns aluminium, for which strengthened limit values were to
be applied as of 20 May 2021(5). It also concerns chromium-VI, for which a previous limit value was deleted. The
mathematical formula to calculate the chromium-VI migration of a toy sample has been adapted to the test
procedure. All other changes are editorial.
(8) On the basis of the request M/445 of 9 July 2009, CEN further revised harmonised standard EN 71-4:2013 ‘Safety of
toys - Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities’, the reference of which was published by
Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/867. This resulted in the adoption of harmonised standard EN 71-4:2020.
(9) Harmonised standard EN 71-4:2020 is clearer than its predecessor EN 71-4:2013, due to quite a number of editorial
changes. Also, pictograms and signal words of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of
the Council(6) have been used more abundantly and more consistently. Furthermore, the specifications for child-
resistant containers now rely on an established international standard, taken over by CEN. Eye protection is now
required for certain experimental sets. Finally, more explanations on the rationale of the specifications have been
included.
(10) On the basis of the request M/445 of 9 July 2009, CEN revised harmonised standard EN 71-13:2014 ‘Safety of toys -
Part 13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games’, the reference of which was published by
Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/867. This resulted in the adoption of harmonised standard EN 71-13:2021.
(11) The specifications of harmonised standard EN 71-13:2021 are more clearly linked to the requirements of Directive
2009/48/EC. In particular, the specifications related to specific warnings and indications set out in Annex V, Part B,
to Directive 2009/48/EC have been extended and more clearly relate to olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and
gustative games that contain certain allergenic fragrances. Furthermore, the specifications for child-resistant
closures of containers in the concerned games and kits are now based on an international standard, referred to as
EN ISO 8317:2015 Child-resistant packaging – Requirements and testing procedures for reclosable packages. The
test method in EN ISO 8317:2015 replaces the previous test method set out in EN 71-13:2014. Finally, references
to Union legislation have been updated, in particular to food safety legislation.
(12) The Commission together with CEN has assessed whether harmonised standards EN 71-2:2020, EN 71-3:2019
+A1:2021, EN 71-4:2020 and EN 71-13:2021 drafted by CEN comply with the request M/445 of 9 July 2009. The
four harmonised standards satisfy the requirements which they aim to cover and which are set out in Directive
2009/48/EC. It is therefore appropriate to publish the references of those standards in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
(13) Harmonised standards EN 71-2:2020, EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021, EN 71-4:2020 and EN 71-13:2021 replace
harmonised standards EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014, EN 71-3:2019, EN 71-4:2013 and EN 71-13:2014, respectively. It
is therefore necessary to withdraw the references of those standard from the Official Journal of the European Union. In
order to allow toy manufacturers sufficient time to adapt their products to the revised specifications in harmonised
standards EN 71-2:2020, EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021, EN 71-4:2020 and EN 71-13:2021, it is necessary to defer the
withdrawal of the reference of harmonised standards EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014, EN 71-3:2019, EN 71-4:2013 and
EN 71-13:2014.
(5) Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1922 of 18 November 2019 amending, for the purposes of adaptation to technical and scientific
developments, point 13 of part III of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety
of toys, as regards aluminium (OJ L 298, 19.11.2019, p. 5).
(6) Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and
packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation
(EC) No 1907/2006 (OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1).L 405/16 EN Official Journal of the European Union 16.11.2021
(14) In the interests of clarity, rationality and simplification, a complete list of references of harmonised standards drafted
in support of Directive 2009/48/EC and satisfying the requirements they aim to cover should be published in a single
act. The references of harmonised standards drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC are currently published by
Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2021/867 and 2019/1728(7). Consequently, it is necessary to replace
Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/867 by a new decision.
(15) Compliance with a harmonised standard confers a presumption of conformity with the corresponding essential
requirements set out in Union harmonisation legislation from the date of publication of the reference of such
standard in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Decision should therefore enter into force on the date of
its publication,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The references of the harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC, listed in Annex I to this
Decision, are hereby published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 2
Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/867 is repealed.
However, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/867 shall continue to apply to the references of the harmonised
standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC, listed in Annex II to this Decision, until the dates set out in
that Annex.
In addition, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1728 shall continue to apply to the references of the
harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of Directive 2009/48/EC, listed in Annex III to this Decision, until the
dates set out in that Annex.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 15 November 2021.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
(7) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1728 of 15 October 2019 on harmonised standards for toys drafted in support of
Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 263, 16.10.2019, p. 32).16.11.2021 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 405/17
ANNEX I
No Reference of the standard
1. EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018
Safety of toys — Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
2. EN 71-2:2020
Safety of toys — Part 2: Flammability
3. EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021
Safety of toys — Part 3: Migration of certain elements
4. EN 71-4:2020
Safety of toys — Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
5. EN 71-5:2015
Safety of toys — Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets
6. EN 71-7:2014+A3:2020
Safety of toys — Part 7: Finger paints — Requirements and test methods
7. EN 71-8:2018
Safety of toys — Part 8: Activity toys for domestic use
8. EN 71-12:2016
Safety of toys — Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances
Informative note: The limit values in point (a) of Table 2 of clause 4.2 of standard ‘EN 71-12:2016 Safety of
toys — Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances’ are lower than the limit values to be
complied with set in point 8 of part III of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC. In particular those values are as
follows:
Substance Standard EN 71-12:2016 Directive 2009/48/EC
N-nitrosamines 0,01 mg/kg 0,05 mg/kg
N-nitrosatable 0,1 mg/kg 1 mg/kg.
9. EN 71-13:2021
Safety of toys — Part 13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games
10. EN 71-14:2018
Safety of toys — Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use
11. EN IEC 62115:2020
Electric toys — Safety
EN IEC 62115:2020/A11:2020L 405/18 EN Official Journal of the European Union 16.11.2021
ANNEX II
No Reference of the standard Date of withdrawal
1. EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014 15 May 2022
Safety of toys — Part 2: Flammability
2. EN 71-3:2019 15 May 2022
Safety of toys — Part 3: Migration of certain elements
3. EN 71-4:2013 15 May 2022
Safety of toys — Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
4. EN 71-13:2014 15 May 2022
Safety of toys — Part 13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games16.11.2021 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 405/19
ANNEX III
No Reference of the standard Date of withdrawal
1. EN 71-7:2014+A2:2018 28 November 2021
Safety of toys — Part 7: Finger paints – Requirements and test methods
Note: For the allowed preservative Climbazole (entry 22 in Table B.1 of Annex B to
this standard) the presumption of conformity applies up to a maximum allowed
concentration of 0,2 % (not: 0,5 %). This is based on the ‘ADDENDUM to the
Opinion on Climbazole (P64) ref. SCCS/1506/13’ of the Scientific Committee on
Consumer Safety (SCCS) that was adopted after the publication of the standard by
CEN.
https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/
consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_212.pdf
2. EN 71-12:2013 28 November 2021
Safety of toys — Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances
3. EN 62115:2005 21 February 2022
Electric toys – Safety (IEC 62115:2003 (Modified) + A1:2004)
EN 62115 :2005/A2:2011 (IEC 62115:2003/A2:2010 (Modified)
EN 62115:2005/A2:2011/AC:2011
EN 62115:2005/A11:2012
EN 62115:2005/A11:2012/AC:2013
EN 62115:2005/A12:2015