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EU's Stricter Toy Safety Standards for Phenol and BPA Take Effect June 30

25 Jun 2025

EU's Stricter Toy Safety Standards for Phenol and BPA Take Effect June 30

Keywords

Phenol

EU
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has introduced two updated testing standards, EN 71-18:2024 and EN 71-19:2024, which will become mandatory across the EU starting June 30, 2024. These new protocols significantly revise how toy manufacturers must test for:
- Phenol content in water-based materials and phenol migration in polymer materials
- Bisphenol A (BPA) migration in all applicable toy components
The standards enforce compliance with strict limits set by the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, specifically Annex II, Appendix C.
Key Changes in Testing Methodology
The new standards replace previous testing methods (EN 71-10:2005 and EN 71-11:2005) with more rigorous requirements:
1. Testing Conditions:
- Samples must now be agitated at body temperature (37±2°C) using a horizontal shaker at 150±10 rpm for 180-187 minutes
- This replaces previous room-temperature (20±2°C) testing with slower rotation (60±5 rpm for 60±5 minutes)
2. Potential Impact:
The more aggressive testing conditions may result in higher measured migration values for both phenol and BPA compared to previous methods.
Compliance Timeline and Geographic Scope
- EU Implementation: Mandatory from June 30, 2024
- Legacy Standard Phase-out: Conflicting national standards must be withdrawn by June 2025
- Global Implications: While immediately effective in the EU, these standards may influence regulations in:
- United Kingdom (Toy Safety Regulations 2011)
- Switzerland (Toy Ordinance)
- Turkey (Toy Safety Regulations)
Critical Actions for Toy Manufacturers
1. Immediate Testing Review:
- Conduct comparative tests using both old and new methods to assess potential compliance gaps
- Identify materials most likely to be affected by the stricter conditions
2. Production Process Optimization:
- Re-evaluate curing times, temperature controls, and material formulations
- Consider alternative materials with lower migration potential
3. Documentation Updates:
- Ensure Technical Documentation reflects the new testing standards
- Update compliance certificates and supplier agreements
Why These Changes Matter
- Health Protection: Phenol and BPA are known endocrine disruptors with potential developmental effects
- Market Access: Non-compliant products risk being pulled from EU markets
- Competitive Advantage: Early adopters can use compliance as a market differentiator
Next Steps:
- Engage with accredited testing laboratories familiar with the new protocols
- Review all product lines for potential compliance issues
- Monitor for regulatory updates in non-EU markets that may adopt these standards
Disclaimer: Blooming reserves the right of final explanation and revision for all the information.
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