EU Publishes Changes to Safety Standard for Finger Paints

Top Quote The CEN has published a new standard for finger paints. It is anticipated the new standard will be harmonized for compliance with the Toy Safety Directive by March 2018. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) January 18, 2018 - The European Committee for Standardization (Comité Européan de Normalisation, CEN) has published a new toy safety standard for ‘finger paints’. The new standard, EN 71-7:2014+A1:2017, contains several important updates, including:
    • The use of H- and P-phrase information from Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (the ‘CLP’ Regulation) for certain dangerous substances and mixtures in finger paints (§ 5.2.1.2 Labeling Phrases)
    • Finger paints that are supplied in powder form are to additionally bear the following warning statement: “Warning. Mix with water in accordance with the instructions before giving to a child. Avoid inhalation of the powder.” (§ 5.2.1.2 Labeling Phrases)
    • Modifications to the ‘allowed’ list of preservatives that can be used in finger paints (Annex B, Table B.1). These include:
    o Deleting seven substances from EN 71-7:2014:
    -Paraformaldehyde (ref. no. 5), pyrithione zinc (7), phenylparaben (10), triclosan (19), polyaminopropyl biguanide (22), mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-isothiazol-3(2H)-one (CIT) and 2-methylisothiazol-3(H)-one (MIT) with magnesium chloride and magnesium nitrate (31) and MIT (32)
    o Adding two sets of new substances:
    -Six parabens (butyl-, propyl-, sodium propyl-, potassium propyl-, sodium butyl- and potassium butyl-) and a completely new set of criteria for maximum concentration (ref. no. 8)
    -p-Chloro-m-cresol[4-chloro-3-methylphenol] (ref. no. 38)

    The new standard was published in September 2017 and is expected to be given the status of a national standard by March 2018. Standards that conflict with the new standard must be withdrawn by this date.

    It is predicted that the new standard will be harmonized under Directive 2009/48/EC, the so-called Toy Safety Directive (TSD), when it is officially accepted by the European Commission and is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The anticipated delay in harmonization relates to the need to consider Cosmetics Regulation ((EC) 1223/2009, concerning the selection of colorants. It is expected that the modification will be accepted through a four-week approval process, which will amend Annex A by adding the following sentence:

    “Certain restrictions, e.g. those referring to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, may mean that the particular colorant is unsuitable for use in a finger paint.”

    The new standard is now available from national standards organizations and stakeholders are advised to check their products conform with the latest EU toy safety standards.

    SGS EU Toy Directive Services
    SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive. They offer training, safety/risk assessment, technical documentation check, labelling review, testing according to harmonized standards, SVHC screening, inspections and audits. They have the world’s largest network of toy experts and testing facilities, including around 20 toy laboratories and three 3 EU Notified Bodies (France, Germany and Netherlands). Learn more about SGS’s EU Toy Directive Services. [www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Toys/EU-Toy-Directive.aspx]

    SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full CEN Publishes Amendment 1 to EN 71-7 ‘Finger Paints’ SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/01/safeguards-00218-cen-publishes-amendment-1-to-finger-paints]

    Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

    For further information contact:
    Hing Wo Tsang Ph.D
    Global Information and Innovation Manager
    Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
    Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
    Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

    About SGS
    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 90,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

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