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EU: EC-type approval protocols updated for toys

February 2018- Relevant for: Toys & children's products

On 12 February 2018, European Commission (EC) has updated EC-type approval protocol No. 1 and No. 4 to align with the EC-type examination under Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD). The protocols are the agreed procedures set up by the co-ordination group of Notified Bodies which authorised to carry out third-party conformity assessment tasks to Toy Directive, and used as guidelines to help Notified Bodies carry out the EC-type examination.

The toy shall be submitted to type examination in case the harmonised standards covering all relevant safety requirements for the toy do not exist. The same shall apply if one or more such standards have been published in the OJEU with a restriction, or if the manufacturer has not followed such standards completely. The manufacturer can submit the toy to type examination in cases where it considers that the nature, design, construction or purpose of the toy requires third party verification.

Protocol No. 1 lists the categories of toys which are required type examination. It also indicates the types of toys where EC-type examination is no longer be needed according to Toy Directive. Protocol No. 4 specifies the domestic washing and drying procedures for textiles toys intended for children under 36 months provided that the toy does not contain a mechanism that may be damaged if soaked washed. The summary of the changes to these two new protocols are shown as follows:

EC-Type Approval Protocol

New version

Highlights of the changes

No. 1 Categories of toys which are submitted to type examination¹

Revision 6

Revised the table of toys:

“In ground trampolines” is changed to “buried trampolines”.
Added a remark to ‘Projectiles’: This entry can be removed as soon as the amendment 2 to EN 71-1 has been published.
Added a remark to ‘Remote controlled helicopters’: This entry would be changed as soon as the amendment 2 to EN 71-1 is accepted.

No. 4 Domestic washing and drying procedures for textiles toys intended for children under 36 months²

Revision 2

a) Modified the background information by adding a further explanation on the use and the intentions of the protocol.

b) Following changes are made for the agreed protocol table:

Washing machine: Revised the programs of washing machine to: 'Normal', 'Mild' and 'Gentle' agitation levels or similar programmes depending on the type of machine.
Washing program: Revised to align with the programs of washing machine.
Drying machine: EN ISO reference changed to “par 5.2 and Annex G”.
Machine drying procedure: Simplified the specific approach to “dry according to the instructions given by the manufacturer”.
Line drying procedure: Deleted the drying temperature.