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EU: Toy guidance document for pools updated

FEBRUARY 2019 - Relevant for: HARDLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

On 28 January 2019, the guidance document for pools was updated¹. European Commission (EC) added pools with a water depth of over 400 mm containing play elements to be covered by Toy Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD). The water depth is measured between the overflow level and the deepest point within the pool in accordance with standard EN 71-8 “Activity toys for domestic use”.

The guidance document considered additional features like inflatable objects, animal-shaped objects, glow in the dark figures to be designed or drawn by children, figures to be looked at with 3D goggles, objects for sports could provide play values. Examples with rationales for the classification were also included in the document.

The previous version was published in 2008 to provide guidelines on the application of the old Toys Directive 88/378/EEC. Only two categories of pools were included, paddling pools with a water depth ≤ 400 mm, and pools containing no play elements and with a water depth ≥ 400 mm.

Summary for product categories

For pools that are non-toy, they are covered by the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC (GPSD). In this update, the following standards were listed for reference, although they are not yet harmonised under the GPSD.

• EN 16927 Mini-pools - Specific requirements including safety and test methods for mini-pools

• EN 16582 Domestic swimming pools

• Part 1: General requirements including safety and test methods
• Part 2: Specific requirements including safety and test methods for inground pools

[1] No. 8 – Guidance document on pools