EU member states approved the proposal to lower the migration limit of Bisphenol A (BPA) in toys intended for use by children under 36 months from 0,1 mg/l to 0,04 mg/l on 14 November 2016. The new limit will come into operation following the 18 months since its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The proposal has been reported in about three months ago by C&K Testing (EU proposes to lower the BPA limit in toys again).The revision will be made in Appendix C to Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC for safety of toys.

The committee also approved a second proposed Directive that will introduce a migration limit for phenol in toys, for children under three, of 5mg/l and a content limit for its use as a preservative of 10mg/kg in Directive 2009/48/EC.

Under the proposal, phenol (CAS number 108-95-2) is used as a monomer for phenolic resins in the manufacture of plywood for toys. The degradation of phenolic antioxidants in polymers can be a further source of phenol in toys . Phenol was identified in emissions from game consoles , in one of six analysed tents or tunnels for children and in packaging film , it was tested in bath toys and other inflatable toys , and it was considered to be present in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) . Phenol could further be used as a preservative in water-based liquid toys such as bubble-blowing products or water-based liquid inks (e.g. felt-tipped marker pens) .

It is recommended that Appendix C of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC should be amended to include a migration limit as well as a content limit for phenol in toys.

|Further Information: EU proposes to lower the BPA limit in toys again

|Our Services: Toys & Children's Products Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC&EN 71