EU market sets new PAHs limit for toys and childcare articles

The concentration of PAHs in plastic and rubber parts of toys and childcare articles shall not exceed 0.5mg/kg since 27 December 2015 in accordance with amendment to (EU) NO 1272/2013 under REACH Regulation passed by the European Commission on 6 December 2013. Meanwhile, sport equipment, household utensils, tools for domestic use, clothing, footwear and fashion items are not allowed to be placed on the EU market if the concentration of PAHs exceeds 1mg/kg in their rubber and plastic parts.
 
It is of high likelihood that PAH is present in plastic and rubber parts in toys. Science shows that taking up in chemicals may pose great risk to consumers’ health via skin contact and breath.
 

Substance

Restriction

50. PAH 1. BaP CAS: 50-32-8 2. BeP CAS: 192-97-2 3. BaA CAS: 56-55-3 4. CHR CAS: 218-01-9 5. BbFA CAS: 205-99-2 6. BjFA CAS: 205-82-3 7. BkFA CAS: 207-08-9 8. DBAhA CAS: 53-70-3

‘5. Articles shall not be placed on the market for supply to the general public, if any of their rubber or plastic components that come into direct as well as prolonged or short-term repetitive contact with the human skin or the oral cavity, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, contain more than 1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight of this component) of any of the listed PAHs. Such articles include amongst others: — sport equipment such as bicycles, golf clubs, racquets — household utensils, trolleys, walking frames — tools for domestic use — clothing, footwear, gloves and sportswear — watch-straps, wrist-bands, masks, head-bands 6. Toys, including activity toys, and childcare articles, shall not be placed on the market, if any of their rubber or plastic components that come into direct as well as prolonged or short-term repetitive contact with the human skin or the oral cavity, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, contain more than 0,5 mg/kg (0,00005 % by weight of this component) of any of the listed PAHs. 7. By way of derogation from paragraphs 5 and 6, these paragraphs shall not apply to articles placed on the market for the first time before 27 December 2015. 8. By 27 December 2017, the Commission shall review the limit values in paragraphs 5 and 6 in the light of new scientific information, including migration of PAHs from the articles referred to therein, and information on alternative raw materials and, if appropriate, modify these paragraphs accordingly.’

PAHs are hydrocarbons—organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen—that are composed of multiple aromatic rings (organic rings in which the electrons are delocalized). They are mainly caused due to incomplete burning or use of fossil fuels. Up to now, many countries set requirements on PAHs in writing or through directives such as: GS certification and LFGB in Germany; 1907/2006 in EU; U.S. in EPA; GB, GB/T, and GHZ in China, etc.
 
The European Council passed the amendment (EU) 2015/326 to REACH regulation in March 2015. The new test method EN 16143:2013 will supersede current IP346, which should be in full implantation since 23 September 2016.
 
In August 2014, ATAV published the requirements on PAHs for GS certification and the new standard AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK takes effective since 1 July 2015.
 
Reminder: Exporters had better ensure the fulfillment of the requirements for PAHs to avoid withdrawal or destruction of toys and childcare articles caused by REACH noncompliance since December 27.