Toy safety: finger paints under the microscope
Finger paints are very popular with young children. But what about their composition? Their safety? The Fédération française des industries Jouet – Puériculture(FJP) explains the answers offered by the voluntary EN 71-7 standard.
AFNOR: Who developed the EN 71-7 European voluntary standard and why?
Martial Doumerc, QSE Manager at FJP and Chairman of the AFNOR “Toys” standardization committee: As standardization committees are open to all market players, the voluntary European standard EN 71-7 was drawn up by a group of experts including consumer associations, manufacturers, importers, distributors, public authorities and others. In all, representatives from twenty countries took part.
Published in 2002, this standard establishes a positive list of substances and mixtures that can be used in the manufacture of these paints. It also defines good manufacturing practices, test methods for verifying compliance, and requirements for warnings, markings, labeling and packaging for these paints.
How does EN 71-7 support current regulations?
European Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys defines safety requirements for toys intended for children aged 0 to 14. These requirements are of a mechanical, physical, chemical and electrical nature, and also concern hygiene, flammability and radioactivity. To protect children under 3, who are a more vulnerable category, certain additional restrictions apply. They are defined in Appendix C of the directive.
EN 71-7 fits into this regulatory context, providing manufacturers with a clear, harmonized framework throughout the European Union. It gives rise to a presumption of conformity: compliance with EN 71-7 means presumption of conformity with the directive. As a result, manufacturers now have an invaluable tool, the fruit of consensus, to market safe products in Europe.
Since November 2017, a new version of the standard has been available. Why was it necessary to update it?
Directive 2009/48/EC needs to be updated to take account of technical and scientific progress, including new limit values for certain substances. The European Commission’s expert group on toy safety, made up of Member State authorities, recommended limiting the use of the preservatives MCIT (methylchloroisothiazolinone) and MIT (methylisothiazolinone), as allergic reactions had been observed. Annex II, Appendix C of Directive 2009/48/EC has been amended accordingly, to include a ban on the use of MCIT/MIT (3:1), MCIT and MIT in toys (Directive 2015/2117). The 2014 NF EN 71-7 standard allowed the use of these preservatives. In light of this new scientific knowledge, the text had to be amended to bring it into line with the regulations.
Why should manufacturers use this voluntary European standard? Isn’t that an additional constraint?
The voluntary European standard is not a constraint, but a tool for standardizing and harmonizing safety requirements across the European Union. In this way, a manufacturer marketing finger paints that comply with the standards will be able to distribute his product on the European market with peace of mind. Manufacturers are the first to be affected by the regulations, but they can count on voluntary standardization to provide them with common European best practices. The standard serves their interests all the better because it was made for them! Let’s be clear: children’s safety is the top priority for toy and childcare professionals.
When do these new requirements apply?
Since November 24, 2017, toys intended for children under 3 (including finger paints) as well as toys intended to be put in the mouth regardless of the child’s age group, containing methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCIT), may no longer be placed on the European market.
> Find out more about toy safety regulations and voluntary standards…
Adobestock/ zwiebackesser
