Commission Decision of 6 January 2010 on the safety requirements to be met by European standards for bath rings, bathing aids and bath tubs and stands for infants and young children pursuant to Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2009) 10290) (Text with EEA relevance) (2010/9/EU)

Specific safety requirements for bathing aids U.K.

RISKS: The main risk associated with the product is drowning. U.K.

2. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS U.K.

(1) General safety requirements U.K.

Articles shall not jeopardise the safety or health of children and carers when they are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children. The ability of the child and their carers shall be taken into account, in particular for articles which, by virtue of their functions, dimensions and characteristics, are intended for use by children under 9 months. Labels on articles or on their packaging and accompanying instructions for use shall draw the attention of users or carers to the hazards and risks of harm inherent in using the articles and to the way of avoiding them.

(2) Specific safety requirements U.K.

Chemical requirements U.K.

Bathing aids for babies shall comply with relevant EU legislation.

Fire and thermal properties U.K.

To prevent the risk of scalding from hot water running from the tap, instructions shall be given to the carers to pay attention to the temperature of the water and to prevent the child from gaining access to the tap.

Physical and mechanical properties U.K.

Entrapment hazards from gaps and openings U.K.

Articles shall be designed and manufactured in order to prevent entrapment of fingers as far as possible.

Strangulation U.K.

Articles shall be designed and manufactured to prevent strangulation.

Falling hazards U.K.

To reduce the risk of falling that could result in drowning, the article and its attachment to the bath tub shall be able to withstand internal and external forces applied by the child that could cause it to tip over. In particular the article shall not tip over when a child leans in any direction, tries to stand up or pushes the seat over.

Choking hazards U.K.

To reduce the risk of choking, the article shall not comprise small parts which are detachable by the force a child can apply and which can fit completely into a child’s mouth. To reduce the risk of choking, filling materials that constitute a choking hazard shall not become accessible when submitted to the force a child can apply, in particular by biting.

Suffocation hazards U.K.

The article shall not comprise plastic decals which are detachable by the force a child can apply, or other impermeable sheeting of the bathing aid which can cover both the mouth and the nose and constitute a suffocation hazard. The packaging in which the articles are contained must not constitute a risk of suffocation by obstructing the mouth and nose airways.

Ingestion hazards U.K.

To reduce the risk of ingestion, the article shall not comprise separate or small parts which are detachable by the force a child can apply and which can pass into the oesophagus.

Hazardous edges U.K.

Accessible edges shall be designed to prevent lacerations and wounds, especially edges in direct contact with the skin of the child.

Structural integrity U.K.

To prevent breaking of components likely to cause physical injury, articles shall be able to withstand mechanical stresses to which they are subjected to during use.

Specific warnings for the article U.K.

Warnings and instructions for use shall clearly state that:

• the carer shall at all times be in contact with the child,

• drowning can occur in a very short time and in very shallow water (± 2 cm),

• the maximum level of water to prevent water entering into the child’s mouth,

• the article does not provide any additional safety related to water hazards and drowning has occurred with bathing aids.

Warnings and information should be conspicuously displayed on the packaging, on the product and at the point of sale and should be complemented with pictograms.

The warning label shall be durable and should remain visible when the child is in the bathing aid.

Information on the vulnerable age range of children (from birth up to 9 months) shall be provided to carers

Hygiene U.K.

The articles shall be designed to be easily cleanable and dried.