Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

I. Physical and Mechanical Properties

1. Toys and their parts and, in the case of fixed toys, their anchorages, must have the requisite mechanical strength and, where appropriate, stability to withstand the stresses to which they are subjected during use without breaking or becoming liable to distortion at the risk of causing physical injury.

2. Accessible edges, protrusions, cords, cables and fastenings on toys must be designed and manufactured in such a way that the risks of physical injury from contact with them are reduced as far as possible.

3. Toys must be designed and manufactured in such a way as not to present any risk or only the minimum risk inherent to their use which could be caused by the movement of their parts.

4.

(a)

Toys and their parts must not present a risk of strangulation.

(b)

Toys and their parts must not present a risk of asphyxiation by closing off the flow of air as a result of airway obstruction external to the mouth and nose.

(c)

Toys and their parts must be of such dimensions as to not present a risk of asphyxiation by closing off the flow of air as a result of internal airway obstruction by objects wedged in the mouth or pharynx or lodged over the entrance to the lower airways.

(d)

Toys, which are clearly intended for use by children under 36 months, and their component parts and any of their detachable parts must be of such dimensions as to prevent their being swallowed or inhaled. This also applies to other toys which are intended to be put in the mouth, and to their component parts and any of their detachable parts.

(e)

The packaging in which toys are contained for retail sale must not present a risk of strangulation or asphyxiation caused by airway obstruction external to the mouth and nose.

(f)

Toys contained within food or co-mingled with food must have their own packaging. This packaging, as it is supplied, must be of such dimensions as to prevent its being swallowed and/or inhaled.

(g)

Toy packaging, as referred to in points (e) and (f), which is spherical, egg-shaped or ellipsoidal, and any detachable parts of this or of cylindrical toy packaging with rounded ends, must be of such dimensions as to prevent it from causing airway obstruction by being wedged in the mouth or pharynx or lodged over the entrance to the lower airways.

(h)

Toys firmly attached to a food product at the moment of consumption, in such a way that the food product needs to be consumed in order to get direct access to the toy, shall be prohibited. Parts of toys otherwise directly attached to a food product shall fulfil the requirements set out in points (c) and (d).

5. Aquatic toys must be designed and manufactured so as to reduce as far as possible, taking into account the recommended use of the toy, any risk of loss of buoyancy of the toy and loss of support afforded to the child.

6. Toys which it is possible to get inside and which thereby constitute an enclosed space for occupants must have a means of exit which the intended user can open easily from the inside.

7. Toys conferring mobility on their users must, as far as possible, incorporate a braking system which is suited to the type of toy and is commensurate with the kinetic energy generated by it. Such a system must be easy for the user to operate without risk of ejection or physical injury for the user or for third parties.

The maximum design speed of electrically driven ride-on toys must be limited so as to minimise the risk of injury.

8. The form and composition of projectiles and the kinetic energy they may generate when fired from a toy designed for that purpose must be such that, taking into account the nature of the toy, there is no risk of physical injury to the user or to third parties.

9. Toys must be manufactured so as to ensure that:

(a)

the maximum and minimum temperature of any accessible surfaces does not cause injury when touched; and

(b)

liquids and gases contained within the toy do not reach temperatures or pressures which are such that their escape from the toy, other than for reasons essential to the proper functioning of the toy, might cause burns, scalds or other physical injury.

10. Toys which are designed to emit a sound shall be designed and manufactured in such a way in terms of the maximum values for impulse noise and continuous noise that the sound from them is not able to impair children’s hearing.

11. Activity toys shall be manufactured so as to reduce the risk of crushing or trapping of body parts or trapping of clothing and of falls, impacts and drowning as far as possible. In particular, any surface of such a toy accessible for one or more children to play on shall be designed to bear their load.