Canada Brings Magnets in Toys Safety Standards Closer to Those in the EU and US

Canada amends toy safety requirements to bring them closer to EU and US regulations concerning the use of magnets in toys. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) August 04, 2018 - Canada has amended its Toy Regulations to bring the requirements concerning magnets in toys closer to those of the European Union (EU) and United States (US). Published on June 25, 2018, the amendment is a blend of both US and EU regulations, but with slight alterations.

The primary concern involving magnets relates to the easy ingestion of small powerful magnets by children. Once inside the body, they magnets have the ability to attract each other and can cause serious health issues, for example intestine perforation. The principle defense against these eventualities is to make sure magnets in toys are too large to be ingested or too weak to attract one another.

The regulations relate to lose small magnets and magnets that may be released during play, with the requirement that they should not be stronger then 0,5 T2mm2. In addition, to check the possibility of magnets being released during play, the toy should be examined by performing use and abuse tests, including:

• Drop, tension, torque, impact and compression tests
• Soaking test for wooden toys, toys intended to be used in water and toys intended to be used in the mouth
• Tests to check if a magnet can be released using the magnetic force of another magnet or a metal disk

The new magnet regulations will come into force on Christmas Day, December 25, 2018, six months after publication in the Canada Gazette. Stakeholders are advised to check their products are compliant with the latest regulations.

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. Learn more about SGS’s Toy & Juvenile Product Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products/juvenile-products-and-childcare-articles]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Canada Sets Legal Requirements for Magnets in Toys SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/07/safeguards-10318-canada-sets-legal-requirements-for-magnets-in-toys]

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For further information contact:

Sanda Stefanovic
Toy expert
Tel: +31 6 51542190
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

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