New Guidance Documents Issued for Toy Pools and Musical Instruments by EU
European Commission releases updated guidance documents for toy pools and musical instruments. They provide greater clarity with respect to the Toy Safety Directive.
- (1888PressRelease) April 13, 2019 - The European Commission (EC) has issued revised versions of its toy guidance documents for pools and musical instruments. Both documents, inter alia, provide clarification on what constitutes a toy version of the product.
The revised version of the guidance document for toy musical instruments clarifies the grey area between a toy and an actual musical instrument. It also provides information on why and how to classify certain toys.
The document also contains new information pertaining to maracas. It clarifies the differences between:
• Toy rattles that may have a maracas shape
• Toy maracas that are intended to be used as toy musical instruments
• Real musical instruments
Like the guidance document for musical instruments, the updated toy pool guidance document clarifies the differences between a toy and other pools designed for leisure. Essentially, a toy pool should have additional play value. What constitutes additional play value, in terms of animal-shaped inflatables, slides, inflatable castles, etc., is also clarified.
Previously, the guidance included two types of pool:
• Toy paddling pools, covered by the harmonized toy standard EN 71-8, with a water depth ≤ 400mm
• Leisure pools (not toys) with a water depth of > 400 mm
The new guidance document includes a new category:
• Toy pools with a water depth of > 400 mm
If a leisure pool has a depth greater than 400 mm and no play elements, it is not a toy and is therefore covered by the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD).
Pools that have play value will fall within the scope of the Directive 2008/49/EC, the so-called European Toy Safety Directive (TSD). Therefore, although EN 71-8 is not applicable for these products, they may require EC-Type examination.
The following standards are also mentioned in the guidance document for pools, although they are not harmonized under the GPSD:
• EN 16927 Mini-pools – Specific requirements including safety and test methods for mini-pools
• EN 16582 Domestic swimming pools:
o Part 1: General requirements including safety and test methods
o Part 2: Specific requirements including safety and test methods for inground pools
SGS EU Toy Directive Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive. They offer training, safety/risk assessment, technical documentation check, labelling review, testing according to harmonized standards, SVHC screening, inspections and audits. They have the world’s largest network of toy experts and testing facilities, including around 20 toy laboratories and three 3 EU Notified Bodies (France, Germany and Netherlands). Learn more about SGS’s EU Toy Directive Services. [www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Toys/EU-Toy-Directive.aspx]
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