About 10% of children are sensitive to nickel. A relevant number of children (about 2%) also react sensitively to fragrances. Upon repeated contact, sensitised individuals may react with a contact allergy. An acquired contact allergy is not curable; only the symptoms, but not the causes can be treated. While the release of potentially allergenic substances such as nickel is subject to a fixed limit for metal applications on clothing textiles and other products with extended skin contact such as jewellery, there is no regulation on nickel in toys yet. BfR holds the opinion that toys made of metal alloys that entail increased skin contact over extended periods of time should be limited to the same regulating value that is in place for the release of nickel in jewellery.
The use of 55 allergenic fragrances and fragrance ingredients is forbidden according to the new European Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC and 11 additional fragrances are subject to mandatory labelling due to their allergenic potential. However, traces of these forbidden fragrances are permissible up to 100 mg per kg toy material. BfR considers this limit too high. The Institute argues that the 55 forbidden allergenic fragrances in toys should not be detectable. It is recommended that the limit value for mandatory labelling of 100 mg per kg toy material is lowered to 10 mg per kg for the 11 fragrances that are subject to mandatory labelling. Toys for children under three years of age and those that can be put in the mouth due to their size should, according to BfR, contain no fragrances. Liquid and paste-like toy materials that come directly into contact with the skin such as finger paints or play dough contain preserving agents in order to prevent the growth of germs. Many preserving agents are known to have sensitising effects. Therefore the use of preserving agents in such toys should be subject to the same requirements as those for preserving agents in cosmetics.
Quy định an toàn/ Tương thích điện từ/ Viễn thông di động
Đánh giá, nghiệm thu hàng hóa
Thử nghiệm/ Hợp quy/ Tư vấn (Khu vực Bắc Mĩ)