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The Revised Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC - Implementation Challenges
Recall Case Studies

The Revised Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC - Implementation Challenges

On June 30^th 2009 the revised Toy Safety Directive was published in the EU Official Journal. RQA reported the key changes within this Directive last October. The next step for companies is to ensure their products comply with the new requirements prior to the implementation dates.

Timings

Toy Safety standards are being reviewed, but will not be published until June 2011
The majority of the requirements within the directive become applicable on 20th July 2011
The chemical provisions within the directive become applicable on 20th July 2013

What does that mean for my Toy products?

All Toys placed on the market prior to 20^th July 2011 must comply with the existing toy safety standards and Directive 88/378/EEC.

All Toys, whether new or existing designs, imported into the EU on or after 20^th July 2011 must comply with the requirements of the new Directive.

How long can I keep selling stock placed on the market before 20^th July 2011?

The individual member state Regulations are not all yet drafted so this is not defined however this is usually a "reasonable" period. Companies should be careful about holding too much stock that complies with the old requirements after this date and would be advised to talk to their relevant authority contact for more guidance.

How do I know if my products comply with the revised essential safety requirements?

One way companies can demonstrate compliance with the safety requirements in the Directive is to use the EN71 and related Toy Safety standards. All EN71 and related Toy Electrical standards are being changed but they will not be published until June 2011 at the earliest. This means companies have no final standard to use as means of demonstrating compliance for products they are designing now, for delivery on or after 20^th July 2011.

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In house course won for company signed up to recall news - winner announced

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the latest RQA Prize Draw is Andy Wainwright, Corporate Technical General Manager at United Biscuits (UK) Ltd. Andy is now in discussion with our training team to organise his free in-house training course. http://www.rqa-europe.com/literature/articles/52

Case Studies

Product Recall Solutions
food industry

Product Chicken Incident Rupture of the cold chain Country United Kingdom Date 16/08/2010	Due to poor or insufficient controls, chicken breast imported from Brazil was rejected at the UK borders. A bad temperature control had been undertaken meaning that there was a rupture of the cold chain during transportation. The product has been withdrawn from the UK market and will be re-dispatched with distribution restricted to the notifying country.
Product Flower honey Incident Enroflaxacin Country Slovakia Date 05/08/2010	An official control of the market in Slovakia has found a flower honey that contains an unauthorised amount of enroflaxacin (antibiotic). An alert has been placed on the European Rapid Alert System website (RASFF) and a voluntary recall from consumers has been issued.

Product Chicken
Incident Rupture of the cold chain
Country United Kingdom
Date 16/08/2010

Due to poor or insufficient controls, chicken breast imported from Brazil was rejected at the UK borders. A bad temperature control had been undertaken meaning that there was a rupture of the cold chain during transportation. The product has been withdrawn from the UK market and will be re-dispatched with distribution restricted to the notifying country.

Product Flower honey
Incident Enroflaxacin
Country Slovakia
Date 05/08/2010

An official control of the market in Slovakia has found a flower honey that contains an unauthorised amount of enroflaxacin (antibiotic). An alert has been placed on the European Rapid Alert System website (RASFF) and a voluntary recall from consumers has been issued.

Product Recall Solutions
consumer products

Product Puzzle mat Incident Risk of choking Country Malta Date 13/08/2010	Imported from Taiwan, the puzzle mat contains small parts that could be swallowed by a child therefore posing a risk of choking. The product does not comply with the Toys Directive and with the relevant European Standard EN 71. The company has voluntarily withdrawn the product from the market.
Product Ski boots Incident Risk of injury Country France Date 06/08/2010	Certain models of ski boots sold in France are being recalled due a problem found that could potentially cause injury. When used with "low tech" ski touring bindings, there is a risk of a certain element of the boot not fitting securely and therefore creating a possibility of the skier to fall. The manufacturer, from Romania, has taken the action of a voluntary withdrawal and a recall from the consumers. One accident has been reported.

Product Puzzle mat
Incident Risk of choking
Country Malta
Date 13/08/2010

Imported from Taiwan, the puzzle mat contains small parts that could be swallowed by a child therefore posing a risk of choking. The product does not comply with the Toys Directive and with the relevant European Standard EN 71. The company has voluntarily withdrawn the product from the market.

Product Ski boots
Incident Risk of injury
Country France
Date 06/08/2010

Certain models of ski boots sold in France are being recalled due a problem found that could potentially cause injury. When used with "low tech" ski touring bindings, there is a risk of a certain element of the boot not fitting securely and therefore creating a possibility of the skier to fall. The manufacturer, from Romania, has taken the action of a voluntary withdrawal and a recall from the consumers. One accident has been reported.

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