Category: Children’s Products

Children’s Furniture Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — Leave a comment

Children's Furniture

Children’s furniture, such as baby cots and high chairs, are subject to various safety standards, chemical restrictions, labelling, and testing requirements in the European Union. Additionally, children’s furniture with play value can also be subject to requirements concern toys.

In this guide, we take a closer look at the General Product Safety Regulation, Toy Safety Directive, REACH, and other compliance requirements relevant when importing or manufacturing children’s furniture for the EU market.

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Board Game Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — 1 Comment

Board Game Regulations in the European Union

Board games sold in the European Union are subject various regulations, standards, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements. However, the requirements differ depending on whether the board game is considered a toy, suitable for 0 to 14 year olds, or other age groups.

The former is generally speaking subject to stricter requirements, concerning small parts and other safety aspects. Having said that, there are safety requirements also for adults board games – substance restrictions, for example.

It is not always easy to assess if a given board game is intended for children, adults, or both. For this reason, the European Union sets guidelines to help companies decide whether their board game, or other product, is appropriate for adults or children.

In this guide, we explain how the Toy Safety Directive, the General Product Safety Regulation, and other requirements apply to board games meant for children, and adults.
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List of EN 71 Lab Testing Companies: An Overview

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EN 71 Lab Testing Companies

Importers and manufacturers must ensure that products covered by the Toy Safety Directive comply with EN 71 standards, which are harmonised under the Directive. EN 71 standards cover requirements related to substances, mechanical properties, flammability, and more.

Compliance usually necessitates testing. If the product passes testing, your chosen testing company issues a test report specifying your product’s compliance with the relevant requirements. In this guide, we list several testing companies that offer services related to EN 71.

Methodology

For this guide, we have selected several companies that claim to offer EN 71 testing and related services. We have also prioritised companies that have testing facilities in both the EU and Asia.

Related articles

a. EN 71 Toy Safety Lab Testing: A Complete Guide

b. List of Products Covered by the Toy Safety Directive and EN 71

c. Toy Safety Directive: An Essential Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

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CPSIA and ASTM F963-23 Product Lab Testing: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 48 Comments

Testing according to referenced ASTM standards, which includes ASTM F963-23, is mandatory when importing and manufacturing children’s products in the United States. In this guide, we answer essential questions that you may have about CPSIA lab testing requirements and ASTM F963-23 testing in particular.

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Baby Pacifier Standards & Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — Leave a comment

Baby pacifier

Pacifiers sold in the United States are subject to strict safety standards and chemical restrictions. There are also requirements concerning labeling, certification, and testing of pacifiers.

This guide serves as an introduction to these requirements. More specifically, we take a closer look at CPSIA, 16 CFR Part 1511, 16 CFR Part 1303, and other requirements that tend to be relevant to pacifiers manufactured or imported for the US market.
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Baby Pacifier Regulations & Standards in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — Leave a comment

Baby pacifier

Baby pacifiers, teats, and similar products are subject to strict safety standards and substance restrictions. In this guide, we explain the main requirements of relevant regulations such as the Teats and Soothers Directive, the General Product Safety Regulation, REACH, and more.

We also explain why you should not assume that pacifiers manufactured outside the EU are designed to comply with European Union safety requirements.
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Children’s Product Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — Leave a comment

Children's Product Regulations in the United States

Children’s products are subject to various regulations in the United States. These cover safety standards, flammability, chemical restrictions, traceability, warning labels, certification, and testing requirements.

The requirements differ depending on the type of children’s product, but there are measures that cover not only toys, but also children’s apparel, furniture, and so on.

Children’s products are also subject to regulations that are not specific to a certain age group but are applicable to consumer products in general. Nonetheless, these are equally important.

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List of Products Covered by CPSIA: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 22 Comments

CPSIA Products List

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) requires importers and manufacturers of children’s products, such as toys, bassinets, and pacifiers, to comply with relevant documentation, labeling, and testing requirements.

In this guide, we list different categories of children’s products covered by the CPSIA, examples of such products, and relevant standards.
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Children’s Product Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

Children's Product Regulations in the European Union

Children’s furniture and various types of childcare articles are usually not considered toys, which means that the Toy Safety Directive is normally not applicable. However, such children’s products are subject to safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements.

In this guide, we explain how the GPSR, EN standards, REACH, and food contact materials regulations relate to children’s products. Note that this guide does not cover all EU requirements for children’s products, but it provides a broad overview and can help you understand the basics.

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Reese’s Law – Guide to Button Cell Battery Safety Requirements

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 5 Comments

Reese's Law
Reese’s Law, enacted in honor of a toddler who lost her life due to the ingestion of a button cell battery, intends to protect users from similar tragedies. It mandates the establishment of a safety standard, which in turn sets requirements for button cell and coin batteries, and products that might contain such batteries.

This guide explains the background and purpose of Reese’s Law. It also covers 16 CFR Part 1263, the safety standard proposed by the CPSC as a result of the law. This guide also covers the standard’s product scope, as well as requirements regarding performance, labeling, testing, and certification.
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