Toy safety testing
About Eurofi ns Eurofi ns has 9,000 employees across 150 sites in
32 countries, Eurofi ns is a leading international group of laboratories providing an unparalleled range of testing and support services to the pharmaceutical, food, environmental and consumer products industries and to governments. Eurofi ns has a network of nine sites in the UK and Ireland through which its customers access a portfolio of over 25,000 analytical methods addressing the authenticity, origin, safety, identity, composition and purity of products. The Laboratory in Manchester is accredited to ISO17025 and is a Notifi ed Body under Regulation 8 of the Toys (Safety) Regulations to carry out examinations and tests and issue EC type-examination certifi cates in respect of models of toy.
“The market is competitive both at home and in manufacturing countries; price and speed are the keys to success. This is second only to the growing requirement for technical and legislative support for clients. There exists a lot of confusion
from clients about compliance.” Paul Jones, managing director, Modern Testing Services (MTS) UK.
Levels of service One of the most interesting parts of toy testing is the increase in expected levels of service from testing houses, and how early in a toy’s life that a testing company gets involved. As Derek commented: “At one time I would have said cradle to grave, but today there is no cradle and no grave for products. We help designers at a very early stage to develop their designs so that they are compliant with the regulations for the age group and country they are intended for. We help manufacturers all the way through their supply chain; including systems that help them understand exactly what substances are in their products, provide help in choosing materials that are suitable for recycling and that have low carbon footprints. Our service includes certification, inspection services, factory and social audits and
final post-market surveillance. In summary, we provide an umbrella service to protect our client’s brand.” Summing it up succinctly, Paul commented
that levels of service are judged on three main pillars: “How competitive the testing house is, how complete their service is, and how fast they get the job done.”
About Modern Testing Services
(MTS) UK MTS UK is a UKA-accredited consumer product testing laboratory and a Notifi ed Body appointed by the European Commission under the Toy Safety Directive. The company offers a comprehensive and competitively priced service on a wide range of consumer products including toys, indoor and outdoor fi rework, childcare articles, plastic matierials and articles for food contact, accessories, candles and candle holders, and seasonal items, giftware and premiums. MTS UK is part of a global group with offi ces and laboratories in 18 manufacturing coutries. The company’s staff have over 60 years of experience in manufacturing, and product safety assessment and testing.
Major developments In Toy World’s September 2012 issue, we ran a feature on changes to the legislation on chemical compliance in toys. In it Derek discussed specific changes, and how to minimise the impacts that would surely be felt. Derek reinforced his views from that article, and said that the largest development he is seeing “is the focus on the detrimental effects of chemicals and the need to be selective in materials we use. The challenge is doing this in a cost effective way that adds value to our clients business. We have several clients that we are helping achieve a net positive impact on their carbon footprint.” Paul concurred with Derek and commented that the most importance developments “were undoubtedly the changes to toy safety regulations and EN71 part 3. It’s also important to highlight investment requirements for ‘chemical’ testing.” And what about overseas manufacturing? When a UK company decides to use overseas manufacturing, what should they be aware of when it comes to compliance with domestic toy safety requirements. Derek said: “Many manufacturers, I am sure, are looking to the new standards with trepidation and the feeling that Chinese suppliers will not be capable of meeting the needs of our industry. Eurofins, with its presence in China, can help and does help its clients. I have been pleasantly surprised by how Chinese suppliers have shown an understanding and acceptance of the needs to provide information on their products, their section of materials and recognition that the need to do this is fait accompli.” So, it’s clear to see that this is an area of the
toy trade that is having to develop as fast as the others. It’s not just a case of a toy being tested, it’s a fully-integrated service with testing houses often being involved from a toy’s conception. It also shows that even this necessary part of the industry is having to adjust the way it works to stay competitive in an economically difficult climate.
100 Toyworld
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