Services&Suppliers Testing
Toy Safety Regulations apply to manufacturers, importers, retailers, and other suppliers of toys, so testing houses are a vital part of the industry. Toy World takes a look at what factors are affecting how testing houses work in 2014, and what manufacturers should look out for when it comes to safety legislation.
ll toys must go through a strict testing process to make sure they are safe for children to play with. The companies that work to test toys check everything that could conceivably be a threat to children. The more you
hear about the tests carried out, you realise just how stringent the requirements are for a testing house. You also uncover an extra, and vitally important layer in the toy development process. But by far the biggest subject in toy testing right
now is chemical legislation, and its impact on the manufacturing process. The recent introduction of various pieces of legislation that govern the chemical content of materials used to make toys has completely changed the way testing houses interact with the manufacturing process. Toy companies are being encouraged to move away from manufacturing items and then identifying problems once complete, to identifying the chemical properties of the raw materials before manufacturing begins; it’s being termed as “front to back”. Keith Richards, technical director for toys and
juvenile products at UL, said: “Although this seems quite a logical way to manufacture toys, it was slow in coming because historically testing was cheap and relatively simple to carry out. Now the level of complexity that comes with chemical compliance, and the fact that each country has its own rules, means there is a lot more emphasis on conforming
to global legislation. Because legislation is a lot less regional and a lot more global in its coverage, and with toy companies often operating across multiple territories, conforming to all the legislation means a more calculated approach to manufacturing is required. The role of testing houses is more and more becoming to give advice on the materials being used and to encourage best practice in the manufacturing process. We’re not here just to test for the sake of testing, we’re actively trying to make sure that products are safe, and the best way to do that is to be involved for the entire life cycle of a toy, from raw materials to final product.” But how can toy companies hope to keep up with the sheer volume of legislation out there? UL’s solution is the formation of its Global Technical Resource Group, a team of experts who keep up to date with changes in safety legislation around the world. They also provide valuable advice on the challenges ahead. Keith commented: “My specialty is toys and childcare products but, as a chartered chemist, I also get involved in all the chemical aspects of toy testing. After last year’s influx of legislation in the shape of changes to EN71 and chemical safety regulations, a lot of the legislation to conform to this year is relatively stable, and we can see what’s coming without too much difficulty. The challenge is to encourage companies to move away from traditional models of ‘here’s a sample, test it’, and get them looking at ways of moving to testing the raw materials. The traditional
The impact of chemistry A
model still exists for testing a product, in terms of endurance and safety, but the heightened awareness of chemical content has changed how the model is implemented. “Everybody needs the legislation to settle for a
year because it’s very hard for toy companies to continue playing catch up while attempting to conform to every bit of new legislation. There will be always be tweaks to the standard, but hopefully no complete re-write of the legislation itself. 2014 looks to be a relatively calm period for this side of the industry, but any changes are very likely to be chemical related.” Responsible sourcing of raw materials also plays a big part in the ‘front to back’ model being encouraged by testing houses like UL. There are ethical implications, of course, but ensuring that the raw materials are being sourced from sound providers has also come to the fore. And with any business, toy testing houses have to be able to compete on price and efficiency of the services provided. But the requirement for technical and legislative support for clients is increasing. Being able to answer any question is a vital requirement of this new way of business for testing houses be able to provide the required level of service to clients. It’s no longer just a case of a toy being tested, it’s about offering a fully- integrated service. It also shows that even this necessary part of the industry is having to adjust the way it works not only to stay competitive, but adapt to a rapidly globalising legislative agenda.
Product safety and quality is absolutely critical for toys and children’s products to safeguard consumers and protect your brand. Ensuring all goods comply with required legislation such as the European Toy Safety Directive, as well as any brand specifications, is vital for both manufacturers and retailers. UL’s UK Chemical Centre of Excellence based
in Winnersh, Berkshire, has recently gained accreditation to provide testing solutions to help assess product compliance in line with the new EN 71-3 chemical requirements of the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC). Through its global network of accredited
laboratories, UL can provide testing solutions for many other chemical management services such as Azo Dyes, Phthalates and Due Diligence
90 Toyworld
test protocols. UL can also assist in helping clients meet other the requirements of the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC), including Chemical Safety Assessments, Technical File Management and Product Risk Assessments. UL’s team of quality assurance experts can
develop comprehensive quality-assurance programmes to help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and brand specifications across a wide range of products including toys, books, premiums and licensed goods. With industry expertise and active involvement in the development of international toy safety standards, UL can help provide confidence in the quality and safety of toys and children’s products. UL’s partnership approach helps clients to
mitigate risk and retain greater visibility and control of supply chains. UL actively engages
with supply
chain members to encourage the adoption of good manufacturing practice and drive improvement, helping to minimise potential quality issues and reduce the need for costly product recalls and returns. 01189 273 340
www.ul.com
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