China is the world's largest toy production and export country, accounting for more than 70% of the international toy market. There are approximately 9000 export enterprises, and our products are distributed in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Behind the seven consecutive 'boom' in toy exports, there are many difficulties that need to be actively addressed, such as stricter foreign technical trade protection, constantly raising export barriers, intensifying risks, and increasing costs.
New Changes in Technical Standards and Regulations for Toys Abroad
On the EU side
On April 27, 2017, the European Union issued a new directive (EU) 2017/738 amending the restrictions on lead in Appendix II of the Toy Directive (2009/48/EC). The limit on lead in children's toys will be increased from 13.5-160mg/kg to 2.0-23mg/kg, which is four times stricter than the current strictest lead limit in the United States' Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
On May 4, 2017, the European Union issued a revised directive on the current toy safety directive (2009/48/EC), which limits the migration and content of phenol components in toys used by children under 3 years old or that can be put into their mouths. The revised directive takes effect from its release to its effective date, and will take effect on the 20th day after its release.
On May 24, 2017, the restrictions on formamide in the EU toy safety directive will be implemented soon, in which the content of formamide in foam toy materials shall not exceed 200mg/kg, otherwise, the release amount test in its phase 28 must be implemented.
On the US side
The new toy standard ASTIMF963-16 officially took effect on April 30th, adding testing requirements for toys containing rechargeable batteries and battery packs, inflatable toys, toy boxes, and other toys, and revising requirements for heavy metal and microbial indicators; The world's strictest United States' Composite Wood Products Formaldehyde Standards Act will officially come into effect on December 12, 2017. According to the new regulations, the formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products exported to the United States have significantly increased compared to the current standards, which will affect China's wooden toy industry, which exports nearly 1.5 billion yuan to the United States. In other countries, Türkiye and Switzerland revised their toy safety standards in October and December 2016 respectively with reference to EU Directive 2009/48/EC, and came into force in April and May 2017 respectively.