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CEN Issues Toy Standard EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021

Learn how the revised aluminum migration limits in toys can impact your business.

Blue old style toy car on a table

June 23, 2021

On April 14, 2021, the European Committee for Standardization (Comité Européen de Normalisation, CEN) published EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021, the revised toy standard providing requirements and test methods for aluminum and a number of other potentially hazardous elements. This standard replaces EN 71-3:2019 and derives from Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1922, which has amended the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/CE. These new aluminum limits are applicable as of May 20, 2021.

Changes in aluminium migration limits between EN 71-3:2019 and EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021

The standard employs three categories of toy materials: 1) dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable; 2) liquid or sticky; and 3) scraped-off. The following table excerpt demonstrates the differences in aluminum migration limits between the previous published standard and the new version:
 

Aluminum Dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable (mg/kg) Liquid or sticky (mg/kg) Scraped-off
Previous limit according to EN 71-3:2019 5625 1406 70000
Current limit according to EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 2250 560 28130

Further changes in toy standard and eventual harmonization

Additional changes are related to the publication of:

  • Information related to technical reports 
  • Clarifications on the calculation of the migration formula in point 6.2 of Annex F of the standard 

This standard should be harmonized under the Toy Safety Directive upon official acceptance by the European Community (EC) and publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU).

At UL, we can help you perform testing on toys according to the new standard. Learn more about our services in support of toy safety.

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