Key Learnings from 2019 EU Recalls: BUTTON CELL SAFETY

Why it’s dangerous?

Button batteries or coin batteries are commonly used in games and toys. If the toy’s design and construction are not strong enough to resist normal or abuse-use tests, the battery compartment can be easily opened or broken, making these small batteries accessible, which can pose a deadly risk for the child. If a child swallows the button battery, it can cause extensive damage to internal and can be fatal in just a few hours.

Requirements

Under EN 62115, a button cell or coin cell shall not be removable without the aid of a tool. Toys containing small batteries such as button cell or coin cell should be subject to abuse tests such as drop tests or tension tests. Electric toys using button batteries or coin batteries should carry warnings on the packaging and in the instructions to indicate this danger to consumers as follows:

• Electric toys using replaceable coin batteries shall carry the substance of the following warning on the packaging: “Contains coin battery. Hazardous if swallowed – see instructions.”
• Electric toys using replaceable coin batteries shall carry the substance of the following warning in the instructions: “This product contains a coin battery. A coin battery can cause serious internal chemical burns if swallowed.”
• Electric toys using replaceable coin batteries shall carry the substance of the following warning in the instructions: “Dispose of used batteries immediately. Keep new and used batteries away from children. If you think batteries might have been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body, seek immediate medical attention.”
• Electric toys using replaceable button batteries shall carry the substance of the following warning in the instructions: “Dispose of used batteries immediately. Keep new and used batteries away from children. If you think batteries might have been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body, seek immediate medical attention.”

Suggested testing package

Electric toys using button batteries or coin batteries should be tested accordingly with the standard EN IEC 62115, Electric toys — Safety.

Overview reports of SAFETY GATE notifications, published free of charge in English on ec.europa.eu/consumers/consumers_safety/safety_products/rapex/alerts/repository/content/pages/rapex/index_en.htm, © European Union, 2005–2020. The official contact points of the Member and EFTA-EEA States provide the information published in these weekly overviews. Under the terms of Annex II.10 to the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) responsibility for the information provided lies with the notifying party. The Commission does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.