
KEY LEARNINGS FROM 2019 EU RECALLS
Learn more about toys that were recalled due to the risk of potential strangulation.
August 18, 2020
These toys can cause asphyxiation, leading to an interruption of oxygenation.
Toys intended for children under 3 years that contain the following elements may pose a risk of strangulation due to the presence of nooses and loops:
There are certain requirements on the length of cords, the perimeter of loops and self-retracting force, depending on the nature and age grading of products.
Toys intended to be strung across a cradle, cot or perambulator, where the cords of such toys are intended to be out of reach of the children.
Besides infant toys, yo-yo balls (defined as a toy made from elastic material consisting of a tether usually having a loop at one end to place around a finger and a flexible object at the other end) may also present a potential hazard for strangulation as the elasticated tether may be wound around the neck. There is a particular testing method within EN 71–1 specifically for such items. For toy disguise costumes, products must also comply with the relevant EN 14682 as the presence of functional cords that are to be tied at the back and around the waist area may pose an injury risk as the cords may become caught.
To evaluate the strangulation risk, the testing method to apply is within the EN 71–1 standard. For toy disguise costumes, products must also comply with the relevant EN 14682, Safety of Children’s Clothing — Cords and Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing.
KEY LEARNINGS FROM 2019 EU RECALLS
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.