The parliament's plenary session will vote on the draft next month.
Is this a toy which I see before me?
A toy is defined under the directive as a product intended to be used for playing by children under 14 years of age. A list of products not regarded as toys includes party decorations, collectors' items clearly intended for people aged 14or over (including reproductions of real firearms or faithful scale models), puzzles with more than 500 pieces, fireworks and new products such as video games and game consoles.
MEPs expanded this list to include children's books made only of cardboard and/or paper which do not contain any added elements such as plastic toys or sound features.
Safety first
Manufacturers will have to ensure that toys are not harmful or toxic to children's health.
Any toy placed on the EU market must meet general safety standards. MEPs backed a clause proposed by the Commission which requires manufacturers and importers to keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for a period of 10 years after the toy has been placed on the market.
"Not suitable for under-threes"
MEPs also clarified and strengthened existing rules regarding warnings on packaging and on toys themselves: to make them more visible, they must be preceded by the word "Warning".
Toys for children under 36 months must meet higher safety standards. Some toys bearing the warning "Not suitable for children under three years" are clearly intended for such children (e.g. rattles). If a toy is obviously intended for the under-threes, it will no longer be possible to use this misleading claim.
Allergenic fragrances
MEPs did not back a total ban on allergenic fragrancesbut reached a compromise expanding considerably the list of banned substances, traces of which must not exceed a certain limit. This will affect toys such as play dough and dolls. A limited number of substances listed will be allowed in educational toys designed to develop the senses, such as "olfactory, gustative and cosmetic games".
The Internal Market Committee also tightened up the restrictions on substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR), saying these should be almost completely banned. The conditions for exemption were clarified and made stricter. The committee also banned the use of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium (VI), lead, mercury and organic tin in the manufacture of toys.
'Do not swallow'
Other amendments toughened up the clauses seeking to reduce the risk of suffocation or strangling by small detachable parts or toys contained in food such as chocolate eggs.