Australia’s New Mandatory Safety Standards for Projectile Toys and Aquatic Toys

On June 11, 2020, Australia registered instruments that update the mandatory safety standards for two specific toy groups – projectile toys and aquatic toys.

They are:

• Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020 dated June 3, 2020
• Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020 dated June 3, 2020

The standard for projectile toys mandates compliance with specific clauses in one of four current standards:

• AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019 ‘Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties’
• ASTM F963-17 ‘Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety’
• EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 ‘Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties’
• ISO 8124-1:2018 ‘Safety of toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties’

It also requires a warning statement to be added to the toy’s instructions and packaging, when the product can launch a projectile over 300 mm. The statement is:

“WARNING: Do not aim at eyes or face”

The instrument for aquatic toys mandates compliance with warning format requirements in either of these standards:

• AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019 ‘Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties’
• ISO 8124-1:2018 ‘Safety of toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties’

Both instruments came into effect the day after they were registered – June 12, 2020. They do not, however, have the same date from which all toys in the category must comply with these safety standards. Until the following dates, manufacturers can choose either to comply with the existing safety standards or the new instruments:

• Projectile toys – June 12, 2021
• Aquatic toys – June 12, 2022

Children’s toys are regulated by several mandatory safety standards in Australia. These standards address physical and mechanical properties, chemical properties and/or labeling requirements. They currently include:

• Consumer Protection Notice No. 14 of 2003, as amended by Consumer Protection No. 1 of 2005 ‘Toys for children up to and including 36 months of age’
• Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2009 ‘Lead and certain elements’ (this standard includes finger paints)
• Consumer Protection Notice No. 2 of 2009 ‘Flotation and aquatic toys’ (to be replaced by Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020 dated June 3, 2020)
• Consumer Protection Notice No. 5 of 2010 ‘Toys containing magnets’
• Consumer Protection Notice No. 16 of 2010 ‘Projectile toys’ (to be replaced by Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020 dated June 3, 2020)

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services

SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit, and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. Learn more about SGS’s Toy & Juvenile Product Services. 

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Australia Updates Mandatory Safety Standards for Certain Toys SafeGuardS. 

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For further information contact:

Hingwo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel:(+852) 2774 7420

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.