New Phthalate Regulations for Toys and Childcare Articles in Denmark

Denmark’s Ministry of the Environment and Food has published an order restricting phthalates to no more than 0.05% in toys and childcare articles, as used by children aged 0-3 years.

Order No. 947 of 20/06/2020 covers toys and childcare articles that fall under the following definitions:

• Toys – designed and intended exclusively or in part to be used by children 0-3 years (0-36 months) during play
• Childcare articles – intended or normally expected to be placed in the mouth by children aged 0-3 years (0-36 months), including soothers, jewelry and bathing equipment etc.

It applies to phthalates that are esters of o-phthalic acid.

Exemptions to this order include phthalates and products that fall under the following:

• Phthalates regulated under Executive Order on Safety Requirements for Annex II of Toy Products on Special Safety Requirements (Order No. 309 of 03/04/2017)
• Phthalates under entries 51 and 52 to Annex XVII of REACH
• Food contact articles for young children

Denmark previously published Order No. 855 of 05/09/2009 that restricted phthalates to no more than 0.5% in toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-3 but did not cover six phthalates that were regulated under Community legislation. These phthalates were:

• Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)
• Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)
• Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
• Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP)
• Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP)
• Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP)

The European Union (EU) then published Regulation (EU) 2018/2005 to replace entry 51 to Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 ‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (Annex XVII of REACH). This contained provisions relating, inter alia, to restrictions on BBP, DBP, DEHP and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) in toys and childcare articles. Toys and childcare articles must now comply with these requirements (since July 7, 2020).  

Order No. 947 of 20/06/2020 became effective on July 1, 2020 and Order No. 855 of 05/09/2009 has been repealed.

SGS EU Toy Directive Services

SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive. They offer training, safety/risk assessment, technical documentation check, labelling review, testing according to harmonized standards, SVHC screening, inspections and audits. They have the world’s largest network of toy experts and testing facilities, including around 20 toy laboratories and three 3 EU Notified Bodies (France, Germany and Netherlands). Learn more about SGS’s EU Toy Directive Services. [www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Toys/EU-Toy-Directive.aspx]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Denmark Issues Order for Phthalates in Toys and Childcare Articles for Young Children SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2020/07/safeguards-10120-denmark-issues-order-for-phthalates-in-toys-and-childcare-articles]

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