Recognition of accreditation in the Toy Sector

Following some high profile scares regarding the safety of toys, the US authorities have mandated that certain testing activities must be carried out by a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by an ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory in order for the products to be placed in the US market. (UKAS has been a signatory to the ILAC MRA since November 2000). This is further recognition of the trust that continues to be placed on accredited conformity assessment.

Starting with lead in paint, and progressing forward to cribs, pacifiers, small parts, children’s metal jewellery, baby bouncers, walkers, jumpers, and eventually to nearly all children’s products, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) must publish a list of approved laboratories to test these products. Detailed testing requirements for the products listed above, along with instructions on registering as a third party testing laboratory with the CPSC, can be found on the CPSC website http://www.cpsc.gov

Source: www.ukas.com

ISO standards for toy safety:

ISO 8124-1:2009
Safety of toys -- Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties

ISO 8124-2:2007
Safety of toys -- Part 2: Flammability

ISO 8124-3:2010
Safety of toys -- Part 3: Migration of certain elements

ISO 8124-4:2010
Safety of toys -- Part 4: Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use