Nepal Introduces Mandatory Toys Standard

Nepal has enacted a new Toys Standard to regulate the use of certain chemicals in toys. The mandatory standard will come into effect on July 16, 2017.

The new standard restricts the following chemicals to the listed limits:

• Antimony (Sb) – less than or equal to 60mg/kg
• Arsenic (As) – less than or equal to 25mg/kg
• Barium (Ba) – less than or equal to 1000mg/kg
• Cadmium (Cd) – less than or equal to 75mg/kg
• Chromium (Cr) – less than or equal to 60mg/kg
• Lead (Pb) – less than or equal to 90mg/kg
• Mercury (Hg) – less than or equal to 60mg/kg
• Selenium (Se) – less than or equal to 500mg/kg
• Zinc (Zn) – less than or equal to 3.75mg/kg
• Bromine (Br) – less than 100mg/kg
• Bisphenol A (BPA) - prohibited
• Phthalates – less than 100mg/kg

Stakeholders should note, the limits placed upon eight of the nine heavy metals are identical to the soluble elements falling under the toy safety standard – ASTM F-963 ‘Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety’. The final heavy metal listed, zinc, has a limit of no more than 3.75 mg/kg.

The new standard was announced in a press release from the Nepal Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) in January 2017. According to a translation of the Notice of Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE) in the Nepal Gazette by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), toys are defined as items used for play by children age 0-16 years. They include:

• Collectibles, construction sets
• Dolls and miniatures
• Electric and educational toys
• Flying, scrolling and walking vehicles
• Promotional merchandise and puzzles

The new mandatory toys standard also sets the analytical methods to be used for many of the restricted chemicals. These include:

• X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) or Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) for heavy metals
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for BPA
• Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) for phthalates

The standard requires toy manufacturers in Nepal to undergo batch testing. Toys which are imported into Nepal, must be accompanied by a testing certificate relating to each batch of toys.

The Toys Standard will become effective on July 16, 2017; 181 days after publication of the Gazette Notice.

SGS Toys & Juvenile Product Services
With a global network of laboratories, SGS provide the full-range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy for restricted substances in toys, for Nepal and international markets. Learn more about SGS’s Toys & Juvenile Product Services (www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products)

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Nepal Sets Standard for Chemicals in Toys SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2017/03/safeguards-03417-nepal-sets-standard-for-chemicals-in-toys)

Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Hing Wo Tsang
Global Hardlines Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

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 90,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

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This release was published on openPR.