September 19, 2020 - Australia registered its new mandatory safety standard for toys containing magnets – Consumer Goods (Toys Containing Magnets) Safety Standard 2020 – on August 27, 2020.

This new instrument means toys containing magnets must conform to specific clauses within one of the following toy safety standards:
• AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019 ‘Safety of toys – Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties’
• 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’
• ASTM F963-17 ‘Standard consumer safety specification for toy safety’

Stakeholders should be aware the new instrument does not apply to bicycles, camping goods, electronic game units, fashion jewelry, home and public playground equipment, models powered by combustion or steam engines, sporting goods, and trampolines.

The new instrument came into effect on August 28, 2020. Manufacturers and suppliers of toys containing magnets have until August 28, 2021, to ensure their products comply with the requirements in the new legislation. Until this date, toys containing magnets may still comply with the current safety standard – Consumer Product Safety Standard for Children’s Toys Containing Magnets (Consumer Protection Notice No. 5 of 2010).

Children’s toys are regulated in Australia via multiple mandatory safety standards. These 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. 5 of 2010 ‘Toys containing magnets’
• Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020
• Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for toys and childcare articles and 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. [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 Australia Issues New Mandatory Standard for Toys Containing Magnets SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2020/09/safeguards-13320-australia-issues-new-mandatory-standard-for-toys-containing-magnets]

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For further information contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420

Sanda Stefanovic
Toys expert
Tel: +31882144617

Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
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 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

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