How can I be sure toys are safe?

If your product is designed, or clearly intended, for use in play by children less than fourteen years, it comes under the jurisdiction of the Toys Safety Directive.

The Directive also includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months.

Some items however are not considered as toys for the purposes of this Directive, these include; slings and catapults, darts with metallic points, toy steam engines and fashion jewellery. No part of a toy may exceed 24 volts.

Kitemark: -, The Kitemark commands recognition and respect from consumers and business alike. This recognition extends to some organisations insisting that their suppliers` products bear the Kitemark before they will place an order with them.

The usual route to achieving this mark is by a combination of stringent and regular independent product testing and quality systems assessment - all to recognised British, European or international safety and quality standards.

Only when a company has proved that it can meet these criteria is it allowed to display the Kitemark on a product. BSI runs Kitemark schemes for hundreds of products - cricket balls, condoms, pipes, valves, and playground equipment.

CE marking: -

Many products come under European Directives, and to be placed on the market in the EU, some must bear CE marking - it's a legal requirement. CE marking is the manufacturer's claim that the product meets the essential requirements of all relevant European Directives requirements vary from Directive to Directive, and even within Directives. Third party testing, systems assessment and technical file assessments can be mandatory, but sometimes the manufacturer's unverified claim is all that's asked for. But beware! If you claim your product complies and it doesn't, you will be prosecuted.

At BSI, we have a team of experts who understand precisely what each Directive requires for each product, so that you don't have to. There are also several BSI handbooks to guide you through the process.

Having independent testing and assessments carried out is the safest way for manufacturers to proceed, whether this is mandatory or not. This helps you to claim a defence of due diligence.

Where a Directive requires products and/or systems to be independently tested, certified, or inspected, this must be done by a "Notified Body" or "Competent Body". This is an organization that has been nominated by a member Government and has been Notified by the European Commission.

BSI is a Notified Body for most major European Directives and offers help and advice to manufacturers about the most: cost-effective, efficient and appropriate routes to compliance.

If you already have testing or assessments carried out by BSI, we can often avoid you having repeat work done - which saves you time and money.