Public Consultation on the Draft of the Safety of Toys (Amendment)Regulations, 2012
22 June 2012
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in its opinion of 30 January 2009 that the tolerable weekly intake of cadmium was no longer appropriate in view of the new developments related to the toxicology of cadmium. The EFSA established a new tolerable weekly intake of 2.5 μg/kg, resulting in a tolerable daily intake of 0.36 μg/kg. The tolerable amount of Cadmium present in toys was therefore amended by means of Directive 2012/7/EU so as to be within the limits considered to be safe and therefore ensure the safety of children when using products covered by the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC).
The deadline for comments on the proposed draft is 9 July 2012.
Proposal
The entry for Cadmium in the table listing migration limits from toys or components of toys in point (15) of Part IV of Schedule I to the Safety of Toys Regulations, 2011 shall be replaced by the following values: 17 mg/kg for scrapped- off material, 1.3 mg/kg for dry material and 0.3 mg/kg for liquid material.
Background
Directive 2009/48/EC sets limit values for cadmium, based on the recommendations of the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) made in the 2008 report entitled "Chemicals in Toys. A general methodology for assessment of chemical safety of toys with a focus on elements".
For cadmium, RIVM used the tolerable weekly intake of 7 μg/kg established by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation Experts committee on food additives (JEFCA) in 1989 and confirmed by JECFA in 2001. A safety factor of two was applied, resulting in a tolerable weekly intake of 3.5 μg/kg and a tolerable daily intake of 0.5 μg/kg. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in its opinion of 30 January 2009 that the tolerable weekly intake established by JEFCA in 1989 and confirmed by JECFA in 2001 was no longer appropriate in view of the new developments related to the toxicology of cadmium.
The EFSA established a new tolerable weekly intake of 2.5 μg/kg, resulting in a tolerable daily intake of 0.36 μg/kg. The tolerable amount of Cadmium present in toys needs therefore to be amended so as to be within the limits considered to be safe and therefore ensure the safety of children when using products covered by the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC). Who would be interested Manufacturers, importers and distributors (sellers) of toys. What will be affected Toys falling within the scope of the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC). Dates Feedback to be received by the 9th July 2012.
Contacts Comments to be sent to the Regulatory Affairs Directorate, Technical Regulations Division, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority by e-mail –
We will help you keep a healthy relationship with your employees. By advising you on the ins and outs of the law you will always know where you stand and this will help solve problems. Help is also available for specific issues with individual employees and work policies.
Advice on EU Consumer Law
If you target consumers, our experts will be available to assist you to make sure you are following the correct selling procedures, have the right information on your website, in contracts and in your terms and conditions. Our experts will also assist with problems you might encounter with clients.
Being in business is sometimes lonely and you feel powerless against some challenges and difficulties. With support you are not alone. We are just a phonecall or an email away and we will be right there with you to assist you with your needs.
The Malta Chamber of SMEs , in collaboration with Weave Consulting – the ESG Specialists, is offering its members free advisory services to help them understand and implement ESG in a simple and affordable manner. To book your free session , email us on or call 21232881
Laws are constantly changing and sometimes this is not always for the best. You will be able to raise your concerns and get assistance to change something that is affecting your business negatively. Anything coming from the government’s side that is affecting your business negatively can be fixed through this asssitance.
The funding opportunities and the schemes are many. We will make sure you do not miss out on any of these opportunities and will help you look for financing for your business project needs.
Regular sessions will be made available to you free of charge. The topics of these sessions are always based on the interest of businesses, help businesses understand and make the most of opportunities, learn how to improve and to turn challenges to opportunities.
BECOME A MEMBER
The Malta Chamber of SMEs represents over 7,000 members from over 90 different sectors which in their majority are either small or medium sized companies, and such issues like the one we're experiencing right now, it's important to be united. Malta Chamber of SMEs offers a number of different services tailored to its members' individual requirements' and necessities. These range from general services offered to all members to more individual & bespoke services catered for specific requirements.
A membership with Malta Chamber of SMEs will guarantee that you are constantly updated and informed with different opportunities which will directly benefit your business and help you grow. It also entails you to a number of services which in their majority are free of charge and offered exclusively to its members (in their majority all free of charge).