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The primary concern of toy standards is the safety of children. European standards establish strict safety requirements, addressing potential hazards, such as small parts that could be a choking hazard, toxic substances, and other risks associated with specific types of toys.

In 2024, CEN/TC 52 ‘Safety of toys’ will further work on the revision and development of new standards started since the new Standardization Request on ‘Safety of toys’ (M/589) (end 2022): the committee will launch activities on a new part of the EN 71 series ‘Safety of Toys’ that will cover focus on the microbiological safety for toys containing accessible aqueous media.
In addition, CEN/TC 52 will further progress on the development of the following standards:

• EN 71-1 ‘Safety of toys – Mechanical and physical properties’: the revision of the standard will include requirements for expanding toys, toys imitating food, ride-on toys and aquatic ride-on toys, among others, and further specify test methods for kinetic energy density.

• EN 71-5 ‘Safety of toys – Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets’: the revision will clarify the scope to include kits for the preparation of slime and to include requirements regarding the content of boron, fragrances, colorants and preservatives.

• EN 71-7 ‘Safety of toys – Finger paints – Requirements and test methods’: the revision aims to review the lists of preservatives and colourants and to address the relationship and interaction between preservation and the pH of finger paint.

• EN 71-14 ‘Safety of toys – Trampolines for domestic use’: the revision of the document will target the review and categorization of warnings and the review of requirements regarding pinching, crushing and falling hazards.

STATIONERY TRAINING EQUIPMENT

The EN ISO 20957 series on Stationary training equipment is developed by CEN/TC 136 ‘Sports, playground and other recreational facilities and equipment’ (in parallel with ISO/TC 83 ‘Sports and other recreational facilities and equipment’) under M/506 in support of the General Product Safety legislation (2001/95/EC).

This standard series specifies safety requirements that are applicable to stationary training equipment, including strength training benches, stationary exercise bicycles (with a fixed wheel or without freewheel) and upper body crank training equipment, treadmills, rowing equipment, steppers, stair climbers and climbers, and elliptical trainers. The equipment is for use in training areas of organizations such as sport associations, educational establishments, hotels, sports halls, clubs, rehabilitation centres and studios, where access and control are specifically regulated by the owner, and also for domestic use.

To implement the continuous developments in the relevant industry, Part 2 and Part 7 of the standard series are currently in their final voting process and are expected to be available by January 2024. Next, Part 1 will be revised to streamline the general safety requirements and test methods that are applicable to all stationary training equipment.

APPLIANCES, SOLID FUELS, AND FIRELIGHTERS FOR BARBECUING

In 2024, CEN/TC 281 ‘Appliances, solid fuels and firelighters for barbecuing’ should finalize the revision of the standardization work for prEN 1860-1 ‘Appliances, solid fuels and firelighters for barbecuing – Part 1: Barbecues burning solid fuels – Requirements and test methods’.

This document specifies requirements for materials, construction, design, test methods, markings and instructions relating to them. This document is applicable to barbecues which burn solid fuels, except single use barbecues. Barbecues which are intended to be converted from other fuels to solid fuels also should conform to this standard.