Looking back at last months recalls of non-food consumer goods as listed on the EU websites RAPEX and RASFF as well as the US website of CPSC.
Popular slime and squeezies toys proof also to be popular among recalls. And is there a difference between a toy and a cat key-ring? Maybe not for a child!
Toy slime is popular in the stores, and therefor it is popular in the recalls listing. The main reason is always too high migration of boron. This is listed as a so-called CMR substance. This stands for Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or toxic for Reproduction. Not good for kids. Substances can have a CMR tag in the Reach database at ECHA. The toys directive banns substances that are listed as CMR’s. This prevents that the toys directive needs to be updated every time we find out that a substances has a CMR property.
Speaking about CMR’s. Banning substances with such a classification could be part of a corporate approach. Just a suggestion.
Another favourite but not permitted substance in squeezable toys are N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethyl-aminoethanol, cyclohexanone, triethylenediamine, bis (2- (dimethylamino) ethyl) ether and 1,1,4,7,7-pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine. Complex names. Remember that they cause eye and mucous membrane irritation and liver damage. Lovely does squeezies
A perfect example of the risk of a child appealing product is the recall of a cat key-ring. With or without the key-ring for a child it is simply a cat and it has play value. That is why the Swedish authorities looked at the potential risks and in this case found the DEHP (an phthalate) as well as the amount of nickel that could migrate too high.