EU notifies WTO of change to chromium VI limit in toys

Chromium VI is toxic, has irritating properties, can induce allergic  reactions and is known to cause cancer when inhaled at work places. At present, it cannot be excluded that chromium VI can also induce cancer in humans when taken up orally. Children are likely to suck or chew on toys or even swallow small parts of them. Therefore, children can take up chromium VI which may be released from toys.

The virtual safe dose for chromium VI was lowered as a result of newer studies published since the EU Toy Safety Directive was last  updated in 2009. The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) is of the opinion that the current migration limits  for chromium VI from toys should be revised to take into account this new, lower value. Furthermore, to account for the uptake of chromium VI from other sources such as drinking water and the environment, the SCHER recommends that any additional exposure to chromium VI from toys should be minimised to the lowest achievable levels when using  best available technologies.

In its final Opinion on chromium VI in toys, published in February 2015, the Commission's Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SHER) concluded the limit should be lowered to 9.4 µg/kg.

The proposed date of adoption is the first quarter of next year, with entry into force slated for the third quarter of 2019.

The final date for comments on the revision to the toy safety Directive is 60 days from the notification.