The EU Parliament‘s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection has updated current legislation on toys to make them less polluting. The new rules target hazardous substances in toys as well as attempt to cope with changes in consumer habits related to digital technologies.
The new rules maintain the ban on carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances. They also introduce restrictions on substances harmful to the endocrine and respiratory systems. Manufacturers are required to create digital passports for each toy, which should facilitate market surveillance and customs inspections. Consumers will have access to product information via QRs affixed to the products themselves.
Finally, toys with artificial intelligence will fall under the Artificial Intelligence Act. They will then have to pass third-party assessment and comply with rules on risk management, transparency and human oversight.