European Commission Amends Harmonized Standard for Ride-On Toys Over Safety Concerns

Strategic Insights -

The European Commission has taken action to address safety concerns over ride-on toys, specifically wave rollers, which have been found to pose a risk to children's fingers and hands. The Commission has decided to amend the implementation of the harmonized standard for ride-on toys, excluding specific clauses that fail to address the essential safety requirements.

In response to a formal objection from Germany, the Commission acknowledged that the harmonized standard EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 does not adequately cover the risks of crushing and shearing of fingers and hands for wave rollers. The standard's definition of "driving mechanism" does not include wave rollers, leaving a gap in safety requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has amended the implementation of the harmonized standard for ride-on toys, excluding specific clauses that fail to address essential safety requirements.
  • The decision follows a formal objection from Germany regarding the safety of wave rollers, which pose a risk to children's fingers and hands.
  • The harmonized standard EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 has been deemed inadequate for addressing the specific safety concerns related to wave rollers.
  • The European Commission has agreed that the existing standard does not provide adequate protection against the risk of crushing and shearing of fingers and hands.
  • The Commission has concluded that compliance with the existing standard may not prevent accidents or injuries involving children when using wave rollers.
  • The amended decision will restrict the publication of the harmonized standard, excluding the specific clauses that aim to cover essential safety requirements.
  • The decision will enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Statistics:

  • The European Commission has taken action to address safety concerns over ride-on toys, specifically wave rollers, which have been found to pose a risk to children's fingers and hands.
  • The Commission has concluded that the existing standard does not provide adequate protection against the risk of crushing and shearing of fingers and hands.
  • The decision will restrict the publication of the harmonized standard, excluding the specific clauses that aim to cover essential safety requirements.

Sources:

  • COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2025/1785 of 9 September 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/740 as regards the harmonised standards for certain ride-on toys
  • Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys
  • Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on European standardisation