European and US Safety Standards
Toys intended for retail in the European Union (EU) must meet the toy safety directive EN71 which has been in effect since 1990. This EU standard sets a high level of protection for consumers and has been updated frequently including new limits on heavy metals to take effect in July 2013.
In the USA, toy safety is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under a law passed in Congress in 2008 - the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The CPSIA requires testing to ASTM-F963 which is a standard similar to those used in the EU.
Phthalates
For the production of some Käthe Kruse products it is necessary to use PVC (polyvinyl chloride, or short: vinyl). At Käthe Kruse, we ensure that the PVC used is only produced with non-phthalate plasticizers. Plasticizers are essential to soften and plasticize the naturally rigid PVC material, so that dolls and toys do not break while playing. All PVC used by the Käthe Kruse company is mixed and processed with the non-phthalate plasticizer Hexamoll® DINCH by BASF. A current eco-efficiency analysis confirmed that Hexamoll® DlNCH has the best test results among the five most important non-phthalate plasticizers on the market. That makes BASF´s Hexamoll® DINCH the product with the lowest environmental impact from production to disposal.
Guidelines for Choosing Safe Toys
These simple guidelines should be used in making all of your toy purchases:
- The Right Toy for Your Age: Always pay attention to the age range listed for toys. Never choose a toy marked as 3+ for a younger child.
- Shape and Sound is Important: Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, those with protruding parts and toys that produce loud noises.
- Buy Durable: Broken toys are commonly a source of injury. Purchase toys made of durable material that do not easily break.
Toy Safety Marks
These are safety organizations and marks often found on toy packaging:
| Mark or Logo | Description |
|---|---|
 |
Meets European Union toy safety directive EN71 |
 |
The standards organization ASTM. In the USA, the standard F963 applies for toys |
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100% organic, materials of controlled biological farming - visit the Organic category |
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Licensed manufacturer of textile Waldorf toys - visit the Waldorf category |
