To align with the new EU Toys Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, prEN71-7: 2012 was published on 30 October 2012, The comments deadline for BSI receipt the comments is 11 February 2013.This standard contains requirements which are intended to reduce the risk to children when finger paints are used as intended or in a foreseeable way.

The Challenge:
When compared to other toy products, finger paints present different risks because of the intended use by fingers or hands and the age of the children playing with.

The main changes are:

• Aniline has been added to the list of restricted primary aromatic amines.
• Limits for the migration of certain elements have been removed, and are now cross-referenced to EN 71-3.
• Limits is added for the impurities polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) of 2mg/kg and hexachlorobenzene of 5mg/kg for finger paints containing colourant products containing chlorine or manufactured in chlorinated solvents.
• Limit is added for the impurity benzo(a)pyrene of 0.02mg/kg for finger paints containing carbon black.
• Sucrose octaacetate has been ｄｅｌｅｔｅd from the list of permitted embittering agents.
• Purity requirements are added for many colourants commonly used in finger paints.
• The list of permitted preservatives has been amended and cut to 16 preservatives (previously 37 preservatives were permitted)
• Colourants, binding agents, extenders, humectants and surfactants – ban on substances within certain hazard classes is now based the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 classifications, updating the former DSD-based criteria.
• Permitted pH value range is extended to between 4.0 and 10.0 (was between 4 and 9), to accommodate the use of calcium carbonate and dilution of the finger paint with tap water.
• N-nitrosamines has been added, cross-referencing the new requirements on prEN 71-12.
• Containers food imitations requirement has been clarified and more closely aligned with the EU Food Imitations Directive 87/357/EEC. 
• Container markings – a telephone number now has to be included with the name and address.

The Solution:
Intertek, through our extensive global network, has a variety of services available to help you overcome the challenges related to complying with the new directive. Besides keeping you ｕｐｄａｔｅd on any new developments from time to time, Intertek provides legal, regulatory and strategic consulting, testing, and implementation programs for compliance to the new directive, enabling you to meet your business objectives.