ISO 8124-3:2020/Amd 1:2023

Overview

ISO 8124-3:2020/Amd 1:2023 is an important amendment to the international standard focused on the safety of toys, specifically addressing the migration of certain chemical elements from toy materials. This amendment updates the limits for boron and other elements in slime products, and barium in modelling clay, ensuring enhanced protection of children's health. The amendment was published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in March 2023 and supplements the third edition of ISO 8124-3:2020.

Key Topics

• Element Migration Limits
  ISO 8124-3:2020/Amd 1:2023 specifies maximum acceptable levels of migration for elements such as arsenic (As), barium (Ba), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), and antimony (Sb) in different toy materials. The amendment particularly addresses the limits for boron in slime and putty, and barium in modelling clay.

• Defined Toy Materials

  • Slime: A viscous, often non-Newtonian, water-based gel intended for play by hand manipulation, kneading, and stretching.
  • Modelling Clay and Putty: Flexible solid or semi-solid mixtures that retain shape when molded or extruded, used for creative hand manipulation.
    These definitions clarify the scope of materials subject to specific migration limits.

• Updated Migration Limits

  • Boron migration in slime and modelling clay has been regulated with a maximum limit of 30 µg per day exposure, reflecting concerns related to reproductive and developmental toxicity.
  • The maximum acceptable soluble barium concentration in modelling clay has been raised from 250 mg/kg to 350 mg/kg to harmonize limits with finger paints and consider actual exposure risk based on bioavailability and risk models.

• Analytical Corrections
  The amendment introduces analytical correction factors for precision in measuring element migration, ensuring that testing aligns with the realistic exposure scenarios for children’s safety.

• Safety Rationale
  The amendment aligns with guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), such as tolerable daily intake (TDI) values for boron, and incorporates additional safety margins for vulnerable groups, such as young children. Oral exposure is emphasized considering the poor skin absorption of boron.

Applications

• Toy Manufacturers
  Compliance with these updated migration limits is crucial for manufacturers to ensure toy safety, avoid legal liabilities, and meet international market requirements. This is especially relevant for producers of slime, putty, and modelling clay products intended for children over three years of age.

• Regulatory Authorities
  Authorities responsible for toy safety regulations can adopt or reference this amendment to enforce limits on hazardous element migration, protecting children from toxic exposure through play materials.

• Testing Laboratories
  Laboratories that conduct safety testing on toys will benefit from the clear definitions, test limits, and analytical corrections provided, enabling accurate and reliable safety assessments.

• Consumer Safety Advocates
  Understanding these specific amendments helps advocacy groups monitor toy safety and raise awareness about potential chemical hazards in children’s toys.

Related Standards

• ISO 8124 Series
  This amendment is part of the ISO 8124 series on toy safety, which includes multiple parts addressing mechanical and physical properties, flammability, chemical properties, and labelling. Organizations and stakeholders should refer to the entire series for comprehensive toy safety compliance.

• WHO Guidelines
  The amendment references WHO's Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (4th edition, 2017) for tolerable daily intake values, integrating international public health benchmarks into toy safety standards.

• ISO/IEC Directives
  The development and maintenance of this amendment abide by the ISO/IEC Directives ensuring standardization consistency within the global framework.

This amendment to ISO 8124-3:2020 establishes rigorous safety criteria for elemental migration in children’s slime and modelling clay, reflecting current toxicological knowledge and aiming to minimize health risks associated with prolonged exposure to hazardous elements during play. Adherence to these limits ensures safer, compliant toys worldwide while supporting manufacturers and regulators in maintaining high standards of consumer safety.