The European Committee for standardisation (CEN) has released three voluntary standards to improve the safety of textile sleeping products. These standards are:

• EN 16779-1:2018 Textile child care articles – Safety requirements and test methods for children’s cot duvets. Part 1: Duvet (excluding duvet covers). This standard specifies requirements for the safety of children’s cot duvets (excluding removable duvet covers) and cot quilts / coverlet suitable for children up to 36 months
• EN 16780:2018 Textile child care articles – Safety requirements and test methods for children’s cot bumpers
• EN 16781:2018 Textile child care articles – Safety requirements and test methods for children’s sleep bags for use in a cot. This standard is applicable to products for use by younger children based on them not being able to climb out of the cot (approximately under the age of 24 months)

 

Each standard includes:

·        Design Characteristics (e.g. labels, embellishments, fabrics and filling materials)

·        Mechanical and Physical Hazards (e.g. strangulation, small parts, sharp point and sharp edge)

·        Chemical Hazards (e.g. migration of certain substances, formaldehyde, flame retardants)

·        Thermal Hazards

·        Fire Hazards

·        Hygiene Hazards

·        Labelling and product information

 

These standards follow the adoption of Decision 2010/376/EU by the European Commission in 2010. The decision highlighted the principle hazards posed to babies and young children while they are sleeping, often unattended. The decision listed the main hazards as:

·        Hazards from chemicals

·        Flammability risks

·        Hyperthermia (overheating)

·        Microbiological hazards and hygiene

·        Entrapment from gaps and openings

·        Entanglement (strangulation) hazards

·        Choking and internal suffocation

·        External suffocation

·        Structural integrity

 

These voluntary standards have been developed and published following a mandate from the EU Commission. They will be published under the General Product Safety Directive.

 

National standards relating to these products must be withdrawn by February 2019.

 

SGS Softlines and Hardlines Services

SGS provides a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products, and help companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide.

 

It has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in softline testing. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services. [www.sgs.com/softlines]. Their hardlines team has a global network of dedicated experts and over 10 specialist laboratories. Learn more about SGS’s Hardlines Services. [www.sgs.com/hardlines]

 

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full New EU Safety Standards for Children’s Cot Duvet, Cot Bumpers and Cot Sleep Bags Released SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/12/safeguards-16018-new-eu-safety-standards-for-children-cot-duvet]

 

Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

 

For further information contact:

 

Louann Spirito

US & Canada Softlines Business Head

Tel: +1 973 461 7919

Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

 

Catherine Follin-Arbelet

Juvenile Products International Expert

Tel: + 33 6 28 50 25 88

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

 

Email: crs.media@sgs.com

 

About SGS 

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.