Standards

Understanding the standards applicable to a childcare product and baby equipment is not always easy for a “non-professional”. »
However, it is all of these requirements that have made it possible to improve the level of safety of the products on the market.

Below we have listed the different applicable rules.

Rules exist

- at the French or European level
- depending on the type of product
- very general concerning all products. (for example the EN71-3 standard concerning the chemical compounds present in the raw materials used)
- rules specific to a product (for example, standard NF EN 1888 for pushchairs and prams.)

Each of these rules corresponds to obligations:

- mechanical and chemical tests
- product marking
- consumer information.

Beware of some confusion on the markings:

Marking for example is affixed to a product meeting the requirements of a European new approach directive. There are guidelines for toys, for medical items, etc.
For example, all toys must bear the mark under the European Toy Directive, as well as thermometers under the Medical Directive.
There is no directive for childcare so you will never find a mark on a childcare article unless it contains a toy part.
For example, a deckchair with play bar will have the mark on the soft toys hanging on the toy bar.
The deckchair will receive specific markings such as the age of use or certain safety instructions, but never any markings.

Finally, all products placed on the European market are subject at least to the General Product Safety Directive (DGSP).

France was with England and Germany at the origin of European standardization. Indeed, there have been standards in our country for a very long time and many have inspired the drafting of European standards.
This is also why French laboratories have a long experience of childcare articles and are among the most demanding in the world.
All the products we offer are tested in these French laboratories (LNE, POURQUERY).
Additional tests are carried out locally in the countries and places of production, in international laboratories such as SGS, Intertek or TUV.

For articles considered as childcare articles within the meaning of the law

In France, there is a childcare decree to which certain products are subject (see table below, products checked).
To comply with this decree, the products must meet either:

• European standards (NF EN xxxx) , if they exist and if they have been published in the French Official Journal (JOF)

• in the absence of published European standards, to French standards published in the French OJ (NF xxxx)

• in the absence of French and/or European standards, to experimental standards (XPS xxxx)

• in the absence of European, French or experimental standards, to the specifications drawn up by the authorized French laboratories (type examination)

For other articles not considered childcare articles within the meaning of the law

- depending on the products, other standards are applicable (toy standards, electrical safety, etc.)

March 25, 2015