The Toy Safety Legislation has been amended with immediate effect to regulate the amount and type of chemical substances allowed in toys, Minister for Inclusion Julia Farrugia Portelli said.
Atranol, chloroatranol and methyl heptine carbonate are the three new chemicals used in toys which were banned in the European Union.
Farrugia Portelli announced the amendments to the regulations after the Cabinet of Ministers approved the changes to the European directives a few days ago.
The amendments came into force as stipulated in the European directives, which governs the regulations on the safety of toys in the member states.
The new legislation establishes limit values for aniline, which is a substance classified as carcinogenic, a chemical that can lead to cancer when it comes into contact with skin. Aniline can be found in colored toy materials such as textiles, and it can also be present as an impurity in paint colours.
The new rules also require that if one of the other 61 allergenic substances are present in the toy in a dose of more than 100mg/kg, then this must be listed on the toy's label, on the packaging, or on the leaflet included on the toy box.
The directive lists 55 allergenic substances whose use in toys is prohibited or restricted in the European Union. This amendment extends this list and introduces the prohibition of three other substances which are atranol, chloroatranol, and methyl heptine carbonate.
Farrugia Portelli said that in recent years, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) has continued with the process of evolving itself and to not look at consumer protection as something isolated from the educational aspect.
She said that what is being announced goes beyond simply introducing amendments, as, “today is a message of awareness to parents and the public in general to be aware of the details that are on the box of a toy.”
Chairperson of the MCCAA Helga Pizzuto urged the public to “look for the CE mark on products and to read any warning label or packaging carefully when buying toys, in order to make informed decisions.”
Traders are also reminded to check with their suppliers before buying new stock to ensure that the toys comply with the new requirements.
The public can report any case of an unsafe product to the MCCAA by visiting the authority's website mccaa.org.mt and submitting the details in the appropriate form.