According to Quality Report of Toys and Baby Products Industry in Q4 2019, the total number of defective toys and baby products recalled by EU rose by 31.66% from the previous quarter. Among them, the recall quantity of crystal soil toys has risen sharply mainly due to high boron level. Doll toys also suddenly appeared on the recall list due to high phthalates level, and as many as 58 products were recalled. However, among the recalled children's wear products, the products were unqualified because of the rope. The toys and baby products enterprises who need to understand more information on recall analysis of defective products can refer to the following contents.

The number of unqualified products recalled by EU rose by 31.66% than the same period. Crystal soil toys have risen sharply mainly due to high boron level.

In Q4 2019, EU recalled 262 batches of toys and baby products made in China, up 106 batches from the same period of last year and 63 batches from the same period of last month. The proportion of recalled categories is shown in the following figure:

The main reasons for disqualification of the recalled products are as follows:

For toys and children's clothing accounting for a large proportion of RAPEX recalls, the export enterprises should focus on following relevant points:

1. The crystal clay toys have been recalled in a large number due to high boron level. From the second half of 2019, the EU began to pay more attention to crystal clay toys, recalling a total of 21 related products. The unqualified products all have high boron level, of which 15 were recalled in the fourth quarter, up 250% from the third quarter. This shows that this kind of products have recently received high attention in the European Union. Relevant production enterprises should attach great importance to it and control the quality of products.

2. High phthalates level shall be avoided in doll toys. In Q4 2019, doll toys suddenly appeared among RAPEX's recalled products, with a total of 58 kinds of products recalled. Except one product was recalled because of small parts, the other 57 products were recalled because of high phthalates level, accounting for 98.28%. Doll toys tend to contain phthalates due to their own material and playing characteristics to meet the requirements of amusing children. Production enterprises should strengthen the control of raw materials to prohibit the production of toys containing toxic and harmful substances.

3. Rope is still the most common problem in recall of children's clothing. Children's wear was recalled in a large number in Q4 2019, with a total of 45 items, accounting for 37.82% of the year's recall. Among them, 95.56% of the children's wear was unqualified due to the long rope or elastic rope, which may cause the risk of suffocation of children. It is suggested that relevant manufacturers carefully study the relevant clauses of the standard and rectify the rope belt that may be too long to avoid being recalled.

US recalled 3 batches of toys and baby products. Attention should be paid to the causes of unqualified products such as small parts and flammability.

In Q4, the United States recalled 3 batches of toys and baby products made in China, involving 68,000 pieces of products. The number of recalls decreased by 12 batches compared with the previous quarter. This includes one toy, one swing bed and one bib.

The main reasons for disqualification of the recalled products are as follows:
 

The State Administration for Market Regulation reported the spot checks of 51 products, involving children's shoes, children's and infant's clothing.

In Q4 2019, the State Administration for Market Regulation conducted spot checks on 51 kinds of products, including children's shoes, children's and infant clothing, and the relevant spot checks were as follows:

1. Children's shoes:

Spot check was carried out to 90 batches of children's shoes produced by 90 enterprises in 4 provinces (cities), of which 15 batches were unqualified, with the unqualified detection rate of 16.7%. The unqualified items include phthalic acid ester, total amount of heavy metals (arsenic, lead and cadmium), abrasion resistance of outsole and hardness of outsole. Among the 15 batches of "problematic" children's shoes found in this spot check, the "phthalate" item became the most prominent problem, and 9 batches of products were found to be substandard for this.

2. Clothing for children and infants:

Spot check was carried out to 201 batches of  children's and infant's clothing produced by 199 enterprises in 12 provinces (cities), of which 29 batches were unqualified, with the unqualified detection rate of 14.4%. The unqualified items include formaldehyde content, pH value, color fastness to wet rubbing, fiber content, rope requirements and tensile strength of accessories.

30 batches of children's clothing were found to be unqualified in the spot check conducted in Zhejiang province. The unqualified items include 11 items such as PH value and fiber content.

In Q4 2019, Zhejiang Provincial Administration for Market Regulation conducted spot checks on 73 batches of children's clothing products from 73 enterprises in 4 regions including Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou and Huzhou, and 30 batches are found unqualified.

The main unqualified items are: PH value, safety requirements of children's clothing rope and drawstring, fiber content, instructions for use (logo), impressing and ironing, color fastness to wet rubbing of embroidery, color fastness to dry rubbing of impressing and ironing, seam performance, appearance after washing, tear strength, distortion rate after washing, etc.

Eight batches of bottle products in Shanghai were found to be unqualified. The reason for disqualification is the inaccurate use of label identification.

The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation has carried out supervision and spot checks on the quality of 30 batches of milk bottle products produced and sold in the city. The inspection items include sensory requirements, total migration amount, potassium permanganate consumption amount, heavy metals (in terms of Pb), lead migration amount, cadmium migration amount and label identification.

After inspection, there are 8 batches of products that do not meet the usability index. The unqualified item involved is label identification. Among them, products marked with invalid standards, without production date and specific components of plastic materials as required by the standards will make it difficult for consumers to safeguard their rights if problems occur after purchase.

18 batches of children's toys were found to be unqualified in the spot check conducted in Shenzhen. There are 10 reasons for disqualification, including sharp tips.

In Q4 2019, Shenzhen Municipal Administration for Market Regulation conducted spot checks on 90 batches of products produced and sold by 43 enterprises, and found 18 batches of unqualified samples, with an unqualified detection rate of 20%.

Five mandatory items were tested in this spot check for toy products, namely,  mechanical and physical properties (including normal use and foreseeable reasonable abuse), flammability, migration of specific elements, plasticizer, toy logo (only age range and toy warning logo are tested).

The unqualified items found mainly include accessible sharp tips, small parts, plastic bags or plastic films used in packaging or toys, projectile toy with stored energy, sound requirements, maximum limit of movable elements, plasticizers, small balls, and toy logos (toy instructions, toy warning logos).

"Toy and Baby Products Industry Quality Report in Q4 2019-Recall Part" covers three major areas:

First, the situation and reasons of recalling toy baby products in EU and USA are introduced in detail.

Secondly, the government's supervision and spot checks are explained in detail, and the causes of unqualified products are analyzed.

Finally, 251 products of toys, baby carriages, cots and high chairs investigated by the association are analyzed in detail, and solutions to improve the quality are provided according to the specific problems.

The article has 19 pages in total. This report is exclusively for members of the China Toy Association. This article only selects part of it.

Please call the member department at 010-68293613 to check the whole content of the "Toy and Baby Products Industry Quality Report in Q4".

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