Nepal has enacted the Toys Standard to regulate certain chemicals in toys. This mandatory standard will become effective on July 16, 2017.
In January 2017, a press release [1] from the Nepal Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) announced the nation’s mandatory Toys Standard for certain chemicals in toys for children age 0-16 years. The new standard regulates nine heavy metals, bromine, bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. Out of the nine heavy metals, eight have identical limits to the soluble elements falling under ASTM F-963 ‘Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety’. The ninth heavy metal, zinc, has been set to no more than 3.75 mg/kg.
According to the translation of the Notice of Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE) in the Nepal Gazette by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), toys are defined as items used for play by children age 0-16 years. These include:
Collectibles, construction sets
Dolls and miniatures
Electric and educational toys
Flying, scrolling and walking vehicles
Promotional merchandise and puzzles
The Gazette also sets analytical methods for many of the restricted/prohibited chemicals, including:
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) or Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) for heavy metals
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for BPA
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) for phthalates
The Gazette requires testing certificates for each batch of toys that is manufactured overseas and test results for every batch of toys that is manufactured in Nepal.
The Toys Standard will become effective on July 16, 2017; 181 days after publication of the Gazette Notice.
Highlight of the Gazette Notice are summarized in Table 1.
| Item | Substance | Scope | Requirement (mg/kg or ppm) | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antimony (Sb) | Toys for children age 0-16 years | ≤ 60 | July 16, 2017 |
| 2 | Arsenic (As) | ≤ 25 | ||
| 3 | Barium (Ba) | ≤ 1000 | ||
| 4 | Cadmium (Cd) | ≤ 75 | ||
| 5 | Chromium (Cr) | ≤ 60 | ||
| 6 | Lead (Pb) | ≤ 90 | ||
| 7 | Mercury (Hg) | ≤ 60 | ||
| 8 | Selenium (Se) | ≤ 500 | ||
| 9 | Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 3.75 | ||
| 10 | Bromine (Br) | < 100 | ||
| 11 | Bisphenol A (BPA) | Prohibited (BPA-free) | ||
| 12 | Phthalates | < 100 |
Throughout our global network of laboratories, we are able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy for restricted substances in toys for Nepal and international markets Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
For enquiries, please contact:
Hingwo Tsang
Global Hardlines Information and Innovation Manager
t: +852 2774 7420
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