INSTITUTE FOR STANDARD AND QUALITY DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
Children's toys: Any product or material designed or clearly intended for use by children under 16 years of age during play.
QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN stipulates safety requirements for children's toys, corresponding test methods, and quality management requirements for toys manufactured domestically, imported, and circulated on the market.
Substandard children's toys pose many safety risks to children's health upon contact, negatively affecting their mental and physical well-being, and carry a direct risk of danger, external injury, or indirect infection from toxic chemicals during use. To protect children's health, toy businesses should note the following new regulations:
In view of this situation, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN – the National Technical Regulation on Children's Toy Safety to manage these products.
Based on the technical regulation QCVN 03:2019/BKHCN, children's toys are any products or materials designed or clearly intended for use by children under 16 years of age when playing.
Before being placed on the market, children's toys must undergo conformity certification and declaration for domestically produced items, or quality inspection for imported items. They must meet the requirements specified in the certification regulations of QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN regarding children's toy safety.
Trading or selling children's toys without a circulation permit on the market is prohibited.
Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BKHCN dated September 30, 2019, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, promulgated the National Technical Regulation on Children's Toys - QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN, replacing QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN. It stipulates:
Children's toys manufactured/imported from January 1, 2020, onwards must be certified and declared in conformity with QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN, bear the conformity mark (CR mark), and be labeled according to regulations before being allowed for circulation.
Children's toys manufactured/imported for business before December 31, 2020, which were certified and declared under QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN, were only permitted for circulation until the end of December 31, 2021.
Therefore, as of the current time, establishments are only allowed to trade children's toy products that have been declared in conformity with QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN and must bear the "CR" mark as regulated; trading toys declared under QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN is no longer permitted.
If an establishment continues to trade children's toys declared under QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN, they will be subject to administrative penalties according to Decree No. 119/2017/ND-CP and Decree No. 126/2012/ND-CP.
Businesses need to control the following basic issues when trading children's toys:
Check the QCVN code information: Look at the label, the product, or the "CR" mark to determine if the toys have been declared in conformity with the new regulation (QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN) and ensure no toys under the old QCVN 3:2009/BKHCN are being sold.
Check the "CR" mark: The "CR" mark must be affixed to the product, packaging, or label, including the following information: The abbreviation (possibly with a logo) of the certification body and the certificate number (the toy's code must be in the list of the Certificate).
Check goods labels: Ensure labeling meets regulations: Labels must be in Vietnamese (imported goods must have a supplementary label in Vietnamese) and include basic information: Product name; Name and address of the organization/individual responsible for the goods (manufacturer or importer); Origin of goods; Other contents: Ingredients; technical specifications; warning information; instructions for use; year of manufacture.
Establishments must request suppliers to provide and keep at the point of sale a (copy of) the Certificate of Conformity for the toys; check and compare the consistency between the information on the label, the "CR" mark, and the information on the corresponding Certificate of Conformity.
Establishments are only permitted to trade children's toys that have been declared/quality-inspected according to QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN, properly labeled, and affixed with the "CR" mark in accordance with the attached Certificate of Conformity. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in administrative handling.
The above are insights from the ISSQ Quality Institute answering questions about the new regulations of National Technical Regulation QCVN 3:2019/BKHCN on Children's Toy Safety.
We hope this article provides useful information for you and your business.
ISSQ Quality Institute is always ready to accompany agencies and businesses in the period of integration and development. Please contact our hotline: 0981851111 or email: vienchatluong@issq.org.vn | tcvn@issq.org.vn. We are honored to serve you!
Posting Date: May 4, 2023
