Standard - Children's Toys

The Product Safety Standards (Children's Toys) Regulations 1992 and The Product Safety Standards (Children's Toys) Regulations 2005

Small parts pose an ingestion or inhalation hazard to young children. Young babies explore their world by putting things in their mouths. However, children under three years of age do not have a well-developed coughing reflex and will choke easily on small items.

The objective of the regulations was to reduce the risk to children less than three years of age choking on toys, by ensuring that the toys meet small parts size and performance criteria. The 1992 regulations declare NZS 5822: 1992 The Prevention of Ingestion and Inhalation Hazards in Toys Intended for Use by Children Under and Up to Three Years of Age and the 2005 regulations declare those parts of AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2003 Safety of toys Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties that relate to small parts, to be a product safety standards.

Note

The new Product Safety Standard for children’s toys came into force on 8 September 2005. However, the 1992 regulation will remain in effect until 12 August 2006 to allow for a transition period for manufacturers, importers, suppliers and retailers to comply with the new standard.