Standard - Children's Toys

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

Standard information

The toy standard deals with all toys that are intended or suitable for use by the under three age group. It requires that these toys do not have small parts that can be pulled apart from, or break off the toy.

The 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 to be a product safety standard. This standard establishes an acceptable size for toys for the under threes (approximately the size of a ping pong ball or film canister). It sets up a range of tests that the product must be able to pass, such as a bite test and drop test, without small parts breaking off.

Enforcing the standard

The Commerce Commission is responsible for enforcing this standard and has published some guidelines.

Purchasing the standard

NZS 5822: 1992 The Prevention of Ingestion and Inhalation Hazards in Toys Intended for Use by Children Under Three Years of Age can be purchased from Standards New Zealand, see their website for details.

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.