Child protection items for the home, do you know the rules?

If you produce or trade baby and child protection articles such as finger protection profiles, safety hooks and cabinet door clamps, then these are subject to safety requirements. These requirements and standards are regulated by Dutch and European legislation.

European General Product Safety Directive

If you manufacture or market baby and child protection products you must comply with the requirements according to the European General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC. This directive protects consumers from unsafe or dangerous products. The directive regulates general safety requirements and principles. Product-specific requirements are laid down in the applicable European standards for baby and child protection articles.

Standards for child protection articles

• EN 16654:2015 Children's products - Finger protection profiles for doors.
  The standard finger protection profiles for doors, specifies the requirements and test methods for finger protections intended for home mounting on hinged doors. These profiles are intended to prevent entrapment injuries to children, resulting from the closing of the door.
  The finger protection profile is tested for retention of its mechanical properties during its expected lifetime, taking into account the relevant climatic conditions. In addition, the article must not be child attractive,
  EN 16654:2015 does not prescribe warning symbols for e.g. a door stop. Rules do apply to packaging and/or instructions. Some examples are:
  • Information on what types, sizes, thicknesses of doors, materials and hinge types the products are used for;
  • Accurate and understandable instructions including an appropriate picture and/or photographs.

• EN 169478-2017: Safety hooks, cabinet door clips.
  The standard safety hooks and cabinet door clips, specifies requirements and test methods for locking devices that are self-mounted by consumers on, for example, cabinets and drawers with the purpose of restricting access by young children.
  Safety hooks and cabinet door clips must not be able to be unlocked and the article must not have a child-appealing appearance.
  This standard also has no warning symbols. However, products must bear the following information, among others:
  • Information on what types, sizes and materials of cabinets and drawers the lock is or is not intended for;
  • That the item is only intended for indoor use in a domestic environment;
  • The instruction: please read this instruction carefully before assembling and using the device. The child safety function of the device may be affected if you do not follow the instructions. Keep the instructions for future use.

What does this mean for you?

You can use either standard to demonstrate that your child protection items covered by these standards are safe. Do your items not meet these standards? Then we recommend that you assess whether these items need additional testing.

Need support?

Would you like advice in assessing whether your finger protection profiles comply with the new changes and requirements? Or do you want to start trading items in Europe that are covered by the relevant standards and are looking for an expert partner to advise you on this? Précon Quality Services can help you with this. Please contact us at +31 30 65 66 010 or info@precongroup.com. You will then receive our free quote.