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South Korea has proposed a broad revision of its toy safety standards that would tighten some chemical limits, introduce new requirements and update controls on organic compounds, nitrosamines, finger paints and toy chemistry sets.
The revisions are based on the latest ISO 8124, EN 71 and ASTM F963 standards.
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) says the chemical requirements are being aligned with EN 71, while requirements for lead and bisphenol A (BPA) in teethers are being strengthened following concerns raised by the National Assembly and consumer groups.
Key proposed changes include:
- a new standard for toys intended for sustained oral contact by children under 18 months;
- tighter migration limits for lead and aluminium;
- new limits for formamide, dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc) in accessible foam materials;
- an increase in the number of specifically regulated nitrosamines from seven to 13; and
- updated requirements for finger paints and toy chemistry sets.
Lead migration limits and toys for oral contact
South Korea already sets migration limits for hazardous elements in toy materials. Under the proposal, lead limits would fall from 13.5 to 2mg/kg for dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable materials; from 3.4 to 0.5mg/kg for liquid or sticky materials; and from 160 to 23mg/kg for scrapable materials. Aluminium limits would also be reduced across the same categories.
The proposal would also create a dedicated standard for toys designed for sustained oral use by children under 18 months, including teethers.
Materials that can come into contact with the mouth would have to meet applicable Korean food contact requirements. Additional limits would include 10mg/kg each for total lead and cadmium, 0.04mg/l for BPA, 0.01mg/kg for total nitrosamines and 0.1mg/kg for nitrosatable substances, along with requirements for specified phthalates and volatile substances.
Organic chemicals and foams
South Korea currently regulates organic chemicals in toys, but the proposal would broaden the framework. It says that the regulated substance list cannot cover every potentially harmful compound and does not reduce the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and suppliers to ensure that other substances do not pose a health risk.
The revised provisions would also incorporate hazard classifications including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reprotoxicity, endocrine disruption, target-organ toxicity and sensitisation.
A new provision for accessible foam materials would limit formamide to 200mg/kg and DMF and DMAc to 5mg/kg each. The draft links these requirements to EN 71-15 and tighter controls on organic solvents.
Nitrosamines, finger paints and chemistry sets
Existing nitrosamine controls apply to certain elastomer products. The proposal would expand the analytical list from seven nitrosamines to 13 and extend the requirements to finger paints for children under three.
While finger paints are already subject to controls on ingredients, colourants and preservatives, the revisions would update these using hazard classifications, including acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, reprotoxicity and endocrine disruption, while also revising restrictions on certain azo colourants and preservatives.
Toy chemistry sets are also already regulated. The proposal would update the regime in line with newer EN 71 provisions, covering hazardous substances and mixtures, substances that may be harmful in excessive quantities despite not being classified as hazardous, and other chemicals supplied with the toy.
Testing and industry impact
The package would update analytical requirements for substances, including flame retardants, colourants, monomers and solvents, preservatives, plasticisers and formamide, as well as introducing newer methods for formamide, phenol and BPA.
However, not every amendment represents a tightening. The general limit for seven specified phthalates, for example, would be expressed as 1,000mg/kg; the existing 0.1% requirement is equivalent.
The changes could affect chemical and material suppliers, toy manufacturers and testing laboratories, particularly those working with polymers, elastomers, foams, colourants, preservatives and solvents.
Key dates
The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) notified the WTO of the package on 2 October. Comments are due by 1 December, with adoption proposed for November 2027 or later and entry into force from November 2028 or later.