UPDATED PAHS-REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE GS-MARK CAME INTO FORCE ON THE 1ST JULY 2015

On the 4th of August 2014 the German committee on consumer products (AfPS) published new requirements on the control of PAHs in products which are subject to the GS-Mark. Compared with the old standard  the new standard is a lot and stricter. The new standard has superseded ZEK 01.4-08 and came into force on the 1st of July 2015. Requirements for PAHs in the new standard and ZEK 01.4-08 are as follows:

Table 1: Requirements for PAHs in the new standard (mg/kg)

ParameterCategory 1Category 2Category 3
Materials intended to be put in the mouth, or materials of toy with intended to long-term skin contact(longer than 30 seconds)Materials not covered by Category 1, with foreseeable skin contact for longer than 30 seconds (long-term skin contact) or repeated short-term skin contactMaterials not covered by category 1 or 2 with foreseeable skin contact up to 30 second(short term skin contact)
Toys in the scope of 2009/48/ECOther products in the scopeToys in the scope of 2009/84/ECOther products in the scope
Benzo(a)pyrene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Benzo(a)pyrene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Benzo(a)anthracene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Benzo(b)fluoranthene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Benzo(j)fluoranthene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Benzo(k)fluoranthene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Chrysene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Indeno(l,2,3-cd)pyrene< 0.2< 0.2< 0.5< 0.5< 1
Acenaphthylene, Pyrene, Acenaphthene, Fluorene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Fluoranthene<1 Sum< 5 Sum< 10 Sum< 20 Sum< 50 Sum
Naphthalene< 1< 2< 10
Sum of 18 PAHs< 1< 5< 10< 20< 50

Table 2: Requirements for PAHs in ZEK 01.4-08 (mg/kg)

ParametersCategory 1Category 2Category 3
Materials intended to be put in the mouth or materials of toys for children aged<36 months with intended skin contactMaterials not covered by category 1, with foreseeable skin contact for longer than 30 seconds (long-term skin contact)Materials not covered by category 1 or 2, with foreseeable skin contact up to 30 seconds (short term skin contact)
Benzo[a]pyreneNot detectable(<0.2 )120
18 PAHs SUMs(Not detectable<0.2 )10200
Notice: If the limits of category 1 are surpassed but the limits of category 2 still met, the confirmation of suitability of contact with foodstuff or the oral mucosa can be verified by an additional specific migration test of the PAH components according to DIN EN 1186, ff. and § 64 LFBG 80.30-1.

Comparing Table 1 with Table 2 the products in Categories 2 and 3 are divided into toys and other products, and all the parts are defined with the new limit values; there is a lower limit for Benzo(a)pyrene in Category 2 and Category 3, and also a lower limit for 18 PAHs. Due to the new requirement now being in force CTI suggests that manufacturers and traders test the affected products, and ensure better control of internal quality controls, and strictly control source materials.

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