Non-toxic: En 71 and ASTM D

Health and safety labels... Health-related labels on art materials sold in the U.S. must conform to certain standards, by law. Here's an explanation of symbols and acronyms you'll see on labels. • Many art and crafts materials carry seals from the Art and Creative Materials Institute, a private association whose 220 industry members contract for toxicological evaluation. According to ACMI, itsAP seal "is found on products that contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans or to cause acute or chronic health problems." The CL seal "is found on art materials for adults that are certified to be properly labeled for any known health risks and is accompanied by information on the safe and proper use of such materials." The two seals shown here are replacing other ACMI symbols (including older-style "AP," "CP," and "HL," with variations). For details on ACMI programs and some basic health and safety guidelines, go to their website atacminet.org. • ASTM D4236 is a standard published by the (non-industry chaired) "artists paints" subcommittee of the American Society for Testing & Materials. As the standard itself declares, "Since knowledge about chronic health hazards is incomplete and warnings cannot cover all uses of any product, it is not possible for precautionary labeling to ensure completely safe use of an art product." "Conforms to D-4236" on an art material label does NOT mean the product is "non-toxic." Rather, it means: • the material has been evaluated by a toxicologist for acute and chronic toxicity; • the label names the ingredients identified as presenting a chronic health hazard, if any; • a product presenting a chronic health hazard comes with safe use instructions. • LHAMA, the federal Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act, governs hazard labeling nationally. Its intent is that art materials should be labeled to warn consumers of potential chronic (long-term or slow-emerging) hazards. LHAMA transformed ASTM D4236 from a voluntary standard into a mandatory rule. LHAMA is enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. • How to use labels? There's honest disagreement about the adequacy of hazard labels. Treat label information for what it is: the bare minimum required by current law. Words like "Warning," "Caution," "Harmful if swallowed," "Use with adequate ventilation, "Avoid skin contact" alert you to the presence of toxins. Request Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from makers to identify product contents. Products change, standards change, knowledge improves - so stay informed. Your own judgement is the most important ingredient of all. Remember: just because something is on the market does NOT mean it's safe.

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ASTM D4236 - 94(2005) Standard Practice for Labeling Art Materials for Chronic Health Hazards

Active Standard ASTM D4236 Developed by Subcommittee: D01.57 |Book of Standards Volume: 06.02

Buy Standard (PDF) more info 5 pages $ 38.00 Buy Standard (Print) more info 5 pages $ 38.00 Historical (view previous versions of standard) ASTM License Agreement Shipping & Handling More D01.57 Standards Related Products Find Labs Copyright/Permissions ASTM D4236 Abstract This practice describes the standard procedure for developing precautionary labels for art materials to provide chronic health hazard and precautionary statements based on knowledge that exists in the scientific and medical communities. These statements concern hazards known to be associated with a product or product component(s) when it is present in a physical form, volume, or concentration that in the opinion of a toxicologist has the potential to produce a chronic adverse health effect. This practice applies exclusively to art materials packaged in sizes intended for individual users of any age or those participating in a small group, and does not apply to products appropriately labeled for known chronic health hazards. Also, this practice does not specify test methods for determining whether a substance or product presents adverse chronic health effects. Labels should include the signal word WARNING, list of potentially chronic hazards, name of chronically hazardous component(s), safe handling instructions, list of sensitizing components, information sources, labeling content and product size, and other supplementary information. This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date. 1. Scope 1.1 This practice describes a procedure for developing precautionary labels for art materials and provides hazard and precautionary statements based upon knowledge that exists in the scientific and medical communities. This practice concerns those chronic health hazards known to be associated with a product or product component(s), when the component(s) is present in a physical form, volume, or concentration that in the opinion of a toxicologist (see 2.1.11) has the potential to produce a chronic adverse health effect(s). 1.2 This practice applies exclusively to art materials packaged in sizes intended for individual users of any age or those participating in a small group. 1.3 Labeling determinations shall consider reasonable forseeable use or misuse. The responsibility for precautionary labeling rests with the producer or repackager who markets the materials for art or craft use. 1.4 This practice does not specify test methods for determining whether a substance or product presents chronic health hazards. 1.5 This practice does not apply to products appropriately labeled for known chronic health hazards in accordance with chemical substance labeling standards and practices, such as another national consensus standard, existing labeling statutes, regulations, or guidelines. 1.6 Since knowledge about chronic health hazards is incomplete and warnings cannot cover all uses of any product, it is not possible for precautionary labeling to ensure completely safe use of an art product. 1.7 Manufacturers or repackagers may wish to determine individually or collectively precautionary labeling for art materials in accordance with this practice. Compliance may be certified by a certifying organization. Guidelines for a certifying organization are given in Appendix X1. 1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Index Terms art materials; chronic toxicity; craft materials; health labeling; precautionary statements; warning statements; ICS Number Code 97.195 (Items of art and handicraft) DOI: 10.1520/D4236-94R05

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EN 71

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

European standard EN 71 specifies safety requirements for toys.^[1] Compliance with the standard is legally required for all toys sold in theEuropean Union.^[2]

The standard has been published in 11 parts:

• EN 71-1: Mechanical and physical properties
• EN 71-2: Flammability
• EN 71-3: Specification for migration of certain elements
• EN 71-4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
• EN 71-5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets
• EN 71-6: Graphical symbols for age warning labelling
• EN 71-7: Finger paints
• EN 71-8: Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use
• EN 71-9: Organic chemical compounds – Requirement
• EN 71-10: Organic chemical compounds – Sample preparation and extraction
• EN 71-11: Organic chemical compounds – Methods of analysis

[edit]References

1. ^ BS EN 71 Series. Safety of toys, BSI web site
2. ^ Council Directive 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys

[hide] v • d • e European Standards Construction Eurocodes: EN 1990 · EN 1991 · EN 1992 · EN 1993 · EN 1994 · EN 1995 · EN 1996 · EN 1997 · EN 1998 · EN 1999 Safety EN 71 · EN 1078 Other EN 13402 ·

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