The proposal addresses a wide range of issues to improve the existing rules for the marketing of toys that are produced in and imported into the EU. It will, in particular:

Manufacturing issues :

• Prohibit the use of chemical substances that are susceptible to provoke cancer, so-called CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or toxic for Reproduction) substances;
• Reduce the allowed limits of certain dangerous chemical substances like lead or mercury;
• Prohibit allergenic fragrances;
• Strengthen the rules to prevent accidents due to small parts in toys;

Marketing of products issues :

• Oblige toy manufacturers to issue appropriate warnings to improve the prevention of accidents. The Commission will also carry out further work on more detailed guidelines on warnings;
• Ban toys which are firmly attached to a food product at the moment of consumption and which require food to be consumed before getting access to the toy;
• Reinforce the importer's responsibility for ensuring that toys imported into the EU are safe;
• Foresee testing of toys through independent laboratories where no standards for toys yet exist (e.g. for toys with magnets)
• Require toy manufacturers to establish comprehensive technical information for all their toys to allow Market Surveillance authorities to check the design and manufacture of the toy;
• Enhance the visibility of the CE mark on the toy;

Market surveillance issues :

• Oblige Member States to strengthen market surveillance and controls on the spot and at the EU-borders,
• Oblige Member States to lay down and impose penalties if toy manufacturers/importers do not produce toys in line with the safety requirements of the Directive.

The Commission proposal will now be discussed with the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers with a view to an adoption in the co-decision procedure.

If you would like to express your comments on the proposal or need some more information please contact Ms Vanessa Pereira.

PIN-SME, the Pan European ICT & eBusiness Network for SME, is the first European association of the ICT sector exclusively focused on representing the interests of the SME community. It was founded by seven national sectorial SME federations from different EU countries and one ICT SME network from Germany. PIN SME represents more than 50.000 enterprises, which employ around 200.000 people across Europe.

The newly created association aims at bringing ICT-SMEs on the international ICT business and political scene, where so far large companies have dominated. PIN-SME will allow its members to have a stronger voice while lobbying the European and national organisations as well as to create an access to the EU-funded projects. The association will also serve as an information platform on ICT developments and an active representative of its members towards the industry and the public.

The initiative of creating an SME ICT association was launched by Freek Posthumus (NORMAPME) in 2005. After his valuable preparatory work his activity was taken over by Mr Sebastiano Toffaletti (NORMAPME) in 2007.

Calendar of events
Board Meetings of NORMAPME and events of interest to SMEs

Newsletter
Issue 2/08 March 2008

Swimming pools
08/04/08 - NORMAPME comments on the standard on safety of swimming pools

e-Invoicing
05/05/08 - SME-oriented principles for standardisation of e-Invoicing

Safety of toys
05/05/08 - NORMAPME comments on a proposal for a directive Safety of Toys

e-Learning tool
Information about the effects of standards on Small and Medium sized Enterprises

Lead Markets
The Commission has launched a lead market initiative to develop an appropriate approach in a limited number of potential lead markets.

European portal for SMEs
Information on the whole spectrum of EU policies, legislation, programmes and initiatives relevant to Europe's SMEs