Korea Revises the Requirement of Toys Standard
The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has announced that the effective date of revised Self-Regulatory Safety Confirmation Standard for toys under the KATS notice No. 2012-32 is extended from Jan 1, 2013 to Jul 1, 2013. The highlights of the revised standard are listed below:

1.  Certain changes are made for the new versions of standards EN71, ASTM and ISO8124
*  the criteria on toys, indoor/ outdoor swings, slides and similar activity toys shall be amended
*  the requirements on chemical experimental sets, chemical toys and finger paints are proposed to be added
*  the regulation of a charge indicator LED of an adapter for electric toys shall be added
*  the limit of formaldehyde release from nail art adhesives shall not exceed 50 mg/kg

2.  New requirements concerning soft-filled toys and toys containing phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DNOP, DINP and DIDP) are added.

3.  Testing methods for the determination of hazardous chemical materials (lead, cadmium, nickel and phthalates) in toys are changed.

Korea Amends Self-Regulatory Safety Confirmation Standards for Plastic Children Care Articles and Children’s Chair
KATS has published a Notice No. 2012-800 to amend Self-Regulatory Safety Confirmation Standards for plastic childcare articles and children’s chairs.

Under Self-Regulatory Safety Confirmation Standard - Annex 14 Care Articles for Children, the standard expands the age coverage of plastic childcare articles intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene or feeding of children from 48 months or less to 14 years or less. Additional safety requirements are also added to strengthen the restrictions for soother and soother holder.

Under the Annex 38 of this standard, additional safety requirements of children’s chair are added to strengthen the restrictions for booster chairs and table mounted chairs. The new requirements shall enter into force 1 year after the publication date of this notice, i.e. 21 Dec, 2013.

Korea Revises Safety Criteria of BB Guns
KATS has issued a Notice No. 2012-799 to approve the amendment to the safety requirements for BB guns; this will subject to Safety Certification and become effective on 21 Dec, 2013. Major Changes of the safety standard include:

1. The age of user shall be marked on the packaging of product in the way which can be distinguished easily from surrounding letters (for example: red letters in yellow background or shadow font) and the size of letter shall not be smaller than 15-point.
2. Specific warnings shall be marked on the surface of BB guns for children, adolescents and adults in at least 15-point size in different colour with the colour of product.
3. The caution phrase concerning the wearing of safety glasses shall be displayed on the individual packaging in at least 50% larger size than other cautions for use.

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