New Harmonized EN Standards Under the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC in Europe: Interview with UL Subject Matter Expert

We interviewed our toy industry subject matter experts, Elisa Gavazza and Richard Smart, and asked them to share their insights on these important changes.

Q: How often is the list of harmonized standards updated?
A: The list will be updated whenever a new standard is published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
You can subscribe to RSS feeds on the European Union websites for automatic notifications.

Q: How can I keep informed about developing standards?
A: You can keep up to date in several ways. You can subscribe to our the UL Pulse newsletter, subscribe to national standards organizations, and you can contact national and regional trade associations.

Q: If a new version of a standard or amendment has been published, do I need to update my test reports?
A: Not necessarily. It depends on when your product was produced or placed on the market, and whether that standard change affects your product.
Some retailers or customs personnel may expect to see the latest standard reference, but this is not a legal requirement.

Contact us for receiving more information about how UL can support your business.

Elisa Gavazza, UL Global Toy Principal, supports UL in the toy technical area with an experience of more than 15 years in this industry. She is participating in many international working groups (ISO TC 181, CEN TC 52, ASTM F15.22, European Notified Body co-ordination group) anticipating the needs of toy manufacturers and retailers. She has a wide knowledge of legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to toys at worldwide level dealing with both manufacturers and enforcement authorities. She gained a great experience as training provider, acting as speaker in private and public training sessions.

Richard Smart is a Key Account Manager with UL providing technical and service support for key global clients and supporting the UK business development team. Richard has worked in the toy and consumer products industry for over 20 years, starting within the laboratory and then as a retail QA Manager within Toys R Us.
He has a wide knowledge of legislation and requirements applicable to toys and associated children’s products and experience working with manufacturers and enforcement authorities. Richard has experience of working on technical committees and representing industry trade associations in the UK.