Children's toys

Among other things, the professional and experienced team at the Chemistry, Health, and Environment Laboratory tests infant and children products pursuant to Israeli and international standards, using innovative automated testing devices.

Israeli Standard SI 562 applies to children's toys. The standard prescribes the requirements and testing methods for the mechanical and physical properties, flammable properties, and toxic properties of toys. The standard applies to toys for children under the age of 14 years.

Choking hazard

  • Parts with dimensions that are smaller or equal to the diameter to the trachea, which if swallowed, get stuck and block the trachea
  • Thin, flexible plastic packaging that easily adjust to the mouth cavity if inhaled, blocking air
  • String and wires that are liable to wrap around a child's neck, blocking blood circulation in the carotid artery to the brain
  • Hollow rigid parts, the shape of which attach to the face in a vacuum, preventing breathing
  • Prominent narrow parts that are liable to get stuck in the trachea, such as a rattle handle

Injury hazard

  • Injury from pinching or catching of fingers, such as tricycles, swings, doll carriages, and bimba (toddler tricycle)
  • Injury from sharp corners or hard sharp edges
  • Injury to internal organs as the result of swallowing sharp objects or small magnets, which are liable to cause damage to the liver or digestive system
  • Injury from explosive caps
  • Electrocution caused by flying kites near power lines or in a lightning storm. The standard requires testing the kite wire's resistance and operator caution of the hazards.
  • Noisemaking toys placed nears ears, which are liable to damage hearing if they are too powerful

Flammable hazard

  • Toys that contain cloth or stuffing, such as stuffed animals, costumes, tests, masks, and activity blankets, which are liable to be fire traps if the cloth or stuffing is flammable and liable to catch fire
  • The standard requires that maximum spread of flames shall not exceed 30 mm per second

Migration of toxic chemical elements if the toy is put into the mouth

  • 19 toxic elements – heavy metals, which can enter the body by swallowing, sucking, or licking the toy. Heavy metals are extremely toxic in nature and are liable to cause severe harm to human health.
  • These elements are found in paint, colored coatings, plastic parts, metals and ceramics, fabric, lacquer, paper, and polymers from which toys are assembled.
  • Phthalates in toys and writing utensils, which contain only soft PVC. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that disrupt the endocrinology system (hormones)

For details:

email: TOYS@sii.org.il