The term "children's articles" refers to a wide range of products, with the exception of toys. These articles are intended to keep very young children safe, or to facilitate their bedtime, mealtimes, bath time or transport.
Examples include:
- Furniture for children (beds, cribs, playpens, high chairs, changing tables, etc.).
- Prams (baby carriages) and baby carriages with carry cribs
- Baby carriers
- Dummies
- Dummy clips (except those classified as toys)
- Children's bicycles (except those classified as toys)
- Child seats for bicycles
- Safety gates
- Children's clothing
- Etc.
Regulations for Children's Articles
Children's articles are not considered toys and therefore do not fall under toy regulations.
However, because these articles are part of children's everyday life, they must be designed and manufactured to ensure that they:
- Do not injure children (through cutting, pinching, strangling, choking, etc.).
- Do not cause them to fall due to lack of stability, sturdiness or insufficient locking in the operating position
- Do not cause burns
- Do not cause any poisoning through the use of potentially harmful paints or materials.
While no specific legislation exists for children's articles, they must currently meet the essential safety requirements set out in the Code of Economic Law, Book IX on the Safety of Products and Services. As of 13 December 2024, Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety will come into force and children's articles must meet the new requirements of that regulation.
Details of the obligations for the various market participants involved in the distribution chain for children's articles can be found on this page and in Regulation 2023/988.
Obligations for Professionals
You will find the detailed obligations for the various parties involved in the distribution chain for childcare items:
- on the page General Regulations for the Safety of Products Intended for Consumers: Obligations for Professionals
- in Regulation 2023/988 (EU).
Tips for Manufacturers and Importers
- Only manufacture or import safe products. The child's safety should be your top priority.
- Comply with all legal requirements. Make sure your products meet the general safety requirement.
- Know the products you sell. Inform yourself about the safety requirements applicable to your products.
- Ensure that the instruction manuals accompanying the products are correct, clearly illustrated and translated into the language(s) of the country of sale.
- Product traceability is a mandatory requirement. Products for children must have a reference, batch, serial or model number, or another marking that identifies them.
- Refer to the standards. A product is presumed to be safe if it complies with a standard whose references have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, for the hazards covered by that standard. Even if these standards are not referenced, they can still be used to assess compliance with the general safety requirement. If no specific standard exists for a product, assess the risks associated with it and use applicable requirements from existing standards. You can access or purchase the standards from the Bureau for Standardisation (NBN).
- Anticipate the potential recall of products. Clearly explain to consumers how to register products at the time of purchase to receive information about any potential recalls. Make sure the recall notices are clear and accessible.
