Directive 2009/48/EC lays down a general prohibition of 55 allergenic fragrances in toys, as listed in the table in the first paragraph of point 11 of Part III of Annex II to that Directive, in order to protect children from allergies that those fragrances can cause when used in toys.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), which assists the Commission as an independent risk assessment body in the area of cosmetic products, notes in its opinion of 26 and 27 June 20122 that contact allergy to fragrances is a common, significant and relevant problem in Europe, and that exposure to fragrances occurs from the use of other consumer products, such as toys. The SCCS also notes that, in recent years, it has become a trend to add fragrance chemicals to many types of consumer products, such as children’s toys, which may contribute significantly to the fragrance exposure of the consumer by the dermal route. The SCCS adds that the consumer is exposed to fragrance substances from a wide variety of cosmetic products, other consumer products, pharmaceuticals and occupational exposures, and that all those exposures are of importance in the context of contact allergy as it is not the source of exposure that is critical, but the cumulative dose per unit area.

A survey of allergenic substances in products for children carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency in Denmark3 shows the presence of allergenic fragrances in toys, namely modelling clays, slimes, a doll, a teddy bear, and rubber bands.

The Expert Group on Toys Safety advises the Commission in the preparation of legislative proposals and policy initiatives in the area of toy safety. The mission of its subgroup on Chemicals in Toys (subgroup Chemicals) is to provide advice with regard to chemical substances which may be used in toys.

The Expert Group on Toys Safety recalled, at its meeting on 13 September 20194, that an allergenic substance, whether present in cosmetic products or in toys, is always allergenic. That so-called intrinsic property of the substance is independent from the use of the substance and is therefore present irrespective of whether the allergenic substance is used in cosmetics or in toys. Consequently, the Expert Group considered that an allergenic substance presenting a risk in cosmetic products could equally present a risk in toys. It therefore underlined the importance to take thorough account of the opinions of the SCCS and of its predecessor committees on allergenic fragrances in cosmetic products when regulating allergenic fragrances in toys.

Directive 2009/48/EC allows the Commission to prohibit or to require labelling of allergenic fragrances in toys. Contrary to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council5, which regulates cosmetic products, it does not allow the Commission to set maximum limits for allergenic fragrances.

In its opinion of 26 and 27 June 2012 the SCCS concluded that cosmetic products containing atranol or chloroatranol are not safe. The SCCS thus confirmed the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) of 7 December 20046 that atranol and chloroatranol should not be present in consumer products. The subgroup Chemicals therefore recommended, at its meeting on 3 May 20187, to prohibit the use of atranol and chloroatranol in toys, by adding them to the table in the first paragraph of point 11 of Part III of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC.

In its opinion of December 19998, the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and non-food Products intended for Consumers (SCCNFP), which was a predecessor of the SCCS, included methyl heptine carbonate among the fragrance chemicals less frequently reported as contact allergens. On the basis of that opinion, methyl heptine carbonate was included among the allergenic fragrances that have to be listed on the toy, on an affixed label, on the packaging or in an accompanying leaflet, in accordance with the third paragraph of point 11 of Part III of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC. In its opinion of 25 September 20019, the SCCNFP recommended that the level of methyl heptine carbonate in finished cosmetic products should not exceed 0,01 %.

Considering the above, and in particular the SCCS opinion concluding that cosmetic products containing atranol or chloroatranol are not safe, the SCCP opinion that atranol and chloroatranol should not be present in consumer products and the SCCNFP opinion that methyl heptine carbonate should not exceed 0,01 % in cosmetic products, the Expert Group on Toys Safety recommended, at its meeting on 13 September 2019, to prohibit the use of atranol, chloroatranol and methyl heptine carbonate in toys.

In light of the opinions of the SCCS, the SCCP and the SCCNFP, and of the recommendation of the Expert Group on Toys Safety the use of atranol, chloroatranol and methyl heptine carbonate in toys should be prohibited.

Directive 2009/48/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established under Article 47(1) of Directive 2009/48/EC,