Commission Decision of 2 July 2010 on the safety requirements to be met by European standards for certain products in the sleep environment of children pursuant to Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2010/376/EU)

SPECIFIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR COT BUMPERS

RISKS: The main risks associated with the product are strangulation, internal and external suffocation and choking.

Safety requirements

1. General safety requirements

Articles shall not jeopardise the safety or health of children when they are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.

The ability of the users and their carers shall be taken into account, in particular for articles which, by virtue of their functions, dimensions and characteristics, are intended for use by children from six up to 18 months.

Labels on articles or on their packaging and the instructions for use which accompany them shall draw the attention of carers to the inherent hazards and risks of harm involved in using the articles and to the way of avoiding them.

2. Specific safety requirements

Chemical requirements

Cot bumpers shall comply with EU legislation.

Fire and thermal properties

Cot bumpers shall not pose flammability risks in the child’s environment. They shall be composed of materials which fulfil at least one of the following conditions:

• they do not burn if directly exposed to a flame or spark,

• if they do ignite, they shall burn slowly with a low rate of spread of the flame.

In addition, combustible materials shall not release toxic fumes during combustion.

The use of chemical flame retardant substances should be kept to the minimum. If chemical flame retardant substances are used, their toxicity during use and end-of-life disposal should not endanger the health of the users, carers and the environment.

Physical and mechanical properties

Microbiological hazards

Cot bumpers shall not pose microbiological hazards from insufficient hygiene from material of animal origin.

Entrapment hazards from gaps and openings

Cot bumpers shall not constitute a risk of entrapment of the head and neck of the child in loops or cords or other attachment devices. Stitching and decorative parts on the bumper shall not become loose when submitted to mechanical stress from foreseeable use by children so as not to pose an additional risk of entrapment of limbs, head and fingers or make the filling accessible (see choking hazards).

Entanglement hazards

There shall be no cords or loops on the cot bumpers that could entangle a child’s neck. Loops where a child’s fingers or toes could be trapped should be avoided.

Choking and internal suffocation hazards

Cot bumpers shall not contain separate or small parts which can be detached by the child, fit completely into a child’s mouth and swallowed.

Cot bumpers shall not contain small parts which can be detached by the child and can remain stuck in the pharynx or at the back of the oral cavity. The filling material shall not be accessible, especially by biting off, and shall withstand stress from foreseeable use by the child, taking into account the possibility of fibres passing through the seams and the strength of the seams. The filling material shall not contain any hard or sharp contaminants, such as metal particles, nails, needles or splinters.

External suffocation hazards

The product shall not comprise plastic decals which could be detached by the child or other impermeable coverings of the cot bumper which could cover both the mouth and the nose.

The packaging in which the articles are contained shall not constitute a risk of suffocation due to obstruction of the external airways.

To prevent suffocation, the product shall not comprise soft materials which could mould to the child’s face or produce indentations which could obstruct the airways.

Hazardous edges

Cot bumpers shall not have sharp edges and points. They shall not comprise points or protruding surfaces that could constitute a puncture hazard.

Protective function

Cot bumpers shall be designed and manufactured in such a way as to avoid the presence of parts likely to be used as footholds enabling children to climb on the product.

Hazards due to the combination of two separate items

Cot bumpers shall not pose an additional entrapment or asphyxiation hazard if the child manages to put his/her head between the cot bumper and the side of the cot.

Specific warnings for the article

Adequate information shall be given for the correct fitting of the cot bumper to the side of the cot. The warning shall indicate that the cot bumper shall be fitted correctly so that the attachment device shall not comprise cords and loops that could entrap the head and neck of the child. Warnings shall draw the attention of carers to the risks posed by cot bumpers which are not compatible (due to the size or model) with the cot and by cot bumpers which are not correctly attached to the cot.

Hygiene

Cot bumpers shall be designed and manufactured in such a way as to be easily and thoroughly cleaned, to avoid the risk of infection or contamination. The product shall fulfil this condition also after washing according to the manufacturer’s instructions and should not stain when in contact with the child.