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 DUVETS FOR CHILDREN U.K.

RISKS: The main risks associated with the product are suffocation and hyperthermia, frequently associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Safety requirements U.K.

1. General safety requirements U.K.

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.

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 U.K.

Chemical requirements U.K.

Duvets for children shall comply with EU legislation.

Fire and thermal properties U.K.

Children’s duvets 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.

Hyperthermia hazard U.K.

Warnings and instructions shall draw carers’ attention to the temperature in the room where the product is used, to prevent hyperthermia.

Physical and mechanical properties U.K.

Microbiological hazards U.K.

Children’s duvets shall not pose microbiological hazards from insufficient hygiene from material of animal origin.

Entrapment hazards from gaps and openings U.K.

Stitching and decorative parts on duvets shall not become loose when subject to mechanical stress from foreseeable use and thus pose a risk of entrapment (especially of fingers).

Entanglement hazards U.K.

Duvets for children shall not comprise cords or loops that could entangle the child’s neck.

Choking and internal suffocation hazards U.K.

Duvets for children shall not contain separate or small parts which can be detached by the child, fit completely into a child’s mouth and swallowed. Duvets for children 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, and shall not contain any hard or sharp contaminants, such as metal particles, nails, needles or splinters. The filling shall also withstand stress from foreseeable use by the child (including biting off), taking into account the possibility of fibres passing through the seams and the strength of the seams.

External suffocation hazards U.K.

Duvets for children shall not comprise plastic decals which could be detached by the child and other impermeable coverings which can cover both the mouth and the nose.

The packaging in which the product is contained shall not constitute a risk of suffocation caused by obstruction of the external airways.

The baby shall be able to breathe and get sufficient airflow when the duvet covers his/her face while sleeping.

Specific warnings for the article U.K.

Warnings and instructions for use shall draw carers’ attention to the serious risks of suffocation if duvets are used with children under four months.

The minimum age recommended for use is nine months.

Information concerning the size of the cot in which the duvet is to be used shall also be provided.

Warnings about the room temperature shall also be provided (see hyper thermal hazards).

Hygiene U.K.

Duvets for children 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.