Safety of Toys (Amendment) Regulations, 2026
The proposed provisions transpose Commission Directive (EU) 2026/192 of 28 January 2026 amending Appendix A of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety of toys as regards cobalt, by permitting cobalt in toys only in specific scenarios, that is, for stainless steel components, electrical conductors, and secure neodymium magnets. Hence, cobalt is now included in Appendix A of Annex II to the Toy Safety Directive.
Specifically, cobalt is being permitted under the following applications:
- In toys and toy components made of stainless steel, as an impurity in the nickel contained in the stainless steel.
- In toy components which are intended to conduct electric current.
- In neodymium-based magnets used in toys if those magnets cannot be swallowed or inhaled.
The use of cobalt in these applications is subject to strict conditions to ensure safety and compliance with EU regulations.
