EU Toys - Belgium & France Ban Puzzle Mats

Belgium

Belgium announced on 10 December 2010, followed by France on 13 December 2010, the banning of puzzle mats.
Results of recent tests carried out on some puzzle mats on the Belgium market showed almost all such products emitted excessive levels of harmful substances, including formamide.

Based on these results, the Minister for Climate and Energy, Paul Magnette, announced on 10 December 2010 that puzzle mats can no longer be sold to customers.  He had instructed his administration to take all necessary measures and determine the practical arrangements to ensure the withdrawal of puzzle mats from the Belgian market.

From now on, in order to put puzzle mats on the Belgium market, the manufacturer will be obliged to prove in a technical dossier that the product contains no traces of harmful substances.  Therefore, the re-introduction of this type of toy on the market would be on a case-by-case basis.

Violators of this ban can be fined for up to 20,000 euros.

France

The Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs, Frederic Lefebvre, announced on 13 December 2010 that the suspension of the marketing of puzzle mats for 3 months.  This means the ban will end on 12 March, 2011.

On 15 March, 2011, France published in its Official Gazette the extension on its temporary ban on foam puzzle mats until 15 July 2011 inclusive.

During this suspension, various government departments will carry out further sampling and analysis of puzzle mats sold in France, as well as addition expertise on:

• Identifying toys and products containing formamide;
• Levels of population exposure to this substance, especially as regards for children and sensitive populations;
• The relevance of maximum limits concerning the use of this substance in the toys for children.

Additional information (as received from the French authority upon enquiry):

The ban applies only to products classifiable as toys, that is to say intended for play by children under 14 years old, However, taking into account the nature and of the characteristics of these ‘carpet-puzzles’, it is highly unlikely that these objects can receive a different destination than toys.

If the trader can prove the absence of formamide, then the corresponding products are not affected by the suspension of marketing in question.