National foreword

This Published Document is the UK implementation of CEN ISO/TR 8124‑8:2024. It is identical to ISO/TR 8124‑8:2024. It supersedes PD CEN ISO/TR 8124‑8:2016, which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee CW/15, Safety of toys.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

This publication is not to be regarded as a British Standard.

Compliance with a Published Document cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This Published Document was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2024.

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 21 September 2024. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 52.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

European foreword

This document (CEN ISO/TR 8124‑8:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 181 "Safety of toys" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 52 “Safety of toys” the secretariat of which is held by DS.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes CEN ISO/TR 8124‑8:2016.

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

Endorsement notice

The text of ISO/TR 8124‑8:2024 has been approved by CEN as CEN ISO/TR 8124‑8:2024 without any modification.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 181, Safety of toys, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 52, Safety of Toys, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO/TR 8124‑8:2016), which has been technically revised.

The main changes are as follows:

the title of the document has been revised to better align with the scope and intent of the contents therein;
clarification has been added that this document only provides information for use in the determination of the lowest age at which children start playing with toys in specific toy sub-categories;
"projectile toys" and “soft compound materials” have been included as sub-categories;
Annex C has been added to provide visual examples of the differing levels of complexity or play pattern of product categories from the simplest operation (starting age grade) to higher appropriate age grades.

A list of all parts in the ISO 8124 series can be found on the ISO website.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

This document provides information for use in the determination of the lowest age at which children start playing with toys in specific toy sub-categories. Toys of the same sub-categories suitable for older children due to additional skills or complexity are not listed. Due to a number of factors, including size, complexity or other considerations (e.g. the number of pieces, dimensions, weight, level of detail and realism, brand or licence and special functions), the actual appropriate age grade for a specific toy can vary compared to the intended age. Specific products can therefore carry an age grade which is appropriate for a child that is older than the starting age grade listed in this document.

This document is based on the advice of experts and on the traditional play patterns of children.

NOTE It is possible that national or regional regulations or directives will classify a toy, or category of toy, as being intended for a different age.

Annex B gives details on how information on electronic toys and electronics in toys was considered in the development of this document.

Annex C gives details on how differences in complexity or play pattern will affect the appropriate age grade beyond the starting age grade.

1 Scope

This document provides an indication of the lowest age at which children start playing with toys in specific toy sub-categories. It is primarily directed to manufacturers and agencies that evaluate the compliance of toys with safety standards.

This document can be used as a reference to determine the appropriateness of toys by earliest age, for use by distributors, institutions and organizations involved with child play, as well as by paediatric institutions, teachers, other professionals that use toys in their routine activities, and consumers.

The age at which children develop different abilities is unique for each individual child. This document illustrates the age ranges during which a typical child has developed certain abilities.

Although age grading has safety implications, this document is not intended to address specific safety requirements. Specific safety requirements for toys (e.g. restriction of the presence of small parts and small balls in toys intended for certain age groups, due to the choking hazard) can be found in the ISO 8124 series and in other regional toy safety standards and regulations.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Starting ages

4.1 Children with starting ages birth to under 4 months

4.2 Children with starting ages 4 months to under 8 months

4.3 Children with starting ages 8 months to under 12 months

4.4 Children with starting ages 12 months to under 18 months

4.5 Children with starting ages 18 months to under 24 months

4.6 Children with starting ages 24 months to under 36 months

4.7 Children with starting ages 3 years to under 4 years

4.8 Children with starting ages 4 years to under 6 years

4.9 Children with starting ages 6 years to under 8 years

4.10 Children with starting ages 8 years to under 14 years

Bibliography

PD CEN ISO/TR 8124-8:2024

Safety of toys - Age determination. First age grade for the appropriate play of toys

Current

Published:

31 Oct 2024