1. Laboratory overview
The Toys testing laboratory was founded in 1988 as part of the effort of Greece to establish the essential testing laboratories infrastructure for the safety of Toys, according to the requirements of Toys Safety Directive 88/378/EEC, as incorporated in the Greek legislation by the related ministerial decision (Hellenic Official Gazette: FEK B’ 6342/863/24-3-1989). The laboratory of Toys is the only laboratory in Greece that has been notified by the Hellenic Ministry of Development to the European Commission for the above Directive (Notification No. 365).
The laboratory of Toys is installed in Athens, in craft-based building 1100m2, together with the laboratories of Low Voltage and Electric Cables Testing Laboratories. It contains facilities of mechanical testing, flammability testing, chemical analysis and acoustic measurements. It is equipped with modern supplied and custom-made apparatus, which are systematically calibrated. The equipment is being continuously developed and upgraded, adapted in the technological developments as these are included in the latest editions of the European Standards.
The laboratory participates in the work of all European institutions that are involved in the safety requirements of Toys, for instance, the technical committee of the European Committee of Standardisation CEN/TC 52 “Safety of toys” and the Notified Bodies Coordination Group “NB Toys”.
The Ministry of Development uses the services of Laboratory in the market surveillance activities that it carries out in the framework of the Directive on the Safety of Toys.
In 1999 ELOT, aiming at increasing the protection of children, extended his activities in the testing of playground equipment safety, founding the Laboratory of Playground Equipment Testing. This activity is carried out today by the ELOT Certification Division.
The laboratory has obtained the National Council of Accreditation (ESYD), certificate nr. 218, according to the standard ELOT EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, demonstrating officially that it fills all essential conditions (independence, confidentiality, impartiality and technical competence) for valid and reliable results of tests.
2. Services Provided
1. Carrying out of tests and controls in Toys and playground equipment, according to the Hellenic Standards (ELOT EN) in force, that are identical to the European Standards (EN).
2. Preliminary control of a prototype or model of toy, prior the placement in the market.
3. Conducting of “EC type examinations” for cases of particularly innovative toys.
4. Issuing of the label “TESTED TOY” based on the requirements of the relative regulation that exceeds minimal required by the legislation for the affixing of CE-marking.
5. Providing technical assistance and information:
• in order to verify the conformity of produced/imported Toys with the Standards in force,
• with regard to the required testing apparatus and tests for the quality control of produced Toys, and
• to the producers with regard to the on-going developments in the requirements of manufacture of Toys, according to the available information of the ELOT standardizers by their participation in the European/international standardisation bodies meetings, as well as in the European/international laboratorial committees.
6. Carrying out of tests in samples from the market surveillance activities.
7. Training through the organizing of seminars relevant to the regulatory framework and the technical requirements for the safety of Toys.
3. Capabilities of Laboratory
In the Toys Laboratory tests are performed according to the series of the Hellenic Standards ELOT EN 71, which are identical to the European Standards.
However, due to the fact that the tests performed on a toy sample submitted by the manufacturer/importer and the issued Test Report concerns exclusively the submitted sample and not the total production, the Laboratory developed a new product, the safety label “TESTED TOY”. The label concerns the quality control of Toys produced in Greece or imported by third countries. The label presupposes the existence of the obligatory “CE marking” and is granted on the basis of Specific Rules of the Label “TESTED TOY”.
The completion of the testing equipment needed and, simultaneously, the extension of tests to playground equipment are in progress through co-funding by the Operational Programme of”COMPETITIVENESS”.
The laboratory maintains permanent and close collaboration with the professional associations of Toys production and import branch, as the Hellenic Association of Toy and Carriage Manufacturers (HATCM), the Union of Hellenic Manufacturers and Traders of Toys (UHMTT), as well as with Consumer Organisations, as EKPIZO and INKA.
It also participates regularly for a decade in the annual Toy Fair organised by the HATCM, titled “THE CHILD AND THE TOY”.
In the framework of this collaboration informative meetings have been organised related to the developments in the regulatory environment and the technical requirements on the safety of Toys. Also an Application Guidance has been published for use by the professionals of toys branch and informative booklets for the parents when they purchase Toys.
In the field of training seminars are organised in cooperation with the professional associations, as well as big enterprises of the toy sector.
4. Regulatory framework
The regulatory framework related to the Toys is contained in the Directive 88/378/EEC transposed into Greek Law with the ministerial decision (Hellenic Official Gazette: FEK B’ 6342/863/24-3-1989), completed by the Directive 93/68/EEC (Hellenic Official Gazette: FΕΚ B’ 923/F/14-12-1994). According to the legislation, the Toys placed in the market must bear a label with the CE marking.
By affixing the CE marking, the manufacturer/importer assumes the responsibility that the toy is manufactured according to the European Standards in force or, in the case where it does not satisfy these standards, according to a model, for which “EC type-examination certificate” has been issued by a Notified Body for Toys.
The manufacturer, or his authorized representative in the Community, shall maintain for each type of toy a technical dossier that includes all relative documents and forms, in order to demonstrate the conformity with the safety requirements, as:
a) Information of administrative nature for the company.
b) Documentation of conformity with the Standards, e.g. a Test Reports or an EC type-examination certificate issued by ELOT Toy Safety Laboratory.
c) Detailed information on each toy or group of toys (commercial names, code numbers, drawings, list of elements).
d) Detailed manufacturing information (places of manufacture, raw materials used, moulding apparatus, packing, assembly).
e) Data about production quality control.
f) Address of storage areas.
The technical dossier is kept by the manufacturer and it must be presented on request to the Competent Authorities.
5. Advantages of Cooperation with ELOT Toys Laboratory
1. Cooperation with specialised technical staff in Inspections, Quality Systems, safety procedures, accreditation, etc.
2. Long-term experience in Toys testing.
3. Scientific work from experienced and specifically trained personnel.
4. Cooperation with international committees and participation in international Bodies and in interlaboratory trials.
5. Valid information on the latest developments in the sectors of Standardisation /quality /safety.
6. Use in other countries of our Test Report issued in Hellenic/English version.
7. Possibility of reduction of cost tests when the requesting company enrols as an ELOT member.
6. Procedure for Testing
1. Submission of an application form provided by the Laboratory or available electronically in the ELOT web page (http://www.elot.gr/).
2. Submission of samples of Toys. Specialised technical personnel of laboratory is available to inform about the type and the quantity of samples as well to assist, if needed, in filling out the application form.
3. Payment of testing fees at ELOT Accounting Dept. (Acharnon 313- 3rd floor /Mo-Fr. 09.00-13.00) or through the ELOT banking account NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE 134/507000-78 (deposit proof must be sent by fax to the Toys Laboratory).
4. Carrying out of tests and issue of Test Report or “EC type” examination certificate.
5. Issuing and sending of Test Report or “EC type” examination certificate to the applicant.