On 25 September 2014, the EU notified the WTO of a draft Commission Directive to amend the migration limits for lead in toys. If adopted, the enforcement date will be 18 months after publication in the OJEU.

    The migration limits for lead under the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD) were based on a 2008 report of the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The report was based on the conclusion that the exposure of children to lead may not exceed the tolerable daily intake (DTI) level of 3.6 mg/kg per day as the toxicological reference value.According to new scientific knowledge published by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), the new toxicological reference value to be used for establishing lead limits is the benchmark dose limit (BMDL01) relating to neuro-developmental effects and the DTI should no longer be used as the toxicological reference value.

    Under the notification, the migration limits for lead would be more stringent for all 3 toy material categories; with limits proposed to be lowered by 6-7 fold.

    Highlights of the notification are summarised in Table 1.