Cord and Drawstring Risks from Childrens Clothing

EU Reports Surveillance Results

The European Commission has published the results of a market surveillance
exercise that checked the safety of childrens clothing to the requirements of
relevant European standard (EN 14682:2007 Safety of childrens clothing Cords
and drawstrings on childrens clothing - specifications). A total of 16,000
garments were inspected between 2008 and 2010. The results showed that
1 in 10 items were reported for a breach of the safety requirements.
Manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers are responsible for the safety of
such garments. They must ensure that childrens clothes comply with EN 14682:2007.

Background
European authorities receive notifications of incidents based on national accident statistics where cord or
drawstrings on childrens clothes have led to severe injury or death. The main purpose of the notifications
is to ultimately reduce the amount of unsafe childrens clothing. The high number of notifications led to the
market surveillance and between August 2008 and February 2010, PROSAFE, the EU network of
surveillance authorities, checked 16,300 garments. Of this total, 2,188 garments did not comply with the
European safety standard. As a result, national authorities will intensify their work to ensure compliance
with the mandatory requirements.
The following statement is from John Dalli, Member of the European Commission responsible for Health
and Consumer Policy: "It is for each parent or carer to judge how best to manage the safety of their
children. Our concern is that parents can choose garments for their children without having to worry about
safety. We must be vigilant on behalf of our most vulnerable consumers and products reaching our
markets must meet safety requirements. My message to parents is 'be aware' and my message to
business is that you are responsible for the safety of the products you bring on the market."

Safety Recommendations
Based on the requirements under the European safety standard:
Clothes for children up to seven years of age should not have cords or drawstrings in the hood and
neck area.
Clothes should not have cords longer than 75mm in the hood and neck area or drawstrings with free
ends.
Cords in the hood and neck area should not be elastic except for shoulder straps and halter necks.
Clothes for children should not have cords or drawstrings with free ends longer than 140mm in the
chest and waist area.
Halter neck-style childrens clothes should not have loose ends in the hood and neck area.
Childrens clothes intended to be tied at the front should not have tied belts or sashes longer than
360mm when measured untied from the point where they are to be tied.

Additional Information
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/342&format=HTML&aged=0&language=E
N&guiLanguage=en

Bureau Veritas Solutions and Services for Compliance with Legislation

We offer a wide range of safety, quality and chemical management solutions, as well as product testing and
consulting, to assist you with compliance challenges for this and other regulations in Europe and globally.

Contact your Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Representative or visit:

www.bureauveritas.co.uk/cps, www.bureauveritas.de/cps or www.bureauveritas.fr
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, Inc. (BVCPS) provides the information in this client bulletin as a resource of general
information. It does not replace any applicable legal or regulatory requirements and is provided as is. BVCPS will not be liable for
any indirect, special, punitive, consequential or other damages (including without limitation lost profits) of any kind in connection with
this client bulletin. BVCPS DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS CLIENT BULLETIN.
Copyright 2010 Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

April 2010, Bulletin 10B-122