LEDs in toys: ANSES calls for a revision of the "eye safety" section of the European standard
The safety of electric toys is verified according to a European standard that was updated in 2020. ANSES recently conducted an in-depth examination of the new protocol for verifying that toys containing LEDs are safe for eyes. It concluded that the revised version is unable to guarantee compliance with the limit values for protecting children's eyes. ANSES therefore recommends suspending application of the updated part of the standard relating to eye safety and revising it without delay.
Some children's toys – such as cuddly toys, dolls, drawing tablets, toy trucks, spinning tops and illuminated board games – contain LEDs. These emit blue light, which can have various toxic effects on the retina and disrupt biological rhythms, including sleep, if exposure occurs in the evening or at night. Children, whose eyes do not fully filter blue light, are particularly at risk.
In order to guarantee user health and safety, European Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys lays down the essential requirements for placing them on the market. For light-emitting toys, an annex to the standard on electrical toys (NF EN IEC 62115) sets out a verification protocol designed to protect children's eyes. This seeks to demonstrate compliance with the internationally-established exposure limit values under all circumstances.
The 2020 version of the standard is not sufficiently protective
A revised 2020 version of the standard came into force in 2022. The verification protocol included in this revised version enabled eye safety requirements to be verified using calculations based on the technical characteristics of the lamps and scenarios of use. This protocol replaced the previous one, which was based on tests and measurements.
At the request of the Ministries of Health, and Economy and Finance, ANSES conducted an in-depth expert appraisal of this new protocol. Its analysis concluded that there were several errors in the scientific study on which the protocol was based. These errors could result in "compliant" toys exceeding the exposure limit values, which were defined to prevent the risks associated with blue light. The errors relate to the relevance of the exposure scenarios, the calculation of luminance and the conversion of radiant flux into intensity.
As part of ANSES's expert appraisal, tests were also carried out on a sample of 19 LEDs contained in toys available on the market. These confirmed that the 2020 version of the standard was less protective than the previous version from 2005: for eight of the toys tested, it would not have been possible to place them on the market under the 2005 version of the standard because they exceeded the safety requirements, compared with just one toy under the 2020 version. Compliance with the new version of the standard does not therefore guarantee that eye safety requirements are met with regard to preventing any risk to children's eyes.
ANSES recommends revising the regulatory framework without delay
Given the health issues associated with children's exposure to excessive levels of blue light and the importance of the standard in guaranteeing the safety of toys sold, ANSES recommends that a revision of the "eye safety" section of the 2020 version of standard NF EN 62115 be undertaken rapidly. To support this new revision, and in agreement with the ministries requesting the expert appraisal, ANSES undertook to share its scientific analysis at European level. Pending this revision, the Agency recommends suspending this part of the standard and temporarily reverting to the 2005 version in order to verify the eye safety of toys.
What are the hazards of blue light?
In expert appraisals published in 2010 and 2019, ANSES described the hazards of the blue light emitted by LEDs and the possible health effects. Repeated exposure can cause damage to the retina, in particular increasing the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Moreover, exposure to blue light in the evening or at night can disrupt biological rhythms, including sleep. ANSES reiterates its general recommendations to help protect children from the risks associated with exposure to LEDs:
- Limit exposure to blue or white LEDs, which have a higher blue-light content,
- Avoid using light-emitting toys two hours before bedtime, to avoid disrupting biological rhythms and the onset of sleep.