toys:age classification guidelines - fortis...

TOYS:AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES

GUIDELINES FOR THE TOYS REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE

HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS ACT (HPA)

Product Safety Bureau1998-01-13

INTRODUCTION

The interpretations expressed in these guidelines reflect current thinking asunderstood by the Product Safety Branch . These guidelines are not a finalinterpretation of the Hazardous Products (Tous) Regulations, which is a matter forthe courts; however, they remain working directives that will be updated as required .

The Regulations have requirements that differ according to whether a toy is forchildren under or over the age of three . The main concern is small components intoys for children under 3 years . However, the Regulations do not state explicitlywhat type of toys are intended for children under or over the age of three .

The guidelines were developed in order to :

1)

reduce the room for subjectivity when determining the age for which atoy is intended ;

2)

enhance uniformity of enforcement across Canada ; and

3)

help industry comply with the Toys Regulations .

HOW TO USE THE GUIDELINES

The steps to be taken in determining the age of the child for which a toy is intendedare the following :

1) Determine the primary function or play feature of the toy as sold,advertised and promoted .

Example: a key chain (which looks like a key chain rattle), included in atoy not intended for an infant, such as a play house, even where it hasthe characteristics of a rattle, should not be considered as a rattle .

A toy intended to be used at different stages of development of a child, whichhas features that would please children under the age of three, has to beclassified for a child under three .

Example : an abacus as part of a push/pull toy that is intended for achild under the age of three has to be classified for a child under three .

2) Consult the following table entitled "Toys : Age Classification by Product" todetermine the age category for which the toy, or each feature of the toy, isintended .

TOYS: AGE CLASSIFICATION BY PRODUCT

PRODUCT

FOR<3 YEARS OF AGE

FOR>3 YEARS OF AGE

ABC Square

° for < 3BlocksBlocs ABC

Abacus

as part of a toy for < 3

° abacus function onlyBoulier

years of age, e.g ., animalor vehicle

TOYS: AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES

2

BallsBalles

BanksTire lire

BathtubToysJouets pour lebain

BinocularsJumelles

•

beach balls•

balls made of very softmaterial, such as foam ortextiles and balls made ofplastic

•

noise-making, such assqueeze balls, rattle balls

•

see-through withmoving parts inside

• as part of a toy for < 3years of age, e.g., pulltelephone bank

•

activity centre•

wind-up easy to turn,< 0,34 N •m '

•

bath toy stickers

•

realistic sports balls andgame balls, e.g ., soccer

•

balls to be used with a bator a racquet

•

super bouncing balls

•

bank function only

•

realistic models with sails,rudders

•

bubble makers

•

for>3

1 From U .S . Regulations for Tovs and Children's Articles (Consumer Product SafetyCommission), torque test for toys intended for children from 18 to 36 months .


3

PRODUCT FOR < 3 YEARS OF AGE FOR > 3 YEARS OF AGE

Activity Quilt °for<3Carpette de jeu

Balloons NOTE : Balloon blowing kits °for>3Ballons containing aromatic, aliphatic

or other organic solvents arebanned under section 21 ofPart I of the Schedule to theH PA.

PRODUCT

BlocksBlocs

BricksBriques

CameraAppareil-photo

CashRegisterCaisse enregis-treuse

TOYS : AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES

4

FOR <3 YEARS OF AGE

•

soft, stuffed or made offoam; fabric or plasticcovered for easy gripping

•

may be made of wood orplastic

•

simple geometric shapes(few triangles and arches)

•

magnetic boards withanimals, figurines orgeometric shapes

•

simple plastic nuts, boltsand screws

•

cardboard blocks

•

see blocks,

•

with shape sorter•

bright primary colours•

rounded, caricatured•

few details•

made of plastic•

with a crank

FOR>3 YEARS OF AGE

•

tubes to be connectedtogether

•

flat pieces to be connectedinto slots

•

more complex bolts, nutsand screws

•

see blocks

•

for>3

•

realistic colours•

detailed written information•

paper delivery device•

grocery store unit, includingscales, conveyor etc .

PRODUCT

ChalkCraie

ClayPate a modeler

Cleaning SetTrousse demenagere

ClockHorloge

CookingEquipmentEnsemble pour lacuisine

Cosmetic KitTrousse demaquillage


FOR < 3 YEARS OF AGE

•

all ages

•


made of plastic•

rounded, caricatured

•

with shape sorter

•

simple fake stove

NOTE: Perfume, lipstick,make-up, nail polish, shavingcream, etc., even when soldin a child-oriented package,are covered by the Food andDrugs Act and Regulationsadministered by HealthCanada . On the other hand,brushes, mirrors, combs,fake razors, etc ., arecovered under the HPA.

FOR > 3 YEARS OF AGE

•

all sizes for > 3

•

all ages

•

realistic shape andproportion

•

designed to teach time

•

stove that really works•

fake kitchen unit, includingseveral features

•

for>3

5

PRODUCT

CrayonsCrayons

Crafts Sets 2Trousse pourartisanat

Crib ToysJouets pour le lit

CutleryCoutellerie

Dish-washingsetsLave-vaisselle


6

FOR<3 YEARS OF AGE

•

"Finger Crayons" type•

specific designcharacteristic made toenable a child < 3 yrs. tohold easily ie. a hole withan appropriate size for ayoung child to put a fingerin or a knob at an endto place in a child's palm

•

those that have anotherfunction that is intended forchildren under the age ofthree (e.g . stackablecrayons and puzzles thatare intended for childrenunder the age of three)

•

for<3

•


made of plastic, rounded,caricatured

FOR>3 YEARS OF AGE

•

crayons which are not"Finger Crayons", or do nothave a hole to put a fingerin or a knob at an end toplace in a child's palm

•

those that have anotherfunction that is intended forchildren over the age ofthree (e.g., morecomplicated puzzles thatare intended for childrenover the age of three)

°for>3

•

realistic•

miniaturization of real ones

°for>3

2Crafts Kits include knitting, sewing, needlepoint, pottery, stained glass, paint bynumber sets, etc .


7


Doctor/Nurse KitsTrousse demedecin oud'infirmiere

°for>3

DollsPoupees

° soft baby dolls° rag dolls° bean bag dolls° small peg dolls° talking dolls° few details (hair, eyes thatopen/shut)

° dolls to learn to dress (largebuttons, velcro, zipper)

° cuddly or soft

° dolls that cry, wet, move,drink, if they are not cuddlyor soft

° articulated limbs° paper dolls° fashion/teenage dolls

(Barbie type)° collectibles° hair-styling/cutting dolls° make-up dolls° career dressed dolls

Doll ° bright primary colours ° realisticcarriages/ ° made of plastic ° miniaturization of real onesStrollers ° rounded, caricatured ° collapsiblePoussettes pourpoupees

Felt Boards °for>3Tableau feutre

Ink Stamps °for>3Etampe

Iron/ ° bright primary colours ° realisticIroning ° made of plastic ° miniaturization of real onesBoard ° rounded, caricatured ° collapsible ironing boardPlanche arepasser

TOYS: AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES 8


Jack-in-the-boxDiable a ressort

Kaleido-scopeKaleidoscope

Lacing ToysJouets a lacer

°for<3

° with features that arepleasing to < 3, and lacingis not primary function,e.g ., pull toy, shape sorter

°for>3

° lacing component only,e .g ., lacing cards

MagneticBoardsTableau aimante

° with animals, human,geometrically shapedpieces

° easy to create design

° with letters and numbers tocreate words and to learnto count

MarblesBilles

MicroscopeMicroscope

Model ToysModeles reduits

Pastry Sets

°for >3

°for >3

°for >3

°for >3Ensemble apatisserie

Peg DollsPoupees-Cheville de bois

Playhouse(child-sized)Maisonnette pourenfants

°for<3

°for<3

PRODUCT

FOR <3YEARS OF AGE

FOR >3 YEARS OF AGE

Play Gym

° for < 3for InfantPortique pourtout-petit

Pop-Up

° for < 3CharactersCopains-surprise

Pots and

° bright primary colours

° realisticPans

° made of plastic

° miniaturization of real onesBatteries de

° rounded, caricaturedcuisine

ProjectileTo

° for > 3ysProjectiles

Push-Pull

° for < 3Toys (with ahandle or astring)Jouets a pousser-tirer (avecpoignee oucorde)

PuppetMarionnette


9

•

push-up puppets•

hand puppets•

string puppets•

finger puppets

PRODUCT

PuzzlesCasse-tete

FOR<3 YEARS OF AGE

•

up to a total of 12 pieces,when all the pieces fit togetheradjacently to form a single image(there may be exceptions)

•

bright colours•

subjects familiar to a smallchild, such as animals,vehicles, parts of the humanbody, simple geometricforms, trees, clowns, etc .

•

pieces with smooth edges(no inter- locking edges)

•

pieces designed to fit in aplayboard cutout

•

materials such as plastic,wood, foam (like a bathsponge), foam rubber andheavy-weight cardboard

•

pieces may have a knob•

easy to fit the pieces together•

at least one edge of mostpieces of the puzzle iscoincident with the internaledge of the playboard cutout

•

when two images aresuperimposed on the sameplayboard, up to 12 pieces intotal

•

when there is more than oneplayboard per package or 2or more separate puzzles inthe package, up to 12 piecesfor each playboard orpuzzle

•

when 2 or more puzzles areplaced side by side on thesame playboard, up to 12pieces for each puzzle

•

foam puzzles promoted forbath-time use

•

alphabet, with 10-12 lettersrepresentednumbers (up to 12)


FOR>3 YEARS OF AGE

° 3-D puzzlesinterlocking edges

• no playboard cut out tofacilitate placement ofpiecesg• reater than 12 pieces

•

complete alphabet

10

PRODUCT

Radios'Radios

RattlesHochets

SandboxtoolsJouets pourcarre de sable

Science KitsNecessairesd'experiencescientifique

ShoppingCartsChariot d'epicerie

SinkEvier

TOYS : AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES


•

with wind-upmechanisms that areeasy to turn

•

with another toy-like function eg. asoft toy/radio

•

for <3•

keys on a ring/chain areconsidered rattles

•

for<3

•

bright primary coloursmade of plastic

•


•

for<3


•

realistic•

functioning as a real one•

battery-operated

•

a toy is not a rattle when itis part of a toy intended fora child over 10 months,even where it has thecharacteristics of a rattle

•

maracas and musicalinstruments are notconsidered rattles

•

for>3

3 Radios include radios, T.V .'s, tape recorders, walkie-talkies, record players, etc .

11

•

realistic•

miniaturization of real ones

PRODUCTS

ToySoldiersSoldats

SqueezeToysJouets a presser

Stackingand NestingToysJouets a empilerou a emboIter

StencilsPochoirs

Stuffed ToysJouets enpeluche

Tea SetsEnsemble pour lethe



•

easy to grasp•

bright primary colours

•

for<3

•

most stuffed toys•

up to a height of 40 cm•

talking stuffed toys•

stuffed toys for learning todress (large buttons,velcro, zipper)

•

with musical boxes even ifa young child cannot windup the toy

•

with/without suction cups•

with/without velcro to attachbaby animals

•


made of plastic•



•

for>3

•

for>3

•

stuffed toys that cry, wet,move, drink

•

articulated limbs•

collectibles•

theme toys, e.g ., career-dressed

•

realistic•

miniaturization of real ones•

made from ceramic,porcelain, glass

12

TOYS: AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES 13

PRODUCTS FOR < 3 YEARS OF AGE FOR > 3 YEARS OF AGE

TelephonesTelephones

° bright primary colours° rounded, caricatured° musical push button° noise making dial° push/pull telephone with astring or a handle

° linked together with a stringto pretend to talk tosomeone else

° realistic° with complicated dialingfeatures, switchboard

Threading °for>3BeadsPerles

Tools ° bright primary colours ° realisticoutils ° made of plastic ° actually works

° e.g ., screwdriver, hammer, ° e.g., adjustable wrench,wrench, pounding bench locking pliersand hammer ° battery-operated

Tricks and °for>3JokesFarces etattrappes

Watch °for>3Montre

Weighing °for>3ScalesBalances

Wheel- ° bright primary colours ° realisticbarrows ° made of plastic ° miniaturization of real onesBrouettes ° rounded, caricatured

PRODUCTS

WheeledVehicles4Vehicules surroues

Wind-upRemontoir

WorkbenchEtabli


FOR<3 YEARS OF AGE

•

bright, primary colours•

friction-powered•

with string or handle to pull•

noise making, e .g . clicking•

rounded, caricatured•

few realistic details•

may be made of plastic,wood or textile

•

the greatest dimension isnot smaller than 5 cm

•

see-through•

the passengers areoversizedcompared to the size of thevehicle

•

sold singly or with oneattachment

•

with wind-up mechanismsthat are easy to turn

•

carries blocks•

simple workingmechanisms, e .g .,dumping, carrying blocks

•

simple sets, e.g ., a trainengine and a few cars soldas a set

• Wind-up key is easy tograsp and turn (requirestorque of less than 0 .34N-m)

FOR>3 YEARS OF AGE

14

realistic coloursrealistic shape andproportionrealistic detailed logos, trimon the vehiclethe size of the passengersis realistic compared to thesize of the vehiclemay be very small size(ie. < 5 cm)may be metalcollectiblemodel kitsbattery-operatedsets to be assembled, e.g.,train sets with tracks,houses etc . Often thecomponents of the set aresold separately (Exception :battery-operated vehiclesthat meet other criteria for•

3 will be classified for•

3)

• Wind-up key requires somedexterity to grasp and turnor strength (torque greaterthan 0 .34 N •m )

•

for>3

4 Wheeled Vehicles include airplanes, cars, trucks, trains, boats, motor cycles, etc .

3)

If the toy is not in the table, use the following characteristics to determine theage for which the toy is intended .

Example: a camera which needs visual keenness to use : despite thefact that it is bright coloured and has few details, should be classifiedfor over three .

UNDER 3 (<3)

meant to be attached to a crib,a carriage, e .g ., a mobile

the greatest dimension is notsmaller than 5 cm

push/pull toy with a handle ora string (excluding dollcarriages, shopping cartsetc.)

there are no othercharacteristics that will makeit for an under 3

typically not for an under 3




1 5

4-

4-

4 --

F

OVER 3 (>3)

there are no othercharacteristics that will makeit for an over 3

there are no minimumdimensions

there are no othercharacteristics that will makeit for an over 3

needs visual keenness, e .g .,camera, binoculars,kaleidoscope

typically designed to be usedwith another child, e .g .,games, telephones linkedtogether with a string topretend to talk to someoneelse

non-assembled toys, e .g .,construction toys, models,train sets, figurines toassemble (excluding puzzlesand blocks)

collectible toys

rounded shape, caricatured,does not look real,componentsnot realistically proportioned,e .g., in a toy vehicle, thepassenger is notproportion to the size of thevehicle

see-through with movingparts inside, e .g ., a toyvehicle with moving gearsinside a transparent frame

bright primary colours, notexcluding other colours,typically non- realisticcolours

typically made of plastic,wood, textile, but notexcluding metal

when the toy vehicle ispowered, typically it is frictionpowered, but not excludingbattery operate

if a winding key is present, itdoes not require more than0,34 N•m ' to turn the key

if the toy makes noise, thenoise is typically an animalnoise or a clicking noise

TOYS : AGE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES 16

realistic shape andproportions, realistic detailedlogos and trim on a vehicle,e .g ., in a toy vehicle, thepassenger is in proportion tothe size of the vehicle

typically not for over 3

not excluding bright primarycolours, but typically realisticcolours

made of more realisticmaterial, e.g., metal, but notexcluding plastic, wood ortextile

when the toy vehicle ispowered, typically it isbattery operated, but notexcluding friction powered

there is no torque limitation

if the toy makes noise, thenoise is realistic

1 From U.S . Regulations for Toys and Children's Articles (Consumer Product SafetyCommission), torque test for toys intended for children from 18 to 36 months .

SOURCES

We wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance provided by the following:

past decisions made by the Product Safety Bureau ;

comments from inspectors of the Product Safety Bureau regarding previousguidelines ;

Hazardous Products Act Reference Manual ;

U .S . CPSC, Guidelines for Relatinq Children's Ages to Tov Characteristic ;

U .S . CPSC officials ;

U .S. CPSC, Requlations for Toys and Children's Products ;

Canadian Toy Testing Council, 1991 Tov Report ; and

retail catalogues .


For more information please contact the nearest Health Canada Product SafetyOffice .

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