Suction cups affixed to projectile toys are intended for securing the projectile to a surface. Sticking and unsticking projectiles leads to repeated stress at the interface between the suction cup and the projectile. Furthermore, even children above three years old often bring suction cups to their mouths to moisten the cups so that they stick better to the intended impact surface. If the suction cup is not properly secured, it is foreseeable that it could detach during normal or foreseeable use. If a suction cup becomes detached and enters the mouth, it could block the airway at the back of the mouth and upper throat and potentially cause suffocation or asphyxiation.
Put simply, the European Standard for toy safety, EN 71, specifies the following requirements for projectiles:
The minimum permitted length for projectiles with a suction cup is 57mm.
When fired, projectiles with resilient impact surfaces, e.g. rubber, must not exceed a kinetic energy of 0.5J.
Rigid projectiles without sucker ends (e.g. an arrow where the sucker end has become detached) must not exceed a kinetic energy of 0.08J.
Suction cups should not detach, when subjected to a torque test, 90 Newton tension test, drop and impact tests, and if they do detach, they should not fit through the suction cups template as specified in the standard.If a projectile, exceeding the kinetic energies specified above, hit another child in the eye, it could potentially cause serious damage or loss of the eye.
Toys that do not meet these standards will be regarded as unsafe and failing the Toy (Safety) Regulations.
For further advice please contact your local Trading Standards Service.
