Board Game Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Board Game Regulations in the European Union

Board games sold in the European Union are subject various regulations, standards, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements. However, the requirements differ depending on whether the board game is considered a toy, suitable for 0 to 14 year olds, or other age groups.

The former is generally speaking subject to stricter requirements, concerning small parts and other safety aspects. Having said that, there are safety requirements also for adults board games – substance restrictions, for example.

It is not always easy to assess if a given board game is intended for children, adults, or both. For this reason, the European Union sets guidelines to help companies decide whether their board game, or other product, is appropriate for adults or children.

In this guide, we explain how the Toy Safety Directive, the General Product Safety Regulation, and other requirements apply to board games meant for children, and adults.
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EU Ecolabel For Importers & Manufacturers: A Complete Guide

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EU Ecolabel

The EU ecolabel is a voluntary marking scheme used to signal that a product meet certain environmental standards. In order to use the EU Ecolabel, it is mandatory to comply with the requirements outlined under the EU Ecolabel Regulation.

That being said, the specific requirements differ depending on the product type, which is further explored in this guide.

In this guide, we explain what the EU Ecolabel is, what product groups it covers, and its various criteria. We also explain how you can apply for the EU Ecolabel.
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List of Restricted Products on Amazon: An Essential Guide

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Cosmetics

Certain products are subject to restrictions on Amazon. In many cases, Amazon only reflects the regulatory requirements, in the sense that certain products must comply with mandatory standards of substance restrictions. However, some products are subject to standards that are otherwise voluntary, or outright banned – due to Amazon policy.

In this guide, we only focus on products that Amazon either prohibits or restricts for sale on its US marketplace.

Methodology: We used the list of products listed on the Amazon Seller Central page titled “Restricted products” as the reference point. We have expanded on requirements that this page does not cover in detail. Notice that we do not cover all restricted products in this guide.

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Formaldehyde Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Products and materials containing formaldehyde are subject to various regulations in the United States. Selling products that contain this substance above the set limits can result in a recall, or trigger other requirements. This limit depends on the product, materials, or the US state you sell in.

This guide serves as an introduction to formaldehyde requirements in the United States for various products and materials. We also explain what formaldehyde is, and which products and materials are more likely to contain this substance.

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Formaldehyde Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Formaldehyde can be found by various products, including wooden products, plastics, and cosmetics. Due to its toxicity, there are regulations in the European Union that restrict the content or release of formaldehyde.

As such, importers and manufacturers of products that contain or can contain formaldehyde must ensure that their products comply with the applicable regulations, directives, and standards that limit its the use. This can generally be assessed by performing the necessary testing.

In this guide, we explain what formaldehyde is, and which regulations restrict its usage, release, or emission. We also provide examples of relevant standards, and explain why lab testing is necessary.
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Lithium Battery Regulations and Standards in the EU: An Overview

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Lithium batteries are subject to various regulations and directives in the European Union that concern safety, substances, documentation, labelling, and testing. These requirements are primarily found under the Batteries Regulation, but additional regulations, directives, and standards are also relevant to lithium batteries.

Notice that this guide only covers batteries, rather than requirements applicable to devices that contain them.

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Lithium Battery Regulations and Standards in the US: An Overview

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Lithium batteries are potentially dangerous products, as they can catch fire, or even explode. This can happen, for example, because the product or the battery itself is defective, overcharged, or overheated. For this reason, it is key to follow safety standards, regulations and other requirements that help you to ensure that the batteries are safe.

In this guide, we cover regulations and standards like the Hazardous Materials Regulations, Reese’s Law, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

Not that additional requirements may apply to the product that contains lithium batteries. However, this guide is primarily focused on requirements applicable to lithium batteries specifically.

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List of RoHS Lab Testing Companies: An Overview

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rohs-testing-companies

RoHS lab testing companies can help you verify that your electronic products comply with the RoHS Directive in the European Union, or related RoHS regulations in other countries.

In this guide, we list several leading companies offering RoHS testing solutions for electronics sold in the EU and elsewhere.

Methodology

For this guide, we prioritised companies claiming to provide RoHS testing in more than one market, such as the European Union and the United States.

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EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): An Essential Guide

RoHS Requirements in the United States: An Overview

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Button Cell and Coin Battery Safety Standards and Regulations in the EU

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EU Button and Coin Battery Regulations

Button cell or coin batteries, including devices containing these, are subject to various regulations and safety standards in the EU. This includes the Batteries Regulation, Toy Safety Directive, and the General Product Safety Regulation.

However, the requirements depend on various factors, such as age groups and the type of product the batteries are used for.

In this guide, we take a closer look into these requirements, to help you navigate the various regulations, directives, and standards related to button cell and coin batteries in the EU.

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Registered Identification Number (RN) for Textiles in the US

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Textiles Label

Importers and manufacturers in the United States must label their wool, textile, or fur products with information such as fiber content and company name. However, instead of your company name, you can also use a Registered Identification Number (RN).

In this guide, we explain what a Registered Identification Number is, whether it is mandatory, and which products can carry the number. We also answer common questions about the Registered Identification Number.
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