DRAFT  
Ordinance of the FDHA ( Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs)  
on the Safety of Toys 
(Toy Safety  Ordinance ) 
Amendment dated  ... 
 
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health , 
having regard to Article  8a of the  Toy Safety  Ordinance  of 27 March 20021, 
hereby orders : 
 
I 
No II of Annex 2 of the  Toys Ordinance  of 27 March 20022 shall be  supplemented  as follows : 
 
7. Magnetic toys  
The following definitions apply to magnetic toys or toys containing magnets : 
 a. “magnetic toy” means a toy that contains or cons ists of one or more magnets or 
one or more magnetic components that are of ingestible shape and size and are 
accessible to children ; 
 b. “of ingestible shape and size” means fitting entirely into the small -parts 
cylinder defined in the standard EN 71, Par t 1 (see Annex 4);  
 c. “accessible to children” means loose or capable of becoming detached from the 
toy under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use by children, even if originally 
contained, encapsulated, recessed or collared in the toy . 
 
II 
No II of Annex 3 shall be  supplemented as follows : 
 
8. Magnetic toys  
Magnetic toys  or packagings for magnetic toys must, when put on sale to consumers, carry a 
warning with the following wording : 
 
“Warning! This toy contains magnets or magnetic components.  Magnets sticking together or 
becoming attached to a metallic object  inside the human body can cause serious or fatal 
injury. Seek immediate medical help if magnets are swallowed or inhaled.”  
 
The warning may be worded differently, provided that the wordin g is equivalent  to the above 
and easil y understandable . 
 
The warning must be clearly visible and easily legible . It must be conspicuously displayed on 
the packaging or otherwise attached to the magnetic toy in such a way as to be visible to the 
consumer at  the point of purchase . 
 
III 
Annex 4 shall be re -worded in accordance with the enclos ed text . 
 
IV 
                                                
1 SR 817.044.1  
2 SR 817.044.1  Transitional clause relating to the amendment dated  … 
Magnetic toys  may continue to be manufactured and imported under the previous legislation 
until 31 Janua ry 2009 and may continue to be s old to consumers until 28 February 2009 . 
 
V 
This amendment shall enter into force on 1 January 2009 . 
 
       Federal Office for Public Health : 
      Thomas Zeltner   
Annex 4 
(Art. 4 a nd Art. 8a paragraph  2) 
Techn ical standar ds for toy safety3 
 
Number  Title Reference  
EC Official Journal  
EN 71 -1:2005  + 
A6:2008  Toy Safety – Part 1:  Mechanical and physical 
properties  
a), b), c)  
a) The standard EN 71 -1:1998/A8:2003 only 
addresses the risks caused by ‘small balls’ (as 
defined in the standard as ‘spherical,  
ovoid, or ellipsoidal object s’) that are 
designed or intended to be thrown, hit, 
kicked, rolled, dropped or bounced. Toys 
containing  small balls which are not covered 
by the standard shall undergo an EC type -
examination certific ate before placed on the 
market . 
b) Cup-shaped, bowl -shaped or one half of an 
egg-shaped toys having a nearly round, oval 
or elliptical opening which are intended for 
drinking, such as toy tea sets, may present a 
risk for children's health. These toys are not 
covered by the standard, therefore  these 
products must have an EC type examination 
certificate.  
c) In the case of projectile toys with suction 
cups the requirement laid down in clause 
7.17.1 (b), according to which the tension test 
is performed in acco rdance with clause 
8.4.2.3, does not cover the risk of 
asphyxiation presented by these toys.  (pending)  
 
 
2007/C 127/02  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007/L 85/07  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007/L 96/18  
EN 71 -2:2006  + 
A1:2007  Toy Safety – Part 2: Flammability  (pending)  
EN 71 -3:1994 with 
correct ion AC:2002, 
amendment A1:2000 
and correction  
AC:2000  Toy Safety – Part 3: Migration of certain 
elements  2006/C 258/07  
EN 71 -4:1990 with 
amendments 
A1:1998, A2:2003 
and A3:2007  Toy Safety – Part 4: Experimental sets for 
chemistry and related activities  2007/C 232/11  
                                                
3 The texts of these standards, except for the electrotechnical standards, can be obtained from the Schweizerische 
Infor mationszentrum für technische Regeln (switec), Bürglistrasse 29, 8400 Winterthur; Tel. 052 224 54 54, Fax 
052 224 54 74; www.snv.ch. The texts of the electrotechnical standards can be obtained from the 
Schweizerischer Elektrotechnischer Verein (SEV), Norme n- und Drucksachenverkauf, Luppmenstrasse 1, 8320 
Fehraltdorf; Tel. 044 956 11 65/66, Fax 044 956 11 68; www.electrosuisse.ch.  EN 71 -5:1993  
with amendment 
A1:2006  Toy Safety –  Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) 
other than experimental sets  2005/C 188/02  
 
2006/C 258/07  
EN 71 -6:1994  Toy Safety – Part 6: Graphical symbol for age 
warning labelling  2005/C 188/02  
EN 71 -7:2002   Toy Safety – Part 7: Finger paints -- 
Requirements and test methods  2005/C 188/02  
EN 71 -8:2003 with 
amendment 
A1:2006,  
amendment A2:2005  Toy Safety – Part 8: Swings, slides and 
similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor 
family domestic use  2006/C 258 /07 
 
 
(pending)  
EN 62115:2005  Electric toys - Safety  
(IEC 62115 + A1:2004 [modified])  2006/C 56/03