SG 105/25
The European Union (EU) notifies the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its draft legislation to permit the use of cobalt in certain toy applications.
On July 9, 2025, the WTO announced a draft law from the European Commission to revise Directive 2009/48/EC on toy safety (Toy Safety Directive, TSD, current consolidated version to December 2022). The draft directive, attached to WTO document 25-4439, amends Appendix A of Annex II to the TSD by allowing cobalt, a carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction substance (CMR substance), to be used in three specified applications.
Highlights of the draft directive are summarized in Table 1.
| Substance (Classification) | Permitted use |
| Cobalt (CMR 1B) |
|
Table 1
According to the WTO document and the draft directive, it is proposed that the draft directive will be:
- Adopted in Q4 of 2025
- Brought into force 20 days from its publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU)
- Brought into effect seven months after publication in the OJEU
Optimize your potential, reach new markets, and streamline every step of the toy life cycle while supporting sustainability and reducing the risk of non-compliance, recalls and delays, with our one-stop-shop solution for compliance. Our global network of experts, laboratories and accreditations help you access the world’s toy markets effectively and efficiently. Contact us to learn more, or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.
© SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. This publication or website is a property of SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. All contents including website designs, text, and graphics contained herein are owned by or licensed to SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. The information provided is for technical and general information purposes only and offers no legal advice. The information is no substitute for professional legal advice to ensure compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. All information is provided in good faith “as is”, and SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, and does not warrant that the information will be error-free or meet any particular criteria of performance or quality.
