It is not always the easiest thing in the world to keep up with the accelerating rate at which regulations, legislation and recommended guidelines are issued these days.

The latest set of guidelines to create some confusion and concern within our industry are those covered by BS EN 14682:2004 labelled: Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications.

Although the Standard is not actually law, it is necessary for retailers and manufacturers to sell ‘safe products’, in accordance with the General Products Safety Directive. The Standard therefore effectively has the force of law and one ignores it at one's peril!

When it comes to interpreting the Standard however, it is fair to say that there is considerable room for misinterpretation, but who wants to be a test case in something as sensitive as children's safety?

Blue Max was grateful to the NCWA for running a seminar on the subject, at which Sue Bolton, Convenor of the Working Group that drew up the new Standard, was present. The process of developing the Standard has clearly been quite protracted and, as it involves quite disparate EU member states, there has been much compromise involved. Whilst this enables resolution of their differing requirements, it also leads to a degree of obfuscation.

From what was learnt at this seminar, Blue Max has been advising its customers on the standard, however there is clearly quite an alarming range of interpretations being voiced as to what is required.

As Blue Max sees it, there are two clear key essentials to the Standard. These are that suppliers of children's clothing are required by law to sell ‘safe products’; and that they must ensure that, in the light of new guidelines on the subject, they adhere to these as soon as practically possible.

The original wording of the Standard allowed 18 months during which old stocks could be worked out. The EU, however, has advised the Working Group that 12 months is long enough and therefore no one should be selling garments that do not comply with the new Standard from the 1st January 2006.

The Standard, published on 25 January 2005, came about as a result of a European Commission Mandate in 2001 and its scope specifies requirements for cords and drawstrings for children's clothing, including disguise costumes and skiwear, up to the age of 14 years. It is not intended to cover all potential hazards that may create an unsafe garment.

The popularity of sports styles that feature decorative cords and drawstrings, such as hoodies, in leisurewear, together with high profile cases of serious injuries and fatalities involving cords or drawstrings, has ensured that this standard be issued. Its importance cannot be understated to protect manufacturers wholesalers, retailers and consumers.

The Standard provides specific requirements of cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing by different areas on garments, i.e. hood and neck area, waist area, lower hems of garments, sleeves, etc. Examples of such requirements include, but are not limited to:

Hood & neck area

1 - Drawstrings, functional cords or decorative cords on hood and neck area are not allowed on garments intended for young children

2 - No free ends on drawstrings for older children

3 - Functional and decorative cords cannot be elastic, maximum length 75mm

Drawstrings, functional or decorative cords

1 - No knots and secured at ends to prevent fraying;

2 - Not emerge from the back or to be tied at the back of garment;

3 - Toggles shall only be used on drawstrings with no free ends or decorative cords;

4 - Drawstrings shall be secured in at least one point at equidistance from the exit points;

4 - Drawstrings in the waist are can protrude no more than 140 mm when relaxed and 280 mm when closed

Sashes

1 - No knots and secured at ends to prevent fraying;

2 - When untied, not hang below the hem of garment;

3 - When untied, length from the point where it is to be tied - 360 mm

Fixed loops

Fasteners, etc. protruding from garments should have circumference - no greater than 75 mm.

It should be noted that there are two classifications of children, one being a 'young child' and the other being an 'older child and young person'. The former includes children up to age seven and children up to and including a height of 134 cm. The latter includes children between seven years and 14 years and boys up to 182 cm and girls up to 176 cm.

One thing was made very clear is that any garment that can be worn by a child within either of these categories must conform to the Standard. I.e., it is reasonable to expect 13 year old boys nowadays to grow to small, or even larger, adult size in which case any such garment must adhere to the same guidelines as if they were intended for a 13 year old. The onus of responsibility will be on the supplier to carry out a risk assessment on each style of garment it supplies.

In light of the above, Blue Max has been modifying all its existing stocks of garments so it satisfies the Standard, and where there has been any doubt it has sought additional guidance from NCWA, who have been extremely helpful.

Garment designs have been amended on all new supplies and the essential message that it has been giving out to customers is that Blue Max has done its best to meet the standard and decorators should draw comfort from that when they sell product on to their customers.

Blue Max felt it would be extremely helpful to both its customers and, indeed, the readers of Printwear & Promotion if it were able to publish extracts of the standard, so that a large cross section of our industry could read it for themselves.

The purpose of the standard is to improve safety standards and particularly to protect young children. Blue Max believes that the best way of doing this is for the regulatory authorities to make the information as widely available as possible, for free!

Unfortunately the standard is available from the British Standards for a mere £64, unless of course you are a member of British Standards, annual subs between £100 - £1,000 for SME's, and then you get the Standard at half price!

Instead it is up to each and every person who makes, distributes or sells children's clothing to purchase their very own copy. You may prefer to wait for a short while before buying it, as Blue Max understands that the Standard will shortly be re-written to clear up some of the ambiguities of the first edition.

Although the Standard has been issued throughout Europe, Blue Max understands that it is only being policed in Britain, so it says it is best to bone up quick - unless you are thinking of emigrating to mainland Europe!

T: 0845 23 00 888

W: www.bluemaxgroup.co.uk

Information on the standard was sourced from - http://www.hkstc.com

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