SCHEER Issues New Recommendations on Cobalt Safety in Toys

The Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) has released a new opinion on the safety of cobalt in toys. After evaluating a report from the Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) and additional information from publicly available literature, SCHEER identified possible sources for exposure to cobalt from toys and calculated new migration limits for oral exposure. The committee also recommends reducing migration limits to the lowest technically achievable levels due to uncertainties regarding cobalt's carcinogenic properties after oral exposure. For inhalation exposure, SCHEER recommends using cobalt-free pigments in toys such as chalk bombs, powder-like toy materials, and 3D pens and 3D-printers. The committee deemed the analysis of alternatives performed by TIE as insufficient and calls for the use of cobalt-free pigments in toys.