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NEWSBYTE: GS Mark – PAHs List Officially Expanded

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On 29 November 2011, the Central Department of the Federal States for Safety Features (ZLS) officially announced the list of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) expanded from 16 to 18 PAHs for GS Mark Certification. The two newly added PAHs are Benzo[j]fluoranthene and Benzo[e]pyrene. Although the number of PAHs has increased, the total PAHs limit remains the same (see Table 1).

Table 1: Limits for PAHs levels in three different risk categories:

Parameter	Category 1: Materials intended to be in contact with the mouth or materials of a toy intended to be in contact with skin for children under 36 months	Category 2: Materials not included in Category 1 but with long-term skin contact (skin contact for more than 30 seconds)	Category 3: Materials not included in Category 1 or 2 but with short-term skin contact (skin contact up to 30 seconds)
Benzo[a]pyrene, mg/kg	Not detectable (<0.2)	1	20
Total PAHs (18 PAHs), mg/kg	Not detectable (<0.2)	10	200

To comply with the PAHs requirements under GS Mark Certification, the new standard, ZEK 01.4-08, has to be followed. Effective immediately, ZEK 01.4-08 replaces previous ZEK 01.2-08 and 01.3-08. However, there is a half-year transition period from now until July 2012.

Additional Information

To view the related announcement in the Central Department of the Federal States for Safety Features (ZLS) website (in German): http://www.zls-muenchen.de/de/left/aktuell/aktuell-ix.htm

To view the ZEK 01.4-08 (in German):
http://www.zls-muenchen.de/de/left/erfahrungsaustausch/doku_pdf/01_4-08_pak.pdf

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