Testing Requirements

Germany: The new specification for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHS, AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK, was released by the German Product Safety Commission (AfPS) in May 2019 and officially implemented on July 1, 2020.

China: Chinese standards for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons testing:

GB∕T 36946 - 2018 Leather - Chemical tests - Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry method

GB/T 28189 - 2011 Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in textiles

GB 5009.265 - 2016 National Food Safety Standard - Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foods

GB/T 29614 - 2013 Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content in vulcanized rubber

Europe: Article 50 of (EC) No 1907/2006 (i.e., the REACH regulation) stipulates:

1. If the rubber or plastic components of a product have long - term or short - term repeated direct contact with human skin or mouth, and the content of listed PAHs exceeds 1 mg/kg (accounting for 0.0001% of the mass of the component), the article shall not be placed on the market for public use.

2. For toys, including play - activity toys, and children's care products, if, during normal and foreseeable use, their rubber or plastic components have long - term or short - term repeated direct contact with human skin or mouth, and the content of listed PAHs exceeds 0.5 mg/kg (accounting for 0.00005% of the mass of the component), the product shall not be placed on the market.

The eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons included are:
(1) Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)
(2) Benzo[e]pyrene (BeP)
(3) Benzo(a)anthracene (BaA)
(4) Chrysene (CHR)
(5) Benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbFA)
(6) Benzo(j)fluoranthene (BjFA)
(7) Benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkFA)
(8) Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DBAhA)