New ISO Method for Microbiological Testing of Toys Containing Water

​With toys containing water, there is always a risk of microbial contamination during production or use. The reasons for this is the water content in the product, which is essential for microbial growth, ingredients that are food for microbes, constant use (introduction of microorganisms) and use and storage at room temperature.

With this in mind, the Technical Committee ISO / TC 181, safety of toys, published an international standard on the microbiological safety of toys (ISO 8124-12:2023-08; Safety of toys - Part 12: Microbiological safety) for the first time in August 2023. 

This standard relates to toys containing water and is largely based on the contents of ASTM F963, whereby aspects of the previously and still valid NB-Toys/2021-053 test protocol are also taken into account.

In contrast to the NB-Toys test protocol, the new ISO method essentially results in three changes:

• Carrying out a risk assessment: does the product to be tested fall within the application area of the standard
• Microbiological limit values depending on the age classification
• Additional performance of a preservation load test with a total test duration of 6 weeks