Safety
THE MAMA ERA – PRODUCT SAFETY
PRODUCT SAFETY
The safety of our products is a key priority for us & it’s extremely important that all customers read the following safety information & guidelines published here or on/in our products and packaging before using them, to ensure that they are safely and properly used & cared for.
IMPORTANT: The Mama Era products are NOT toys. They should be worn by adults ONLY & should NEVER be worn by, or left unattended with, babies or children. Small parts (beads & breakaway clasp) and the cord could pose a choking hazard. Adult supervision is always required.
DISCLAIMER: The products have been independently tested to meet UK and relevant EU safety standards. The Mama Era does not accept responsibility for injury, damage, loss, claims, costs, expenses, fees or other liability howsoever arising, including from misuse, lack of supervision, or failure to follow the safety instructions provided on the product, its packaging and/or on the Mama Era website.
Background
There is not currently a specific safety directive or test for silicone teething jewellery in the UK, EU or the world, however The Mama Era complies to the highest standard with all recommended safety standards and has performed all requisite safety tests.
We, our competitors & our manufacturer, test silicone teething jewellery against certain relevant parts of European standard EN71 which specifies safety requirements for all toys in the EU. However, it is important to note that our necklaces & bangles are NOT toys & therefore some of the standard is not relevant to our products.
We choose to safety test batches of our products here in the UK & work with one of the world’s largest, & most reputable assurance, inspection, product testing & certification companies.
Working closely with the team, we have sought their advice on how & what we should test for to ensure that our products are, & continue to be, as safe as possible & that our product guidelines & customer communication is clear.
The beads are made from high-quality, non-toxic food grade silicone that is free from BPA, PVC, phthalate, latex, cadmium, lead & heavy metals. The breakaway clasp is made of plastic and the cord made from satin nylon.
Testing Results – Summary
Our products comply with UK General Product Safety Regulations and are independently tested to the standards set by REACH, EN71 (parts 2 & 3) and EN1400 (part 9.5.2) (European Child Use & Care Articles: soothers for babies & young children) part 9.5.2: bite endurance.
Testing Results - Details
Our bangles have been safety tested & meet the requirements of the relevant EN71 standard - part 2 (flammability) & part 3 (specification for migration of certain elements). Our safety testing company deems these tests sufficient. We do not test or bear the CE mark (required for all toys), because our bangles are NOT toys.
To safety test our necklaces, we have gone a step further, given that they feature small parts (beads & breakaway clasp) & a long cord, each of which could be deemed hazardous for babies & children.
As such, they have undertaken a ‘General Product Safety Assessment’ in light of the The General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC (GPSD). This directive is designed to ensure the safety of products which are to be placed on the market & to which no specific safety legislation is deemed to apply.
As a result of the assessment & subject to any testing & labelling specified therein, our necklaces were considered to pose a ‘low risk’ & were considered by the safety testing company to be a ‘safe product’ as defined by Article 2 of 2001/95/EC.
Where relevant, the safety of the necklace was judged by reference to standards & safety guidance documents e.g. EN 71. These standards contain pertinent requirements on safety aspects relevant to assessing potential hazards the item may have.
The beads on the necklace have been tested & meet the requirements of the relevant EN71 standard - part 2 (flammability) & part 3 (specification for migration of certain elements).
The beads have undergone “bite testing”. The method used was 16 cfr 1500 (52 Test methods for simulating use & abuse of toys & other articles intended for use by children over 18 months but not over 36 months of age). The test load was doubled from 50lbs to 100lbs & after testing none of the beads were found to be torn or reveal any damage.
The beads were also subjected to the bite endurance test: part 9.5.2 of the EN1400 (European Child Use & Care Articles: soothers for babies & young children). Safety requirements & test methods where a force of 400 newtons is cycled 50 times through a bite rig. After testing no damage to the beads was observed.
The necklace, with the breakaway clasp, operated at a force below 25 newtons (i.e. this is when it released). However, clearly the necklace does still pose a strangulation risk should it be left unsupervised with a baby or child.
The final part of the assessment looks at packaging & labelling. As per the GPSD, correct labelling provides information to the consumer to enable them to assess the risks inherent in a product & to take precautions against those risks.
We have therefore ensured that our products are labelled clearly & correctly & that all communication with our customers (website, email, product information sheet etc) is in line with the findings of all testing & approved by relevant parties.
If you have any further questions about our products or safety, please do email us: themamaerashop@gmail.com
GUIDELINES: JEWELLERY CARE & STORAGE:
Before your first use it is essential to wash products well. We recommend handwashing using warm soapy water before rinsing well and allowing to air dry. Do not sterilise, boil or put in dishwasher.
Each time you wear your The Mama Era jewellery, we recommend that you inspect it for damage or wear and tear & that you regularly check the bangles, beads, cord & breakaway clasp for any defects to ensure they continue to be safe.
In case of any damage or loose parts, please cease using immediately.
The Mama Era jewellery should ALWAYS be stored out of the reach of babies & children.