Austrian Toy Test Flags Borsic Acid in Child Slime

The Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich and the environmental NGO Global 2000 tested 19 children’s toys purchased in stores and online for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under the EU REACH regulation. Only one product, a children’s slime, contained borsic acid at levels that exceeded the stricter REACH thresholds, although it remained below the limit set by the EU Toy Safety Directive. The manufacturer failed to inform the retailer of the presence of the chemical, violating the REACH disclosure requirement.

The test, performed by an independent laboratory, demonstrates that EU chemical‑safety rules are effective in protecting children’s health. Authorities and consumer groups urge parents to exercise their right to receive information about hazardous substances, recommending tools such as the Scan4Chem app. The findings reinforce calls for maintaining strong regulatory standards against any weakening of chemical‑safety legislation.