Sweat jacket with cords

Cords or drawstrings, especially in the hood and neck area, pose a risk of suffocation, especially for children under 7 years. For older children, there are also risks, for example the risk of entanglement of cords and ribbons of the waist portion and the lower hems of clothing in moving vehicles, such as bus or car doors, lifts and bicycles. In the case this could lead to severe injury or death due to dragged along may cause or rolling over by the vehicle.

Cords in the neck and shoulder area

Since 2005, the European standard DIN EN 14682 applies “Safety of children’s clothing, Cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing; Requirements” (current version: EN 14682:2008-02). It meets regulations regarding clothing for children up to 14 years, including carnival or roll costumes and ski clothing. Then Cords and drawstrings in the hood and neck area of clothing for children up to 7 years (134 cm body size) are not permitted.

Also for children clothes (girls 176 cm, 182 cm tall boys) is intended for older children up to 14 years. For cords and drawstrings on other areas of the clothing (hem, leg, waist, etc.) are defined in the standard requirements. Manufacturers, importers and distributors must ensure that the cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing to the European standard DIN EN 14682 or have corresponding equivalent levels of security.

However, these existing safety regulations, will obviously passed over repeatedly. Since complete control is not
possible to get more dangerous products to the European market, either as imports or as EU production.

Children bikini with cords

In one study, the European Union has been specifically studied in eleven Member States from August 2008 to February 2010 clothes for children up to the age of 14 years. This involved 4,642 inspections with particular emphasis on the retail sector, but also and to wholesale, production and import, including 61 at the EU borders, in cooperation with the customs authorities. 16,300 garments were examined and violations were found at 2,188 in regards to provisions of the European safety standard.