AfPS GS 2019:01 Testing and Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) for Issuance of PAK GS Safety Code

The GS specification, prepared by the Product Safety Commission (AfPS), is based on German product safety law. The AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK standard for the testing and evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the awarding of GS markings addresses the presence of 8 or 15 PAHs. The main purpose of this standard is:

• To identify and quantify PAHs in consumer products, particularly those with the potential for skin contact or oral exposure.
• To assess health risks by comparing detected PAH levels with established limit values.
• Ensuring that the products meet the GS marking safety requirements regarding chemical safety.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds, some of which are known carcinogens. They are formed during incomplete combustion or can be found in certain materials such as rubber, plastics, and oils. In consumer products, PAHs pose risks through skin contact, oral exposure, or inhalation, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children.

In Germany, the GS mark stands for tested safety and is a voluntary certification indicating that a product meets the strict safety requirements under the German product safety law (ProdSG). To obtain this mark, products must comply with specific standards, including limits on harmful substances such as PAHs.

The AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK standard covers the testing, evaluation, and limit values ​​of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in consumer products seeking GS mark certification. This standard applies to ready-to-use consumer products such as toys, household appliances, furniture, tools, electrical devices, and products that come into prolonged skin contact.

This latest update to the standard focuses on improving scope and aligning it with health risk assessments. While the numerical limits remain largely unchanged from the previous version, it reduces the number of monitored PAHs from 18 to 15, giving more weight to the most critical ones.

PAHs can migrate from materials such as rubber and plastics to the skin or mouth, posing long-term health risks. This standard goes beyond the mandatory EU REACH restrictions (covering 8 PAHs in specific products) by ensuring that products bearing the GS mark minimize these risks. Compliance with the AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK standard demonstrates a higher level of safety, increasing consumer confidence in the German market.

This standard categorizes materials according to their risk of exposure:

• Category 1 Highest risk: Materials designed for oral contact (e.g. toys for children under 3 years old) or products with foreseeable oral contact.
• Category 2 Prolonged skin contact: At least 30 seconds or products designed for children under 14 years of age.
• Category 3: Brief skin contact (maximum 30 seconds).

In high-risk categories, most individual PAHs should not exceed 0,2 mg/kg (detection limit). Exceptions include naphthalene and the sum of some milder PAHs, which are permitted at slightly higher levels in low-risk categories.

Tests are performed according to a standardized GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) method as described in the document.

For manufacturers exporting to or selling in Germany, compliance with the GS mark is crucial. Even if the product meets other safety standards, non-compliance can prevent certification.

Consumers benefit from reduced exposure to carcinogens in everyday products. The GS brand, along with this PAH standard, is indicative of rigorous independent testing.

Although voluntary, the GS mark is highly valued in Europe and is often seen as a benchmark for quality and safety. This standard provides continuous protection against PAH risks in consumer goods.

The importance of the AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK standard stems from several key factors related to health protection, market access, and product safety. In general, this standard is considered important for the following reasons:

• Protects consumers from carcinogenic risks: PAHs are a group of chemicals, most of which are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic. They are commonly found in materials used in everyday products (e.g., toys, tools, sporting goods, handles for household appliances) such as rubber, plastics, oils, and carbon black. Exposure occurs through skin contact, ingestion (especially in children), or inhalation.

This standard sets very low limit values ​​(typically a maximum of 0,2 mg/kg for individual PAHs in high-risk categories) to minimize the migration of these substances. This is based on risk assessments aimed at reducing PAH exposure as much as possible. Without such limits, consumer products could pose long-term health risks, including cancer.

• Requirements for obtaining the GS mark: The GS mark is a highly reliable, voluntary certification in Germany and throughout Europe, indicating that a product has undergone independent safety testing in accordance with the German product safety law (ProdSG). For new GS mark certificates containing PAH-related materials, compliance with the AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK standard is mandatory. Products such as toys, electrical appliances, furniture, and hand tools cannot obtain or renew the GS mark without undergoing PAH testing according to this specification.
• It goes beyond mandatory EU requirements: While the EU REACH regulation restricts 8 specific PAHs in certain products (e.g., a maximum of 1 mg/kg in plastics/rubber that come into contact with skin/mouth), the AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK standard is stricter:
• It monitors 15 PAH.
• It applies lower limits based on exposure categories (e.g., stricter limits for children's products).
• It encompasses a wider range of ready-to-use consumer goods.
• It affects manufacturers and global trade: For companies exporting to or selling to Germany/Europe:
• Non-compliance impairs GS brand compliance and potentially limits market access or sales.
• Many retailers and importers require GS certification or equivalent PAH compliance as a guarantee of quality.
• Tests (using GC-MS methods) encourage manufacturers to use cleaner materials by ensuring supply chain accountability.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide services for testing and evaluating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to enable businesses to obtain the AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK GS safety code.