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Safety, quality and sustainability are top priorities for pet owners – especially when buying toys for their four-legged friends. With the new test seal for pet toys, the SKZ – Europe’s leading plastics institute – is now offering a transparent and reliable guide to pet supplies.

The new test procedure gives manufacturers the opportunity to have their products comprehensively tested for resilience, material quality and safety. Consumers can see at a glance: This toy has been independently tested and meets the highest safety standards.

“This award not only gives us a clear competitive advantage, but also gives dog owners the good feeling that they are giving their pets a safe toy,” emphasizes Markus Seidl, Managing Director of Healthy Toys GmbH – one of the first companies to have its products tested at the SKZ.
Among other things, the tests focus on the so-called “Würzburg dog” – a realistic simulation of the chewing behavior of a Golden Retriever. In up to 10,000 chewing cycles with a defined bite load, possible weak points in the material are identified in order to rule out breakages or small parts that can be swallowed.

The SKZ also sets the highest standards beyond this: The tested toys undergo artificial weathering tests and are examined for harmful substances such as phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), bisphenol A (BPA) and heavy metals. The institute also tests UV resistance and sensitizes manufacturers to potential risks associated with supposedly natural materials.

“Many manufacturers advertise the use of natural rubber or cotton, but these can also be contaminated – for example by pesticide residues,” explains Anja Armani, project manager for pet products at the SKZ. Innovative test methods such as “sniff tests” are now also part of the institute’s repertoire – because dogs‘ sensitive noses deserve special consideration.

The new SKZ test seal is awarded for a fixed period of time. Afterwards, the accredited laboratory carries out a new test – clear proof of continuous quality assurance and transparency.

“As an independent testing institute, we want to send a clear signal for safety and animal welfare with this seal,” says Alexander Ebenbeck, Sales Manager for Testing, Monitoring and Certification at the SKZ.

With the new seal, the SKZ is once again positioning itself as a reliable partner to the industry – and at the same time making a sustainable contribution to the protection of our animal companions.