Europe Serious About Toy Safety Directive
July 20, 2011
As of today, a new legal framework in the European Union will replace the old Toy Safety Directive of 1988 (here). The new directive addresses a wide range of issues to ensure that toys sold and used in Europe don't present health hazards or risk of injury for children.
The new framework aims specifically at:
- preventing children from choking or suffocating as a consequence of swallowing or inhaling toys or their parts
- toys in or co-mingled with food -- a la Cracker Jacks -- toys must always be in a separate packaging
- toys that can be accessed only after the food surrounding them is actually consumed -- this design is now prohibited
"Safety for our children is our first priority," said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship. We have the best legislation on toys in the world with the highest safety requirements. However, it is not sufficient to strengthen the rules. We also need Member States to ensure enhanced market surveillance deterring fraudulent market operators."
The United States recently identified 59 chemicals of concern for children. In the U.S. such initiatives are typically state-by-state rather than nationwide, despite efforts to get a national plan settled.
Not fooling around
The European toy industry comprises over 25% of the world toy market. This is a global industry and one of the most active sectors in Europe. Roughly 80% of the sector is comprised of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that have less than 50 employees.
Among the most remarkable examples of health and safety risks for children are:
- Parts or fragments of toys that can be swallowed with risk of asphyxiation, key examples include (but are not limited to) puppets or cards mixed with food without the appropriate protective wrapper
- Baby-changing tables or highchairs that are not stable enough or may trap the child
- Phthalates, chemical substances which make plastic softer, used in toys or baby’s bottles, which may seriously damage kidneys and liver (see Europe Bans 6 Chemicals)
- Counterfeit puppets and dolls extremely flammable as processed with "not-conforming" varnishes
- Flame retardant chemicals found in some toys causing alterations in the nervous system, possible negative effects on growth, and permanent endocrine system damages
The EU Commission has prepared a guide containing recommendations for consumers on how to protect their children from toy-related risks.
Blog Articles
