European Union approves tougher toy safety standards

TOUGHER EU-wide safety standards for toys, including a ban on toxic chemicals and stricter standards to limit the risk of choking accidents, were approved by EU governments.

The tighter controls follow a series of safety scares in summer 2007 in which thousands of toys had to be withdrawn from sale across Europe because of potential risks to children, including excessive use of toxic lead paint and loose fittings which could be accidentally swallowed.

The new rules update toy safety laws introduced 20 years ago by banning the use of some allergenic fragrances, and setting new standards for the sale of toys which are marketed with food, and could pose a choking risk.

The use of any carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic chemicals will be banned in toys, unless passed as safe by EU scientists. Toy packaging will have clearer safety labelling, and toy manufacturers and importers will have to keep more detailed documentation available for inspection. The paperwork will have to include descriptions of each toy’s design and manufacture, its components and materials, and an analysis of potential hazards.

Last year more than 1,860 dangerous consumer products were withdrawn from shops across Europe and the biggest single sector triggering the EU’s rapid alert system was the toy market.

Nearly 500 types of toys, many from China, deemed potentially dangerous to children were taken off the shelves in 27 countries in 2008. Before producing the improved safety proposals approved yesterday, the European Commission held talks with the Chinese and American authorities as well as with European toy makers and retailers.