EC Signs Toy Safety Agreement with Toy Retailers, Importers
December 19, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
As part of the drive by the European Commission (EC) to improve toy safety by engaging all players throughout the toy industry, Meglena Kuneva, EC commissioner for consumer affairs, signed an agreement with representatives of toy retailers and importers on Dec. 18.
The industry signatories agreed to a number of activities to further improve toy safety, including providing education and training on safety standards, with a particular focus on the "lower end of the market," where the vast majority of non-compliant toys are found.
Work to ensure compliance with all relevant European Union (EU) and national legislation will be intensified at the retail and import level.
Clear safety guidelines will be developed for use throughout the industry, to outline the systems and procedures that can be put in place to ensure that products meet the required standards.
The signatories also committed to further cooperation with the EC as part of a multi-stakeholder industry forum to take forward the recommendations set out in the EC's fact-finding mission, "Evaluating business safety measures in the toy supply chain" (see IP/08/879).
Earlier this year, the EC signed a similar agreement with Toy Industries of Europe.
"As Christmas approaches, we are once again reminded of how many households across the EU rely on the toy industry to deliver safe, reliable products. Children are our most vulnerable consumers, and there can be no compromise when it comes to ensuring their well-being," Kuneva said.
"The agreement with toy importers and retailers is a very positive sign of the industry's commitment to toy safety, and should help to further reinforce the system that has been put in place to ensure the safety of all toys sold in the EU."
Industry plays an extremely important role in ensuring a high level of product safety in the EU. Under EU law, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and importers have primary responsibility for the safety of the products that are put on the market.
A product safety stock-taking exercise carried out by the EC at the end of 2007 (after a series of high-profile recalls) showed that while reputable businesses make significant efforts to ensure that their products are safe, dangerous goods, including toys, are still finding their way onto the EU market.
This is mainly due to gaps at the lower end of the market, where safety procedures are not as rigorously respected or adhered to as they should be.
In addition, smaller economic operators (both European and in trading partners) find it more difficult to deal with safety issues, due, amongst other things, to a lack of in-depth knowledge of the rules, a lower number of dedicated personnel, weaker quality management systems and less supplier control.
For this reason, the EC contends it is crucial to have the commitment of EU retailers and importers in pushing forward the toy safety agenda and carrying out the necessary safety actions at the ground level.
The activities that were committed to in the Dec. 18 voluntary agreement - including the provision of training to those who need it and the development of clear safety guidelines - will contribute to raising the safety standard throughout the toy production and supply chain, as well as to keeping more unsafe toys away from European consumers.
The EC will continue to collaborate closely with these stakeholders, and monitor the activities of all economic operators to ensure that the highest possible safety standards are maintained in the EU.
For more information, see the EC's web page on Children's Toys.
Source: European Commission.