Dinosaurs, dolls or dragons – chemicals that have health risks and children's development will now be prohibited from the toys sold in the European Union. The European Parliament and the Council have concluded a provisional agreement on the more strict security requirements for manufacturers and sellers, including those operating on online platforms. The prohibition will reach chemicals that can cause cancer, change DNA or harm reproductive organs.
Dangerous products are almost everywhere in our daily life – most of them are in cosmetics (36%), according to data provided by the European Commission. But striking, toys are the second largest category of products that are the most dangerous (15%) – in advance on electrical devices (10%). And the dangers in toys were most often linked to chemicals.
One in five products reported as dangerous and withdrawn from the EU market is a toy. This is why before introducing a toy on the market, manufacturers will now have to carry out a safety assessment covering all potential risks. And toys now need a digital product passport in the form of a QR code showing that they meet safety standards.
But even the best security legislation cannot prevent bad players from selling illicit toys, which is why Europol has issued directives on how to recognize false and dangerous toys: if the price is too good to be true, if compulsory labels are missing, if the toy is sold in a clear plastic bag instead of regular packaging or if the brand name or Don't buy it!
Marion Walsmann (EPP), vice-president of the Legal Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, was the main negotiator on the toy security file. She told Euronews that there was a broad political support for legislation. “And there was a broad consensus on the fact that the previous rules, which dates back to 2009, had an absolute need for revision. There was also a general consensus on the change of a directive to a regulation.”
Walsmann also presented the calendar: “The next step is that certain technical improvements and formulations must still be made. Then, the internal market committee will once again provide its approval with a vote. Then, it will go to the plenary session in October for the final vote and then in the European Union Official Journal.
With the revised rules, the European Union gives children the safest toys as possible. Children will be better protected against invisible dangers such as harmful chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, and PFAs, also known as “Forever Chemicals”. And their parents will have access to all the information they need on each toy.
