How do we know if i toys that we buy for our children and grandchildren are safe and do not pose any risk to the little ones at home? The probability of choosing a potentially dangerous product is very high, especially if we rely on the e-commerce platforms based outside the European Union.
Toys: 95% of those purchased on Temu are unsafe
An experiment confirms this Toy Industries of Europe (TIE)the European trade association for the toy sector, which at the end of 2023 tested the security of some games for sale on Temu, the new Chinese online shopping giant. The results obtained are alarming to say the least: of the 19 products purchased no one respected European legislative standards and 18 of them posed a serious health risk to children.
The test results
In particular, from the tests carried out on toys it emerged that:
the 19 toys purchased did not comply with European Union legislation, making them unsuitable for sale in the European Union; 18 of the 19 products did not meet EN 71-1 and/or EN 71-3 safety standards, posing several hazards for children, including cuts, airway obstructions, suffocation, strangulation, perforations ed exposure to dangerous chemicals; 18 of the 19 toys did not include an address of the manufacturer, importer or distributor within the European Union, as required by European market surveillance legislation.
The TIE therefore provided this report to Temu, who immediately removed the toys in question (here is the complete list) from your platform. However, although these products have been removed from the site, there are still many others available for purchase or, even worse, already in the hands of consumers across Europe.
Third-party sellers are not responsible for the safety of toys sold at this time
The biggest problem, the TIE says, is that third-party sellers cannot currently be held responsible for the safety of the toys sold, because the European legal framework is still rather unclear in this sense. Some recent legislative changes have led to better compliance by sellers within the European Union, but they do not adequately address the issue of sellers outside the European community.
Altroconsumo rejects toys sold on Temu
In 2023 also Altroconsumo wanted to test 15 products including toys, gadgets and stationery purchased on Temu, to understand if and how safe they were. From the final report it emerged that all the products analyzed presented one or more non-conformities with current laws, such that they cannot be marketed on the European market. Altroconsumo found the lack of the CE marking or its counterfeiting, the lack of conformity with the EN 71-1 safety regulations, the absence of instructions in Italian and incorrect safety labelling.
Temu and Shein under the magnifying glass of the Swiss Toy Association
Also included in this line of investigation is theSwiss Toy Association which conducted, again in 2023, a test on 18 items sold on Temu and Shein, another Chinese e-commerce platform. Well, even in this case the results obtained were nothing short of merciless: 15 products were deemed not to comply with safety standards. What was most alarming were the false CE marks affixed to the packaging, some detachable parts that could have caused suffocation, high quantities of toxic substances, the lack of essential information, and inadequately protected battery compartments.
Safe toys: requirements to check before purchasing
But then, in light of these tests, how do we buy safe toys that do not compromise the health of the little ones? What should you check before putting a product in your cart (even online)? The safety requirements that toys must meet to be placed on the EU market, regardless of whether they are manufactured in the EU or in third countries, are established by the European Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. This applies to «products designed or intended, although not exclusively, for play by children under 14 years of age».
However, the European Commission has identified a number of weaknesses in the practical application of the directive since its adoption in 2009. And so, in February 2024, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee unanimously approved its position on theupdating of EU rules on toy safety. The text responds to a number of emerging challenges, including changes in purchasing habits by online stores and the increased use of digital technologies.
Based on what is indicated in the European directive, in its recent update and in the documents drawn up by the Ministry of Health, consumers must pay attention to some precise requirements before purchasing a toy.
The CE mark
For each toy, manufacturers draw up a CE declaration of conformity and affix the CE mark. This must be placed visibly, legibly and indelibly on the toy or on an affixed label or packaging. As we have seen in the cases mentioned above, the CE mark can also be counterfeited, so this does not automatically protect against all risks but in general The purchase of products that do not have them is not recommended.
The name and address of the manufacturer, importer and distributor
Another useful element in choosing safe toys are the name and address of the person who manufactured, imported and possibly distributed the product. This is important data not only to understand who is behind a certain item but also to be able to contact the appropriate person if there are problems relating to that toy.
Warnings and instructions for use
It is important that there are instructions for use (possibly in Italian) and warnings for toys that could present particular risks (for example, bicycles, scooters and skates, water toys, toys that imitate electronic functions, products containing fragrances, etc.).
Indication of the age group
You must always pay attention to indications relating to the age group of children for whom the toy is considered suitable. In the absence of this warning, it is assumed that the product is intended for all ages (0-14 years). If you purchase items for children younger than 3 years, you should ensure that they do not contain accessible parts that could cause potential damage.
Toys made for those over 3 years old but which could also be used by those who are younger (for example little brothers or sisters) must carry this warning: «Warning: not suitable for children under 36 months». The pictogram of the child’s face with the prohibition sign may also be present.
Physical-mechanical properties
To be considered safe, toys must have mechanical strength and stability such that they do not break or deform with the risk of causing physical injury. Gaming products they must not have edges, protrusions, cords, cables and fasteners that could harm children. Furthermore, toys and their parts must be of such dimensions as not to pose any risk of ingestion and/or inhalation.
Toys that can be entered (for example playhouses or tents) must be equipped with “easy” exits and holes for ventilation. Springs and moving mechanisms must not be accessible to fingers, while seams and applicable parts must resist tearing.
Product flammability
Some toys, such as soft toys and dolls, are covered in hair, ribbons, fabrics and threads that come into direct contact with the little one in the house. The safety of these elements must be guaranteed low flammability.
Chemical substances
Safe toys must not contain chemical substances or mixtures capable of causing harm to children’s health. The European Directive 2009/48/EC has drawn up a list of prohibited substances (considered carcinogenic and mutagenic or toxic for reproduction) or whose presence is limited to some very specific levels. To see the list, click here.
Hygiene
Toys must be designed so that they can be easily cleaned, to avoid risks of infection, disease and contamination. Therefore, cloth toys should always be washableunless they contain mechanisms that would be damaged if washed by immersion.