Some toymakers in Europe are being accused of flooding the market with dangerous toys, including those containing toxic chemicals and magnets that can be harmful if swallowed. Toy Industries of Europe conducted a study and found that 80% of the toys bought from online marketplaces did not meet EU safety standards, posing risks to children. The industry body is calling for online marketplaces to take more responsibility for the safety of the toys sold on their platforms to prevent further dangers.
The products that were studied were sold by both EU and non-EU traders on various online marketplaces, including Amazon, Temu, and Shein. While Amazon stated that they have measures in place to prevent unsafe products from being listed and have removed the products in question, Temu claimed that product quality and consumer safety are top priorities for them and they take swift action to remove non-compliant products. Shein did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Independent laboratory tests were conducted on the toys bought by Toy Industries of Europe, revealing concerning findings such as a baby teething toy that could break into small parts, posing a choking hazard, as well as slime products containing dangerous levels of boron. The EU has strict toy safety regulations, but toymakers from outside the bloc are exempt from these rules when selling their products via online platforms. The industry body is calling for online marketplaces to be legally responsible for the safety of products listed by third parties.
Six of the 10 online marketplaces studied, including Amazon, have signed the EU’s Product Safety Pledge, committing to ensuring the safety of goods sold on their platforms by third parties. Toy Industries of Europe is urging EU leaders to make these marketplaces legally responsible for the safety of products listed by third parties to prevent further risks to consumers. In the United States, regulators are also concerned about the safety of goods sold online, with calls for investigations into online marketplaces selling potentially dangerous products to babies and toddlers.
While the study conducted by Toy Industries of Europe highlights the dangers posed by some toys sold on online marketplaces, the industry body notes that the results do not reflect the safety of all toys available on these platforms. The group did not purchase toys from well-known brands as part of their research, focusing on third-party sellers instead. The push for online marketplaces to take more responsibility for the safety of products listed on their platforms is growing, with calls for stricter regulations and enforcement to protect consumers, especially children, from potentially harmful toys.
