Published: Fri, 22 December 2023
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“As many young children in Ireland are eagerly awaiting some nice surprises from Santa Claus this Christmas, there’s good news for toy safety on the horizon with EU plans to update its rules in 2024”, said Seán Kelly MEP.
The Ireland South MEP has welcomed EU plans to update toy safety legislation early in 2024. “The European Union is known to have some of the highest safety standards for toys worldwide and continuously monitors products to make sure they are suitable for children. The current EU Directive dates to 2009 and needs to be revised in order to take account of newer trends such as e-commerce”, Kelly explained.
“Over the summer, the European Commission proposed the update to improve controls on toys, to protect children from any harmful chemicals and prohibit anything that is deemed unsafe in that regard.”
The proposals also include requirements for manufacturers or importers to make their contact details publicly available, so customers can file complaints concerning the safety of toys and to inform manufacturers/importers of accidents or safety issues they have experienced.
“It would also seek to enhance enforcement by launching a Digital Product Passport for all toys, which will include information on compliance with the proposed Regulation”, the Ireland South MEP added.
The European Parliament is currently reviewing the proposals with a view to holding a plenary vote during the first few months of 2024.
“It is important that small to medium businesses involved in toy manufacturing are supported and kept well informed during the process of updating these rules. Of course, consumers need to be well briefed on all safety advice concerning products destined for young people”, MEP Kelly added.
