EU Toy Safety Updates Take Another Early Step Forward

Members of the European Parliament February 16 voted 688-6-1 to approve a report on ways to update the Toy Safety Directive. This is a relatively early step in the process towards that goal. Issues at the front of those being targeted involve:

• Chemicals: Processes would facilitate quick banning of newly identified endocrine disrupters. Similarly, limit value changes would be faster. For chemicals, a distinction between toys intended for children under 36 months and those older would disappear.

 

• Surveillance: New technologies like e-labelling and artificial intelligence would get consideration as tools for identifying unsafe products.

 

• Connected Toys: Rulemaking would address safety and security threats.

 

• E-Commerce: Platforms' duties would become explicit.

The 2021 report (bit.ly/3q0HNVc) passed the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee in December (PSL, 12/21/21). It also includes suggestions about labeling (allergens, durability), sustainability, grey-zone (toy-like) products, and incident data collection.