TOY SAFETY

The Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) recently carried out a project to assess how safe the toys we give our children are, entitled 'A Safe Toy is a Good Playmate'.

What did we do?

As part of this project CAI

• Carried out a nationwide survey to find what Irish consumers look for when purchasing toys, and whether they take the required precautions to guarantee the safety of the final users.
• Purchased a variety of toys, found in a range of shops, and had these tested according to EU toy legislation to determine how safe they are.
• Published a booklet that gives advise to consumers on choosing a toy.

Who did we work with?

The CAI worked with consumer organisations from

• France - CLCV (Conféderation de la consommation, du Logement et du Cadre de Vie)
• Italy - the Adiconsum (Associazione Difesa Consumatori e Ambiente Ufficio Studi e Progetti)
• Spain - CECU (Confederación de Consumidores y Usuarios Mayor).

What did we find?

• 76% of those surveyed do not check for the CE Mark;
• 25% of parents whose children play with toys with moveable parts (bicycles, skateboards etc.) never supervise this type of play.

Concerning Toys for 0-3 year olds:

• 96% of parents of children under 3 years of age admitted that there is not always an adult present when their child is at play;
• Those who do not check or verify security indicators, such as the CE Mark, are typically
• Granparents
• Aunts/Uncles
• Consumers between 20 - 30 years and over 50.

Of toys tested for Mechanical and Physical Properties:

• 43% of those purchased in Ireland did not conform to the safety standard;
• 35% average of ALL toys purchased by the 4 partners similarly did not conform;
• 40% of ALL toys that did not conform failed due to mechanical hazards.

Of toys tested for Electrical Properties:

• 33% of those purchased in Ireland did not conform to the safety standard;
• 44% average of ALL toys purchased by the 4 partners similarly did not conform;
• 75% of ALL toys that failed did so due to their 'Warming Properties'.

Good News:

Fortunately, all of the toys tested complied with flammability standards.
All of the toys purchased in Ireland complied with the 'migration of elements' standards i.e. satisfied the permitted levels of heavy metals such as chromium, barium or lead.

What do we want?

Consumers refer to the CE (Conformité Européenne) mark because they are advised that it indicates conformity with the essential health and safety requirements set out in European Directives. However, our lab results show that there are serious safety issues with the toys we buy for our children. This would suggest that these minimum requirements that the CE Mark purports to confirm , clearly, are set at too low a level than is either acceptable or responsible. The Consumers' Association of Ireland, therefore, is calling for a serious investigation, at the EU level, into the validity, integrity and actual value of the CE mark as it stands.

Buyer Beware (Caveat Emptor)

We would urge consumers to take responsibility for the toys they give to children. Our survey shows consumers are not concentrating on the safety aspects of those toys and, realistically, this should be their biggest concern.

Further Details Contact:
Dermott Jewell - Chief Executive - (01) 4978600

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