A recent warning from the Fédération française des industries du Jouet et de la Puériculture reveals that 86% of toys purchased from third-party sellers on online marketplaces do not meet EU safety standards, posing significant risks to young children. Testing of various toys showed that many contained hazardous materials or small parts that could be ingested. The organization urges accountability for online platforms to enhance safety measures and protect children from unsafe products.
To save money on children’s toys, many parents turn to online marketplaces featuring third-party sellers. Platforms like AliExpress, Amazon Marketplace, Cdiscount, Shein, Temu, and Wish showcase countless toys at attractive prices. However, the toys available on these sites may pose significant risks to young children.
This past Thursday, the Fédération française des industries du Jouet et de la Puériculture (FJP) raised concerns in a press release, stating that “86% of toys bought from third-party sellers on online marketplaces do not meet EU safety standards.” The organization collaborated with the European Federation of Toy Industries, Toy Industries of Europe (TIE), and various national toy associations. The research paints a troubling picture, with 80% of the assessed toys identified as “major hazards for children.”
Among the many items tested between June and September 2024, none were associated with well-known brands. The assortment included toy items like rubber pineapples for squeezing, plastic dart guns, and imitation vacuum cleaners. The FJP cautioned that “many toys, including baby teething rings, can break and release small components that pose choking hazards.” Furthermore, certain toys could expose children to “dangerous substances.”
Continued Influx of Hazardous Toys
Christophe Drevet, the managing director of the FJP, warned that “Dangerous toys from non-compliant third-party sellers will keep entering Europe until online platforms are held accountable for the safety of products sold on their sites.” He emphasized the importance of closing the existing regulatory loophole, asserting that it is essential to have a clear person responsible for product safety and to enforce current regulations more stringently.
The FJP and other toy federations advocate that “online marketplaces should be recognized as economic operators, making them legally accountable for the toys sold through their platforms if the third-party sellers evade this responsibility.” They also urge for a “faster revision of the EU customs regulations.” These measures could significantly enhance the protection of children from hazardous toys manufactured outside the EU.
Previously, French toy industry leaders expressed concerns about competitors selling items online. In a February report, the FJP highlighted that “95% of the toys” purchased from the Chinese platform Temu were found to violate EU regulations, with “18 presenting actual risks to children’s safety.” The report noted potential dangers including “cuts, blocked airways, choking, strangulation, perforation, and exposure to chemicals.”