Holiday-Presents Daily; Your Product Safety Update -Edition number 5
Today: What is the best place to buy safe toys?
Traditionally, the end of the year is a time of conviviality and togetherness. Giving presents is an undeniable part of this. But what should you pay attention to when it comes to the safety of these presents? There are still products available that are (partly) unsafe. Fortunately, this is just a fragment of the total offer.
We are here to keep you up to date on the latest developments in product safety. On the one hand, we pay attention to products that are being withdrawn from the market because of included hazardous parts. On the other hand, we provide information on details you should look out for when purchasing products that are still available.
Every week the latest news, alerts and mentionable facts.
Keep yourself informed to make sure that the present you give is a present that's safe. Once every weekday we will provide a newsletter including the latest news on product safety and recalls, important alerts and mentionable facts that relate to the safety of products. Millions of products have been recalled this year. Here's a video from the US Consumer Reports on how to protect yourself and your family. Hopefully our newsletter will add to your and your children's safety.
What is the best place to buy safe toys?
All retailers in the UK are subject to Trading Standards, the government department responsible for enforcing consumer protection legislation. Traditional retailers either on the high street, a local market or online) are all regularly monitored and inspected by Trading Standards. They will recall any products they find to be non-compliant. All toys sold in the EU must carry a CE marking. This is the manufacturer's declaration that the toy satisfies the essential safety requirements.
You can search for products that have been recalled on the Trading Standards website or browse the internet worldwide. There is a problem with online marketplaces though (such as eBay and Amazon). They sell products supplied by third parties. These third parties are often not based in the UK or the EU and are therefore not regulated by Trading Standards or The EU Toy Safety Directory. This means their products are far less likely to be safe and may not have been tested. The British BTHA recommends not buying from these third parties if possible.
This is just just some general product safety information about about toys and their hazards that you need to be aware of. With our Holiday-Presents Daily we will continue to follow the news on Product Safety and we will continue to keep you informed.
Source: Lara Keay news.sky.com