Toy safety
Encyclopedia
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s, especially those made for children, are safe, usually through the application of set safety standards
Safety standards
Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory...
. In many countries, commercial toys must be able to pass safety tests in order to be sold. In the U.S., some toys must meet national standards, while other toys may not have to meet a defined safety standard. In countries where standards exist, they exist in order to prevent accidents, but there have still been some high-profile product recall
Product recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
s after such problems have occurred. The danger is often not due to faulty design; usage and chance both play a role in injury and death incidents as well.
Potential hazards
Common scenarios include:- Choking or aspiration of small parts of the toy
- Cuts by sharp parts of the toy
- Motor toy vehicles incidents involving
- Chemical substance
Accident frequency
Accidents involving toys are quite common, with 40,000 happening each year in the United Kingdom (according to 1998 figures - data has not been collected in the UK since 2003), accounting for less than 1% of annual accidents. In 2005 in the U.S., 20 children under 15 years of age died in incidents associated with toys, and an estimated 202,300 children under 15 were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with toys, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission'sConsumer Product Safety Commission
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." The CPSC is an independent agency that does...
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. In the European Union, no fatal accidents have been reported in the European Injury Database since 2002.
Safety standards
Distinction must be drawn between regulations and voluntary safety standardsSafety standards
Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory...
. From the table below, it can be seen that many regions model their safety standards on the EU's EN 71
EN 71
European standard EN 71 specifies safety requirements for toys. Compliance with the standard is legally required for all toys sold in the European Union.The standard has been published in 11 parts:* EN 71-1: Mechanical and physical properties...
standard, either directly, or through adoption of the ISO 8124 standard which itself is modelled on EN 71.
| Region | Standard(s) and Regulations |
|---|---|
| International | ISO 8124-1:2000 Safety aspects relating to mechanical and physical properties ISO 8124-2: 1994 Flammability ISO 8124-3: 1997 Migration of certain elements ISO 8098: 1989 Cycles – safety requirements for bicycles for young children |
| Argentina | Instituto Argentino de Racionalization de Materials 3583: Parte 1: 1986 Seguridad de los juguetes, marcado, rotulasdo y embalaje Parte 2: 1988 Propiedades mecanicas y fisicas Parte 3: 1988 Inflammabilidad Parte 4: 1991 Requisitos toxicologicos Parte 5: 1996 Juegos de experimentos quimicos y actividades relacionadas |
| Australia | AS/NZS ISO 8124.1-2002 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 1: Mechanical and physical property requirements AS/NZS ISO 8124 2-2003 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 2: Flammability requirements AS/NZS ISO 8124.3-2003 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 3 Migration of certain elements requirements AS 8124.4-2003 Safety of toys: (safety requirements) Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry requirements AS 8124.5-2003 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 5: Chemical requirements AS 8124.7-2003 Safety of toys - finger paints - requirements and test methods |
| Brazil | ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards) NBR 11786/1998 - Toy Safety |
| Canada | Technical Standards Safety Act and Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Regulation Hazardous Products Act R.S. c. H-3 Hazardous Products (Toys) Regulations C.R.C., c. 931 Hazardous Products (Pacifiers) Regulations: "Knob-Like" Pacifiers Policy Regulations Respecting the Advertising, Sale and Importation of Hazardous Products (Pacifiers) under Hazardous Products Act A Guide to Safety Requirements for Toys Toys: Age Classification Guidelines |
| China | ISO 8124.1:2002 Safety of Toys - Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties GB 9832-93 Safety and Quality of Sewn, Plush and Cloth Toys GB 5296.5-96 Labeling and Instructions for Toys |
| Chinese Taipei | Chinese National Standard CNS 4797, 4798 Toy Safety Standard Chinese National Standard CNS 12940 for Strollers and Carriages Toy Goods Labeling Criteria |
| European Union | EN 71-1:2005+A8:2009 Safety of toys: Mechanical and physical properties EN 71-2:2006+A1:2007 Flammability requirements EN 71-3:1994/AC:2002, Specification for migration of certain elements EN 71-4:1990/A3:2007 Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities EN 71-5:1993, Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets EN 71-6:1994 Graphical symbols for age warning labeling EN 71-7: 2002 Finger paints – Requirements and test methods EN 71-8:2003 Safety of toys - Outdoor activity toys EN 71-9: 2005 Organic chemical compounds EN 62115:2005 Safety of electric toys Council Directive (88/378/EEC) Approximation of the laws of the member states concerning the safety of toys Council Directive (2009/48/EC)on the Safety of Toys Council Directive (87/357/EEC) Dangerous imitations directive Council Directive (93/68/EEC) Rules for the affixing and use of the CE conformity marking |
| Hong Kong | Toys and Children's Products Safety Regulation (in compliance with ASTM F963, ICTI or EN-71) |
| Jamaica | JS 90:1983 Jamaican Standard Specification for Safety of toys and playthings |
| Japan | The Japan Toy Association Toy Safety Standard Part 1 - Mechanical and Physical Properties Part 2 - Flammability Part 3 - Chemical Properties |
| Malaysia | Safety of Toys MS EN71 Part 1:1995 (P) Mechanical and Physical Properties MS ISO 8124-2:1999 Flammability MS EN71 Part 3: 1998 Migration of Certain Elements MS EN71 Part 4:1998 Experimental Sets for Chemistry and Related Activities MS EN71 Part 5: 1998 Chemical Toys (Sets) Other than Experimental Sets |
| Mexico | NOM 015/10-SCFI/SSA-1994 Toy Safety and Commercial Information - Toy and School Material Safety. Limits on the Bioavailability of Metals used on Articles with Paints and Dyes. Chemical Specifications and Test Methods. |
| New Zealand | AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2002 Safety of Toys - Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties (ISO 8124.1:2000, MOD) AS/NZS ISO 8124.2:2003 Safety of Toys - Flammability (ISO 8124.2: 1994, MOD) AS/NZS ISO 8124.3:2003 Safety of toys - Migration of certain elements |
| Saudi Arabia | SSA 765-1994 Playground Equipment Part I: General Safety Requirements SSA 1063-1994 Toys and General Safety Requirements SSA 1064-1995 Method of Testing Part 1: Mechanical and Chemical Tests SSA 1065-1995 Method of Testing Toys Part 2: Flammability SSA 1322-1997 Low Power Radio Frequency Devices |
| Singapore | Safety of Toys: SS 474 PT. 1:2000 Part 1: Mechanical and Physical Properties SS 474 PT. 2: 2000 Part 2: Flammability SS 474 PT. 3: 2000 Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements SS 474 PT. 4: 2000 Part 4: Experimental Sets for Chemistry and Related Activities SS 474 PT. 5: 2000 Part 5: Chemical Toys (sets) Other Than Experimental Sets SS 474 PT. 6: 2000 Part 6: Graphical Symbol for Age Warning labelling |
| South Africa | SABS ISO 8124-1:2000 Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties SABS ISO 8124-2:1994 Flammability SABS ISO 8124-3:1997 Migration of Certain Elements |
| Thailand | Thai Industrial Standard for Toys TIS 685-2540 Part 1: General Requirements (1997) Compulsory Stnd. Part 2: Packages and Labeling (1997) Part 3: Methods of Test & Analysis(1997) |
| United States | Mandatory Toy Safety Standard: Code of Federal Regulations, Commercial Practices 16, Part 1000 to End (16CFR) Title 15 -Commerce and Foreign Trade Chapter XI - Technology Administration, Department of Commerce Part 1150 - Marking of Toy, Look-alike and Imitation Firearms U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Engineering Test Manual for Rattles U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Engineering Test Manual for Pacifiers U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Labeling Requirements for Art Materials Presenting Chronic Hazards (LHAMA) U.S. Child Safety Protection Act, Small Parts Hazard Warning Rule and Rules for Reporting Choking Incidents Age Determination Guidelines: Relating Children's Ages to Toy Characteristics and Play Behavior (September 2002) ASTM F963-07 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety (effective February 2009) ASTM F963-08 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety Voluntary Toy Safety Standard: ASTM F963-07e1 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety ASTM F734-84 (89/94) Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Chests ASTM F1148-97a Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Home Playground Equipment ASTM F1313-90 Standard Specification for Volatile N-Nitrosamine Levels in Rubber Nipples on Pacifiers ANSI Z315.1-1996 American National Standard for Tricycles - Safety Requirements ANSI/UL 696, Ninth Edition Standard for Safety Electric Toys |
(Source: ICTI Toy Safety Standards)
In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
toys must meet the criteria set by the EC Toy Safety Directive (essentially that a toy be safe, which may be addressed by testing to European Standard EN71) in order for them to carry the CE mark
CE mark
CE marking is a mandatory conformity mark for products placed on the market in the European Economic Area . With the CE marking on a product the manufacturer ensures that the product conforms with the essential requirements of the applicable EC directives...
. All European Union member states have transposed this directive into law - for example, the UK's Toy (Safety) Regulations 1995. Trading Standards Officers in the UK, similarly to appropriate authorities in the other EU member states, have the power to immediately demand the withdrawal of a toy product from sale on safety grounds via the RAPEX recall notification system (used for all products subject to European safety legislation). In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
the government department
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
Health Canada
Health Canada
Health Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health.The current Minister of Health is Leona Aglukkaq, a Conservative Member of Parliament appointed to the position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.-Branches, regions and agencies:Health Canada...
has the responsibility of ensuring product safety, just as the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer Product Safety Commission
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." The CPSC is an independent agency that does...
(CPSC) does in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Australian and New Zealand toy safety standards (following the approximate model of the European Toy Safety Standard) have been adopted by the ISO as International Standard ISO 8124. Toy safety standards are continually updated and modified as the understanding of risks increases and new products are developed.
Appropriate age
Manufacturers often display information about the intended age of the children who will play with the toy. In the U.S. this label is sometimes mandated by the CPSC, especially for toys which may present a choking hazard for children under three years of age. In most countries the intended age is either shown as a minimum age or as an age range. While one reason for this is the complexity of the toy and how much it will interest or challenge children of different ages, another is to highlight that it may be unsafe for younger children. While a toy might be suitable for children of one age, and thus this is the age recommended on the product, there may be safety hazards associated with use by a lower age group, necessitating a mandatory warning. Some manufacturers also explain the specific dangers next to the advised age (as is mandated by European and International toy safety standards EN71 and ISO 8124 respectively, but not US standard ASTM 963). Some accidents occur when babies play with toys intended for older children.United States regulations
In August 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement ActConsumer Product Safety Improvement Act
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is a United States law signed on August 14, 2008 by President George W. Bush. The legislative bill was known as HR 4040, sponsored by Congressman Bobby Rush . On December 19, 2007, the U.S. House approved the bill 407-0. On March 6, 2008, the U.S....
was passed, which restricts the amount of lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and phthalates
Phthalates
Phthalates , or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid and are mainly used as plasticizers . They are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride...
that may be contained in children's toys (ages 12 and under). Some observers are of the opinion that this new law imposes the toughest toy-making standard in the world.
European regulations
In Europe, the comprehensive legislation addressing toy safety is the Toy Safety Directive of the European Union (EU)European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, (Council Directive 88/378/EEC). This directive is a list of requirements toys must comply with, and is interpreted in the laws of each member state of the EU in their respective Toy Safety Regulations (e.g.: the UK's Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 (Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 204)). This directive has been superseded by Council Directive 2009/48/EC which will apply to toy imports into or toys produced within the EU as of 20 July 2011 except for the chemical requirements of Annex II which apply as of 20 July 2013. During these periods the corresponding requirements of the previous directive will continue to apply. Compliance with both directives leads to a CE Mark
CE mark
CE marking is a mandatory conformity mark for products placed on the market in the European Economic Area . With the CE marking on a product the manufacturer ensures that the product conforms with the essential requirements of the applicable EC directives...
, which is a mandatory requirement denoting conformity with all applicable directives. Some items specifically excluded from this legislation are: fashion jewellery for children, Christmas decorations, and sports equipment. Official guidance on the classification of toys in the EU has been provided by the EU Commission. Where products are not classified as toys they will still be governed by the General Product Safety Directive. The toy safety directive provides for harmonised EU-wide standards on physical and mechanical properties, flammability, chemical properties and electrical properties but certain essential safety aspects of the directives are not governed by safety standards e.g. hygiene and radioactivity.
The Toys Safety Directive (and subsequent Member State regulations) also calls for the closest applicable national or international standards to be applied where a standard is not specified in the Directive. This interpretive clause is present to ensure that new and innovative toys are safe before being placed on the market. The EN71 Toy Safety Standard has been harmonised by the EC as the default standard which toys must meet.
If a toy is found to be unsafe (by breaching one of the specified standards, or by a manifest risk of injury not specified in standards) then the producer (the manufacturer, or the first importer into the EU of the product unit in question) is held to be guilty of an offence under the Toys (Safety) Regulations (or equivalent EU state law). The principle of due diligence (whereby the producer argues that all reasonable steps were taken to ensure the safety of the consumer with regards to the toy) may be used (in the UK) by the producer to avoid prosecution, fines and possible imprisonment. The unsafe toy is withdrawn from the EU market, with all member states' authorities being notified by means of the RAPEX alert system.
Chinese Regulations
China's toy industry has been regulated since early 2007 by the expansion of the nation's compulsory certification system to include toy products.Regulations require a manufacturers to apply for China Compulsory Certification
China Compulsory Certificate
The China Compulsory Certificate mark, commonly known as CCC Mark, is a compulsory safety mark for many products sold on the Chinese market. It became effective on May 1, 2002...
(CCC) from the nation's Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA). From March 1, toy producers in China have been able to apply to three certification agencies nominated by the CNCA to certify their products. Toys are subject to inspection and certification review. Since June 1, 2007, no toy products without CCCs has been be allowed to leave factories, be sold or be imported into China. It is hoped this measure will mitigate the increasing international pressure on environmental protection, as well as further expand the nation's toy export market.
This increase in scrutiny was introduced before the 2007 Chinese export recalls
2007 Chinese export recalls
In 2007 a series of product recalls and import bans were imposed by the product safety institutions of the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand against products manufactured in and exported from the mainland of the People's Republic of China because of numerous...
.
International commerce
International commerce plays a big role in toy safety. In the first four months of 2006, China exported US$4 billion worth of toys. The United States contributed 70 percent of the global market by exporting US$15.2 billion in toys in 2005. The European Union accounts for 75% of the final disposition of these toys. From January 2005 through September 2006, products originating in China were responsible for about 48 percent of product recalls in the U.S., and a similar percentage of notifications in the EU. Lack of process control in sub-contracted vendors has been a contributing factor in recent high-profile cases.Moves Toward Global Standards
Although an international toy safety standard exists, nations around the world still create their own legislation and standards to address the issue.Current toy safety standards focus on design principles and rely on batch testing of samples to assure safety. As has been seen in the large scale recalls of 2007
2007 Chinese export recalls
In 2007 a series of product recalls and import bans were imposed by the product safety institutions of the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand against products manufactured in and exported from the mainland of the People's Republic of China because of numerous...
, sample testing can miss non-conforming product. A design may be conceptually safe, but without control of the production, the design may not be met by the manufacturer. Similarly, the applicable toy safety standards to which a toy is tested by a laboratory may not discover a hazard in a product: in the case of 2007's magnetic toy recalls and the Bindeez recall, the products in question met the requirements laid down in the applicable safety standard, yet were found to present an inherent risk.
Proposed process and quality control standards, similar to the ISO 9000
ISO 9000
The ISO 9000 family of standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders . The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National...
systems, seek to eliminate production errors and control materials to avoid deviation from the design.
The creation of manufacturing quality standards for toys will help ensure consistency of production. Using a continual improvement model, production can be subject to constant scrutiny, rather than assuming the compliance of all production by testing random samples.
In October and November 2007, mandatory third party testing by companies such as LGA, Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas S.A. is a multinational company providing conformity assessment, certification and consulting services to industry, government and individuals. Originally formed in Antwerp in 1828 as Bureau de Renseignements pour les Assurances Maritimes , the Bureau Veritas name was adopted in 1829...
or SGS Consumer Testing Services
SGS Consumer Testing Services
SGS Consumer Testing Services is one of the 10 divisions of the Geneva-based SGS S.A. Group , which operates with more than 59,000 employees over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world. provides a complete range of services, from textile to appliances, furniture, food, and electronics,...
was proposed by regulators in the EU and US, to a (possibly new) international standard, requiring a new safety mark. There is no indication that the proposals will address manufacturing control.
Product recalls and safety hazards
The ability to recallProduct recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
a product from the market is a necessary part of any safety legislation. If existing quality and safety checks fail to detect an issue prior to sale, a systematic method of notifying the public and removing potentially hazardous products from the market is needed.
Some toys have been discovered to have been unsafe after they have been placed on the market. Before the introduction of safety monitoring organisations the toys were simply stopped being manufactured if any action was taken at all, but since then there have been many toys that have been recalled by their manufacturer. In some notable cases the problem has only been found after the injury or even death of a person that purchased the product.
Choking is the number one reason for accidents, but chemicals such as lead can also cause developmental problems like behavioral disorders and sickness. Exposure to lead can affect almost every organ and system in the human body, especially the central nervous system. Lead is especially toxic to the brains of young children.
In the United Kingdom toys are regulated by the Toy Product Safety Regulations 1995 which require that toys must not be sold if they do not have the correct safety labels.
Bindeez/Beados
Batches of BindeezBindeez
Bindeez are a children's toy that was awarded Australian "Toy of the Year" for 2007. Toy Wishes magazine named it as one of the products among its 12 best toys of 2007. It is manufactured in China for the Australian-owned company Moose Enterprise P/L, and distributed in North America by Spin...
were recalled in November 2007 after several children swallowed beads and were adversely affected. Upon ingestion, a chemical used in the product metabolized in the stomach into the so-called "date-rape drug," GHB
GHB
GHB may refer to:*gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, a neuroprotective and depressant drug that is illegal in a number of countries*glycated hemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin created during its exposure to high plasma levels of glucose...
. The design called for a different, non-toxic chemical, but this had been substituted with an alternative chemical, which had approximately the same functional properties.Then the name was changed to "Beados" in 2008.
Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids
The Cabbage Patch KidsCabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids is a line of dolls created by American art student Xavier Roberts in 1978. It was originally called "Little People". The original dolls were all cloth and sold at local craft shows, then later at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia...
dolls were very popular in the 1980s across North America and many parts of Europe. The "Cabbage Patch Kids Snacktime Kids" line of dolls were an early 1990s incarnation designed to "eat" plastic snacks. The mechanism was a pair of one-way metal rollers behind a plastic slot and rubber lips, and there were 35 reported incidents in which a child's hair or finger was caught in the mouths. On 31 December 1996, after 700,000 dolls were distributed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in just five months, the CPSC along with manufacturers Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
announced that they would place warning information labels on all unsold dolls. A week later, in January 1997, CPSC and Mattel announced that all Cabbage Patch Kids Snacktime Kids were being removed from the market.
Lawn darts
Lawn darts
Lawn darts is a lawn game for two players or teams. A lawn dart set usually includes four large darts and two targets. The game play and objective are similar to both horseshoes and darts. The darts are similar to the ancient Roman plumbata...
are large, weighted darts intended to be tossed underhand towards a horizontal ground target. On 19 December 1988, all lawn darts were banned from sale in the United States by the Consumer Product Safety Commission after they were responsible for the deaths of three children.
Magnetix
One death and four serious injuries led to the recall of 3.8 million MagnetixMagnetix
Magnetix was a magnetic construction toy consisting of a combination of plastic building pieces containing embedded neodymium magnets, and steel bearing balls which can be connected together to form various geometric shapes and structures...
building sets in March 2006. The magnets inside the plastic building pieces could fall out and be swallowed or aspirated.
Since then MEGA Brands has implemented design enhancements to Magnetix, including sonic welding of panels, 100% inspection, gluing magnets into rods, elimination of 3+ labeling in favor of 6+ labeling after it assumed operational control of Rose Art on January 1, 2006. Only safe and improved products are currently on store shelves.
Polly Pocket
In November 2006 4.4 million Polly PocketPolly Pocket
Polly Pocket is a toy line of dolls and accessories. The name comes from the fact that many of the original Polly Pocket dolls came in pocket-size cases. The current Fashion Polly dolls sold by Mattel differ significantly from those originally sold by Bluebird Toys. The original Bluebird dolls...
play sets were recalled by Mattel after children in the United States swallowed loose magnetic parts. The toys had been sold around the world commencing three years previous.
Statistics
Using the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/data.html) figures the number of annual reported child toy-related deaths and injuries, compared with CPSC expenditure and total toy sales in the US by year are tabulated below.| Year | Injuries (US $000) | Deaths (age <15) | CPSC toy safety funding (US$ Millions) |
Toy sales (US $ Billions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 154 | |||
| 1995 | 139 | |||
| 1996 | 130 | |||
| 1997 | 141 | |||
| 1998 | 153 | 14 | ||
| 1999 | 152 | 16 | 13.6 | |
| 2000 | 191 | 17 | 12.0 | |
| 2001 | 255 | 25 | 12.4 | |
| 2002 | 212 | 13 | 12.2 | 21.3 |
| 2003 | 206 | 11 | 12.8 | 20.7 |
| 2004 | 210 | 16 | 11.5 | 22.4 |
| 2005 | 202 (estimate) | 20 | 11.0 | 22.2 |
| 2006 | no data | 22 | no data† | 22.3 |
| 2007 | no data | 22 | no data | |
| 2008 | no data | 19 | no data | |
| 2009 | no data | 12 | no data |
†Amount no longer given but combined with other categories—this is sometimes done to give an agency added flexibility; however, at times this is done to falsely show an increase in funding when there is no way to assess how much will be spent for a specific task.
External links
- Product safety recalls (in the United Kingdom, not limited to toys) at Trading Standards InstituteTrading Standards InstituteThe Trading Standards Institute is the professional association which represents trading standards professionals in the UK and overseas.-History:...
- Toy Hazard Recalls (in the United States) at the Consumer Product Safety CommissionConsumer Product Safety CommissionThe United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." The CPSC is an independent agency that does...
- http://www.recalledproduct.com
- New EU toy directive published on June, 30th 2009