Why quality requirements for toys are being made

Since time immemorial, parents have given toys to their children. Toys are very important for a child, especially in the first ten or more years.

We are sure that you, as parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, buy toys for your little ones, because you know that there is no better gift for them than a toy they like.

But, children are curious and love to explore every new thing. While playing with new toys, babies and toddlers examine it by placing it in their mouth, trying to tear off some of it, breaking small elements to "taste" what they taste like.

Older children simply disassemble the toys to see their device, have fun with toys that make a loud noise, or try different experiments to test the durability of the toys.

You can't be angry at them, because whether they're on the clock or approaching teenage age, they're just your young, curious kids who are trying to get to know themselves and the world around them. What you can do is pay attention to what toys you buy for your children and make sure you choose toys that are of high quality and completely safe for them.
How to choose toys that are safe for children?

Fortunately, there are different quality and safety standards for toys nowadays, and you just need to be familiar with them so you can immediately find out if the toy you like and want to buy for your child is of these standards.

All children's goods, including toys, for sale in Bulgaria and across the European Union must have the EN71 certification and bear the CE marking.

The CE marking must be affixed to all toys manufactured or marketed by third countries within the EU and with which manufacturers certify that the toys meet the quality and safety requirements laid down in Directive 2009/48 EC.

The CE marking is in fact not intended to assure you that a toy is safe to buy, but mainly because of the authorities that regulate the safety of the toys. In other words, with this marking, manufacturers, under their own responsibility, certify to the inspection bodies that the toy is safe and complies with the safety requirements list.

The EN71 certificate is extremely important, and if a toy has this certification, it means that it is tested and meets all the quality requirements for toys.

To receive the EN71 certificate, the toy must pass a series of quality and safety tests. This certificate covers all toy safety standards for children ages 0-14. It also divides the toys into "appropriate for different age groups".


If a toy is found to be dangerous in accordance with the provisions, then the manufacturer may be found guilty and fined. The toy will then be withdrawn from the market and discontinued.

Why are quality requirements for toys made?

Years ago, there were no clear rules and safety requirements for toys, and some manufacturers used materials with high levels of toxic chemicals, did not pay attention to the quality of toys, and did not consider whether components of the toys could easily be detached and eaten by children.

Thus, toys have appeared on the market that are toxic or have parts that can be detached and swallowed, posing choking risks to children. There were also toys that led to serious incidents, injuries, and even deaths.

In order to reduce the incidents to children resulting from playing with dangerous toys, each country has taken various control measures. But it is not only difficult but also almost impossible to comply with the safety standards of each country because the requirements and standards differed from country to country.

Therefore, in 2008, the then European Commissioner Guenter Verheugen submitted to the European Parliament for consideration and discussion a Directive on the requirements and standards for the safety of toys sold on the European market.

This Directive, known today as Directive 2009/48 EC, aims to introduce strict rules for the production and sale of toys in order to ensure the health and safety of children.

Because, as Verheugen says, "The health and safety of children are not negotiable and compromises cannot be made with them."

The directive aims to harmonize the standards for all chemical and physical properties, flammability, electrical properties, hygiene, and radioactivity of toys offered for sale across the EU.

Why do quality and safety standards for toys need to be implemented and adhered to?

You, as parents, would hardly want to give your child a toy that is poorly made and falls apart after the first few hours of play, right? You also wouldn’t want your child to play with a toy that contains toxic and carcinogenic materials, or that has sharp edges, easily breakable parts or small elements that your child may swallow without noticing at all. We are certain you won't want to give your child a toy that isn't designed for their age.

All these requirements for the quality of toys are made so that you can safely choose and buy good quality and safe age appropriate toys for your child.

But let's leave aside the requirements of the standards and look at the real users who are not aware of all the important certificates for quality and safety of toys. Let's see how you can check for yourself if a toy is safe for your child or not.

Material

Whether you buy a plush, rubber or plastic toy, the materials it is made of must be tested for allergens and dangerous chemicals. An EN71 certificate must be affixed on the toy's label to certify that the article has been tested and is free from harmful impurities and colorants which can be dangerous to the health of the child.

Paint

Take the toy and see if it is evenly coloured, and check if the paint flakes easily. Directive 2009/48 EC requires manufacturers to carry out tests on paints used in toys and they must have an EN71 certificate to certify that the paints are harmless.

If the toy is certified, but you are worried about the presence of phenols, lead or formaldehyde in the paint, even if their values meet the standards and hygiene standards, a better option is to opt for a toy that is painted with natural materials .

Design

The toy should not have sharp edges that could injure the child. It is not a good idea to have slits or long cords, easily detachable magnets, knobs or other small ornaments that young children can tear apart. It is also very important that the toy is durable. This means that stitches should be strong, and components and parts should not be easily separated.

The smell

It may seem strange, but if you have the opportunity to smell the toy, give it a sniff. Good quality toys should not smell bad.

Colour

If the colours of the toy are too bright, be very careful, as quite often the bright colours are an indication that the toy is not completely safe. In most cases, laboratory samples taken from too bright toys indicate the presence of toxic impurities in the chemical composition of the paints.

Hygiene

To prevent bacteria from accumulating on toys, it is a good idea to choose ones that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.

Age

Toys sold within the EU must be labelled with the CE marking, the name, brand and address of the manufacturer or importer within the EU, instructions for use (toys intended for use for sale in the territory of Bulgaria must have instructions in Bulgarian), tips for safe use of the product and most importantly - what age group the toy is intended for.

If you choose a toy, be sure to follow the label's instructions and do not buy a toy that is not designed for the age of your little one.

How To Check For Dangerous Toys?

Unfortunately, despite stringent safety rules, toys that do not fully meet the quality and safety standards can still be found in the market.

These are toys that are usually manufactured by non-EU countries and do not fully comply with the requirements imposed by Directive 2009/48 EC. It sometimes happen that control bodies are misled and dangerous toys are allowed for sale on the store. It also happens that toys identified as dangerous cannot be immediately removed from the market. Therefore, if you want to be absolutely sure that the toy you want to buy for your little one is not dangerous, you can go to the Rapex website.

Rapex is an international system that warns consumers about dangerous goods. By going to its pages you can quickly and easily find all the reports on dangerous toys and what measures have been taken to get them out of the market and to be discontinued.

If you come across dangerous toys when buying toys, or if something in your toys seem off and you want a thorough check, you can file a complaint directly to the Rapex website and alert EU control authorities who will take appropriate action.

How do the controls deal with dangerous toys?

As mentioned above, toys that are considered hazardous are tested and if the expert report identifies them as dangerous for the safety and health of the child, they are seized from the outlets and stopped from further production. And the manufacturer (and sometimes the importer) is subject to penalties under applicable laws.