“A real risk” for children. The European toy industry lobby claims that toys purchased on the Chinese online trading platform Temu do not comply with European safety standards.
Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) “purchased 19 toys on the Temu online marketplace and discovered that none of them complied with European Union regulations,” the company said in a statement published Tuesday by the European federation, specifying:
“Sharp edges” on a rattle
Of the 19 toys purchased, 18, that is, 95%, “presented a real danger to the safety of children,” adds TIE, accusing them of being able to “cause cuts, airway obstructions, suffocation, strangulation, punctures and chemicals.” “. dangers.
He gives the example of a “rainbow ribbon rattle” intended for babies, noting that it “poses several risks, including sharp edges on the metal bells that could cut, small parts that could cause choking, rigid protrusions that can cause airway obstructions.” respiratory”. .
“The EU has the strictest toy safety standards in the world, but online platforms continue to allow the sale by non-EU sellers of toys that endanger children,” complains the president of the French Federation of Toy and Childcare Industries (FJP), in the joint press release with TIE.
“Encourage responsiveness”
Temu confirmed to AFP that he had “initiated an internal investigation” after receiving the TIE investigation. The Chinese company specifies that 12 products “had already been withdrawn during [leurs] routine checks,” and then “quickly eliminated” the remaining ones.
“Product safety is a major concern for us and we have strengthened monitoring of this product category and the requirements associated with it,” Temu said in a press release, which states that it carries out “random checks” when Merchants ship their products to Temu-affiliated warehouses.
While FJP and TIE welcome “encouraging reactivity”, they emphasize that “for every dangerous toy identified on the platform, there are many others that are not identified.” The problem not only affects Temu, but, according to the federations, extends to other markets outside the EU.
“The problem lies with third-party sellers active on online markets, who cannot be held responsible for the safety of the toy. The EU legal framework does not cover this situation,” they explain. Therefore, the FJP and the TIE call on “the legislator and the authorities to take strong measures”, seeing in the current revision of the Toys Directive an “opportunity to remedy the current legal vacuum” that affects sellers established outside of The EU.
Source: BFM TV
