Latest news with #ToySafetyDirective
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers take bold action on hidden threat lurking in kids' toys: 'We're protecting children'
The European Union is making updates to better protect children from harmful "forever chemicals" found in toys. Since 2009, the EU's Toy Safety Directive has been in place to ensure kids' toys don't have the capacity to harm their little owners' health and safety. Over 15 years after the directive's implementation, it is time for some changes. Forever chemicals, known formally as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are synthetic, toxic substances that can be found in the products you use daily. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, "[PFAS] keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains and create firefighting foam that is more effective." In other words, they are integrated in countless parts of our lives. As increasing research emerges about the negative effects of PFAS, such as by students in the MDI Bio Lab, who found links to birth defects and developmental issues, the EU and European Parliament saw the need to update the directive for kids' wellbeing. While the EU already has some of the strictest rules regarding toy safety, making PFAS a clear no-go is vital. Deutsche Welle reported on various leaders who spoke on these positive adjustments, including Poland's technology minister, Krzysztof Paszyk. There seems to be agreement when it comes to progressing children's safety. "We must keep pace with emerging risks," Paszyk said. PFAS is being further recognized as harmful around the world, with a minimum of 29 U.S. states considering their own legislation regarding reducing exposure to forever chemicals in 2025. Marion Walsmann, a German European Parliament member, led the new toy legislation. She summed up the changes perfectly, saying, "The new Toy Safety Regulation sends a clear message: we're protecting children, ensuring fair competition, and supporting Europe as a business hub," as quoted by Deutsche Welle. Do you think we still have a lot to learn from ancient cultures? Definitely Only on certain topics I'm not sure No — not really Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The changes will need to be approved before becoming law. With most in agreement on the need for stricter regulation, the EU can hopefully have fewer chemicals, more play, and healthier tiny humans soon. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Euronews
11-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
EU seeks safer toxin-free children's toys with stricter rules
ADVERTISEMENT Chemicals that pose risks to children's health and development will now be banned from toys sold in the EU, introducing stricter safety requirements for manufacturers and sellers, including those operating on online platforms, EU institutions agreed on Thursday. The new rules update the bloc's 2009 Toy Safety Directive with further restrictions on the use of hazardous substances. 'We have also future-proofed the regulation, the Commission will be able to react more quickly to new scientific findings on chemical substances,' said MEP Marion Walsmann (Germany/EPP), negotiator from the European Parliament. The regulation introduces essential safety standard to ensure a high level of health and safety protection for children. It imposes a ban on chemicals that can cause cancer, alter DNA, or harm reproductive organs, but also other dangerous substances such as endocrine disruptors, respiratory sensitisers and PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals'. It also bans skin sensitisers and toys treated with biocides, except for toys meant to stay outdoors. Biocidal products are used to protect people and animals against harmful organisms, like pests or bacteria. The agreement further limits the use of preservatives and prohibits fragrance allergens in toys intended for children under three years old, or in toys meant to be placed in the mouth. 'Children's safety must always come first. While the EU's toy safety rules are among the strictest in the world, we must remain vigilant, adapt the rules to emerging risks and ensure that safety standards are met for all toys – whether made in Europe or abroad,' said Krzysztof Paszyk, Polish Minister for Economic Development and Technology in a press release after the agreement. Before introducing a toy to the market, manufacturers will be required to carry out a safety assessment covering all potential risks, including chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical, flammability, hygiene and radioactivity hazards. Related Exposure to 'forever chemicals' linked to gut health and kidney damage in young adults, study finds Children are especially vulnerable Walsmann noted that although the European market already offers 'the safest toys in the world', one in five products flagged as dangerous and withdrawn from the EU market is a toy. 'The PFAS restriction is a step forward in the fight against pollution from these forever chemicals. By restricting PFAS in toys, co-legislators have made the Toy Safety law future-proof and aligned with standards in other parts of the world,' said Ioana Bere, EU Policy advocate at CHEM Trust, an European charity that works to protect human health and the environment from harmful chemicals. A study by a Danish consumer organisation found that more than 60% of 121 children's products sampled including toys, blankets and feeding bottles contained or released at least one bisphenol – a chemical harmful for the brain and prostate gland of foetuses, infants and children. In many cases, two or more bisphenols were found. New requirements for online sellers 'Toys are among the most reported product category in the EU's alert system for dangerous products,' said Agustín Reyna, Director General of BEUC, a European consumers organisation. He added that while the new rules are strong on paper, enforcement is key and member states must now provide the resources needed for authorities to ensure that only safe toys are sold. BEUC's recent study on the safety of toys sold in the Chinese online marketplace Temu concluded that the platform 'is an entry point for dangerous products in Europe'. ADVERTISEMENT To tackle this, the new rules introduce specific obligations for online sellers to comply with broader EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. All toys sold in the European market now need a digital product passport showing they meet safety standards. This, according to the legislators, will facilitate to track the products, improve checks by market inspectors and customs and increase transparency.
