Poisonous toys

Poisonous Toys

The Member States of the European Union have passed new toy security measures that will prohibit poisonous substances and will limit the use of heavy alloys in toys. With the regulation, chemical substances that have the capability of producing carcinoma, by modifying the genetic information or artificial insemination, will be prohibited in any type of toys for children. Heavy and harmful minerals, like lead or mercury, will not be used in toy production starting from the approval of the EU regulation.
These measures will prevent children from choking on removable toy parts. Now, the tiny miniatures, including those that are found in eatables like oatmeal and cereal boxes, will always come in separate packages. Toys that come in a food related product, where the consumption of snacks is a must in order to obtain the toy, will be prohibited.
Toy manufacturers will have to conduct value and quality regulations on toy security. They are to facilitate transparent information to all manufactured goods, including information about the synthetic substances that were used in order to ease commissary market surveillance.
As for importers, they must also demonstrate that the manufacturers have executed adequate toy control tests, as well as preliminary testing. The requirements for toy distributors will be opted as well.

The Member States of the European Union should allow surveillance and government officials to execute different and convenient examinations within the external limits of the EU, in order to consolidate the illegalization of dangerous toys. Market surveillance authorities will also be allowed to eliminate toys that constitute a mortal danger.

The new measures will substitute the actual regulation. Toy manufacturers have just two years, after the new legislation having entered into force, to accommodate to the new requirements. In the case for chemical requirements, the time of conversion will be of four years.
The training and education of children require updates, progress, and constant effort from parents. To try to substitute this education with toys is like trying to build a utopia, for example, by finding a machine-robot that teaches. (Translated by Gianna A. Sanchez-Moretti)
Author and journalist Clemente Ferrer has led a distinguished career in Spain in the fields of publicity and press relations. He is currently President of the European Institute of Marketing.
clementeferrer3@gmail.com