Speaking after a debate last week in Strasbourg on the new directive 2009/48EC on toy safety, Jim Higgins, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland North West welcomed the fact that the new directive on toy safety will come into force in 2011.
However he said it was regrettable that for Christmas next year, the directive will still not have entered into force. “I hope that the Irish Government will see fit to transpose all elements of this important directive before the final deadline for implementation, in order to give parents greater peace of mind when choosing a toy for their child,” added MEP Higgins.
Key aspects of the new rules on the use of chemicals in toy manufacturing include a tighter ban on the use of substances which are known to be toxic or cause cancer, together with improved warnings on packaging to specify, where appropriate, user limitations such as minimum or maximum ages for playing with particular toys. The directive will also see increased visibility of the EU’s highly successful CE safety making scheme on toys.
“Toy safety is an issue which needs constant discussion all year round so that we can improve the safety of toys which our children play with,” said Mr Higgins. The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new legislation last Thursday.
“I will also be pushing to ensure that we tighten up legislation on the sale and importation of cots for babies, since they spend a significant portion of the day in close contact with such items,” he added.
Additionally this week, the European Commission in Strasbourg announced plans to limit the sound levels of MP3 players sold in the EU. At present no safety default level applies, although manufacturers are obliged to print information about risks in the instruction manuals. “I welcome this move from the Commission, as I am deeply concerned about the lack of regulation in this area, and the potential long term damage this could be having on our young people's hearing into the future.”
