| When buying toys, or any other goods, you should | | | | provides up to date information on all toy recalls in |
| familiarise yourself with your rights as a consumer if | | | | the UK. You should regularly check this information at |
| the toys do not your needs or you feel that they | | | | the Trading Standards website. |
| are defective. Toy safety regulations and consumer | | | | If you think a toy in your child's toy box may have |
| law in the UK provide excellent protection for you. | | | | been subject to a recall you should remove it |
| Toy regulations in the UK are governed by EN71, the | | | | immediately and keep it out of the reach of all |
| European standard that governs all toys sold in the | | | | children. Toy companies will usually offer vouchers or |
| UK and within the European Union. These toy safety | | | | other exchange systems so you can replace the toy |
| standards became law in the UK on January 1, 1990 | | | | with a safe version. |
| following the publication the previous year of the Toy | | | | Advice for businesses - UK Toy Safety Regulations [ |
| (Safety) Regulations, and were updated in 1995. | | | | As well as protecting consumers, the Trading |
| These regulations ensure that all toys sold in the UK | | | | Standards Institute provides detailed guidance for toy |
| meet certain minimum safety standards. However, | | | | sellers. It is the seller's responsibility to ensure that all |
| you should also be aware that you are protected by | | | | toys are correctly labeled and are safe. Failure to do |
| UK consumer law. | | | | so could result in fines up to £5,000 and six |
| The Trading Standards Institute provides help, | | | | months' imprisonment. |
| protection and advice for consumers when it comes | | | | All new toys must must bear the CE marking and the |
| to buying any goods. As a general rule, UK consumer | | | | name and address of the manufacturer or importer. |
| law states that any product you buy should be of | | | | These must appear clearly on the toy or its |
| satisfactory quality, fit for the purpose and be as | | | | packaging. In smaller toys it can appear on an |
| described in advertising or on the packaging. | | | | attached label, an accompanying leaflet, or a display |
| If you have problems with any toys you purchase | | | | box. |
| here are some steps you should take: | | | | Age warnings are a very important part of toy |
| * Stop using the toys immediately and locate proof | | | | safety and the toy regulations impose strict guidelines |
| of purchase, usually a receipt. | | | | on these. The most obvious are warnings on toys |
| * Take your receipt and the toy to the seller and | | | | when they are not suitable for children under the age |
| ask for a replacement, repair or refund. If there is | | | | of three. |
| clearly a problem with the toy one of these solutions | | | | There are also a number of other warnings that |
| should be offered with little quibble. | | | | apply certain other types of toys. For example, |
| * If the issue is not resolved at this stage you will | | | | outdoor toys such as swings and slides must provide |
| have to take it further. Your local Trading Standards | | | | instructions for maintenance and assembly, while toys |
| Service should be able to give you advice and help | | | | for the use in water should state that they must be |
| you draft a letter of complaint to the seller. | | | | used under adult supervision. |
| * If the seller makes a new offer you can choose to | | | | In general, it falls to trading standards departments |
| accept it or reject it. If you reject the offer, or no | | | | to make sure that toy sellers comply with regulations. |
| offer was made, you can consider legal action. | | | | Enforcement measures can include: |
| However, this should only be done as a last resort. | | | | * buying test toys; |
| Defective and unsafe children's toys | | | | * entering a premises at any reasonable time; |
| If you own a toy that has caused injury or if you | | | | * ordering sellers not to sell toys that are considered |
| think it is in breach of toy safety regulations then this | | | | to be unsafe; |
| is a much more serious matter. In this case, the | | | | * seeking information; |
| manufacturer or importer may have committed a | | | | * prosecuting offenders in a magistrates' court. |
| criminal offense so you should contact your local | | | | Enforcement procedures are not only limited to toy |
| Trading Standards Service immediately. | | | | shops. Toys can be examined at any point in the |
| Trading standards departments of local authorities in | | | | supply chain and can be held at ports of entry to the |
| England, Scotland and Wales and Environmental Health | | | | UK for up to three days if required. |
| Departments of District Councils in Northern Ireland, | | | | Thankfully, the vast majority of children's toy |
| are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of toy | | | | suppliers and sellers in the UK are reputable and the |
| safety regulations and will need to be informed. | | | | need for prosecution is not very common. However, |
| Toy recalls | | | | authorities and consumers must remain vigilant when |
| All parents should keep an ear to the ground for toy | | | | it comes to toy safety, and the Trading Standards |
| recalls. The Trading Standards Institute website | | | | Institute plays a big role in this. |