As Christmas approaches, toy safety is a priority for French authorities. In 2023, Fraud Repression destroyed more than 225,000 non-compliant and dangerous toys, an increase compared to the previous year.
Rigorous control to guarantee safety
In the Villeneuve-d’Ascq laboratory of the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), toys are put to the test to check their compliance with safety standards. “Tensile tests” are carried out to ensure that small parts, such as the eyes or noses of the stuffed animals, do not come off too easily. The removable elements must withstand a pressure of 90 newtons, or approximately 9 kg: this is the force that a child can exert.
The tests go further: a cylinder representing the size of the esophagus of a three-year-old child is used to detect the risks of ingestion. In the event of non-compliance, the consequences are serious. If the product is non-compliant, it is directed towards a recall and withdrawal measure.
The results of the DGCCRF are worrying. Of more than 2,000 establishments inspected in 2023, 28% presented various shortcomings. Laboratories analyzed around 700 toys, and 19% were found to be dangerous. E-commerce platforms concentrate a large part of the problem: among the 70 toys tested from these sites, 36% were deemed dangerous, a rate much higher than that of traditional stores.
How to protect children?
Some destroyed toys illustrate the major risks for children: a bubble gun with batteries that are too accessible, balloons containing carcinogenic substances, or even a disguise whose cords could cause strangulation. As for stuffed animals, poorly secured padding poses a danger of suffocation.
Faced with these figures, the authorities recall the importance of the standards in force. The mandatory “CE” marking guarantees that the product meets essential safety requirements. Parents should also check the recommended minimum age and any warnings on the labeling. “ Problems remain more frequent among non-specialized distributors and on certain websites », insists the DGCCRF.
In 2023, the increased vigilance of investigators made it possible to destroy 225,000 non-compliant toys, compared to 184,000 in 2022. With Christmas approaching, these intensive checks aim to offer children safe toys, while making parents aware of the sometimes invisible risks.
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