From manufacturing to points of sale through import channels. The DGCCRF carried out an investigation into the entire toy marketing chain in France.
Thus, out of nearly 700 toys analyzed in the laboratory, almost one in two (47%) presented non-compliances and one in five was declared dangerous.
The main dangers concerned:
- the presence of small detachable elements;
- access to soft toy stuffing;
- accessibility of button batteries.
All of these elements increase the risk of suffocation if swallowed.
The authors also noted the flammability of certain disguises or the presence of dangerous chemical substances (such as phthalates in plastic toys or lead in imitation leather plastic)…
E-commerce platforms presented particularly worrying rates:
- 79% of toys inspected were non-compliant;
- 36% presented dangers.
In total, more than 225,000 dangerous toys were destroyed and 202 recalls were published on the Rappel Conso platform.
How to choose a toy safely?
- check that the toy bears the “CE” marking;
- carefully read the warnings on the packaging (in particular respecting the notice “ Attention ! Not suitable for children under 36 months (three years) » ;
- for young children, favor simple mechanisms. In particular, avoid toys that have folding mechanisms (which increase the risk of pinching or cutting);
- Pay attention to toys that have batteries or a transformer allowing an electrical connection. Vintage toys, for example, are very fashionable, but some may not comply with current safety requirements;
- be careful with toys with magnets (which can come loose and be ingested);
- check if the toy is not the subject of a product recall on the RappelConso website.
