A recent report by the State General Laboratory reveals a concerning statistic – 22.8% of children’s toys tested were found non-compliant with safety laws, ominously posing as “unsafe toys”. In real terms, for every 100 toys inspected, approximately 23 were deemed unsuitable, a figure raising uncomfortable questions about toy safety.
The testing, covering the year 2022, assessed 1,558 parameters in total. The majority of samples were soft plastic toys, primarily PVC-based, known for their phthalates content, which can present health hazards. Nearly a third of the samples were toys intended for infants and children aged three or less, submitted for mechanical/physical properties evaluation. Furthermore, stationery items like colored pencils, watercolors, chalks, markers, and crayons were tested for potential metal migration to children during use.
These alarming findings draw attention to the importance of compliance when designing and crafting children’s toys. The report underlines the need to shield children from chemical risks such as exposure to harmful heavy metals and phthalates, while equally ensuring that toys present no physical hazards due to poor materials or construction quality.
