In light of recent toy recalls from products produced in China, SNP President Ian Hudghton MEP, a member of the Internal Market & Consumer Protection Committee, has declared his support for an urgent revision of the toy safety directive, which dates from the Eighties, to protect public health. 

Speaking from Strasbourg, where MEPs debated the issue, Mr Hudghton said;

"This issue is a concern to all, because public health and safety is at stake. An updated directive is critical to protecting our domestic interests, and children's health. I call on the Commission to take action on the problem of dangerous products and consider an alternative regulatory approach. Chinese authorities must take appropriate action to improve the standards for production, but equally important is the duty of toy companies, who order products from the Far East, to ensure that safety standards are met. Product safety is a matter of public health and this issue needs immediate attention.

The festive season may be some time away but the toys that will be sold in Europe during are already arriving in large numbers from China. It is important that we can reassure parents that their children will receive safer toys in time for Christmas."

ENDS

NOTES

The recent recall of 21 million toys by US manufacturer Mattel, over concerns they contain lead, has raised alarm. The Internal Market & Consumer Protection Committee  had a face to face meeting with consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva earlier in September to assess the level of danger to European children.  

Speaking of international trade, Commissioner Kuneva told MEPs that "from factory floor to supermarket shelf often spans the globe". A report in October is due to assess the Chinese response to the safety issues raised.

   
According to RAPEX, the EU alert system for dangerous consumer products, 913 notifications of product withdrawals were reported within the first 35 weeks of 2007 as compared to 924 serous risk notifications in the whole year of 2006, an increase of almost 50-per cent. Toys account for most of the notifications, representing 32-percent of all notifications.