Friday

29th Mar 2024

Commission says China's progress on toy safety 'encouraging'

  • Meglena Kuneva - "There is a very thin line between protection and protectionism" (Photo: European Commission)

The European Commission has said that "considerable progress" has been made by China on toy safety in response to several major toy recalls on health grounds.

On Thursday (22 November), consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva said that the commission has been reviewing every link in the toy supply chain, paying special attention to toy imports from China.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

In recent months, several major toy manufacturers, including Mattel and Fisher Price, have recalled millions of toys made in China because of detachable magnets that could be swallowed and because of poisonous levels of lead in the paint used on certain toys.

But the commission did not give in to calls for a ban on Chinese toy imports.

"There is a very thin line between protection and protectionism. There are some old world protectionists who would like to hide behind the skirt of consumer safety. I think they believe that risk is more defined by passports than by hazards involved. This hasn't been our point of departure," said the commissioner.

Mrs Kuneva added that the commission had three cornerstones on which it built its overall product safety policy.

"First, there can be no compromise on consumer safety. Second, we believe in open markets and fair competition. And third, we want to work in partnership with the Chinese," she said, adding that considerable progress has been made by the Chinese regarding the rapid alert system put in place for dangerous products.

To further increase the safety of Chinese products in the future, the commission is planning to step up its technical assistance to the Chinese domestic alert system, to carry out a study on product safety controls in China, and to continue its cooperation with the US on the matter.

In September, Mrs Kuneva had warned that the EU could impose a ban on some Chinese goods if no progress was made by the country.

While progress has been made, the commissioner warned that there "are still significant problems within the industry in making sure, particularly at the lower end of the market, that toys are safe."

Overhaul of legislation

Besides the emphasis laid on China, Mrs Kuneva also set out a series of proposals aimed at strengthening the enforcement and implementation of product safety controls currently in place in the EU.

But these proposals will not be put in place before the Christmas period.

Mrs Kuneva reiterated that she considers the current regulatory framework to be fundamentally sound, but added that the Commission should be able to adapt to changes rapidly by frequently amending the legislation put in place.

"Basically, the regulatory framework is up to the job when and if it is properly applied. It is basically capable of ensuring a high level of consumer protection and a high level of intercommunity trade. (...) Combined with the legislation in the pipeline, it gives us the tools for the job," the commissioner said.

In particular, the commission is planning to overhaul its Toy Directive by the first quarter of 2008, revise its rules on cosmetics, and introduce a 'New Approach Package' which will deal with market surveillance and import controls.

Furthermore, a comprehensive audit of business safety measures in the toy supply chain was commanded, and results are expected by the first quarter of 2008. The commissioner also proposed making a safety pact with the industry and that member states increase their efforts concerning surveillance, warnings and traceability.

The European consumers' organisation BEUC, which represents 40 national consumer rights groups across 30 European nations, welcomed these new initiatives in a statement.

It has previously said that legislation "has not been properly applied in recent years."

Commission wants 'extremely high' toy safety standards

The European Commission on Tuesday said it is taking the problem of potentially harmful toys seriously and is overhauling legislation in the area, following a series of recalls of toys made in China on safety grounds.

EU threatens to ban unsafe Chinese products

The European Union on Wednesday said that it could ban some Chinese products from entering the EU market unless they meet the bloc's criteria on health and safety by October.

EU hits back at China's accusation over hazardous products

Amid growing concern about the safety of a series of Chinese products in recent weeks, the European Union has rejected a claim from Beijing that the bloc's response is politically motivated to protect its market.

Chinese toys top EU product blacklist

The EU has issued an alert against almost one thousand dangerous products being sold across Europe over the past year, with potentially harmful toys representing a fourth of the blacklisted goods and half of all notified products being imports from China.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us