The European Commission’ s DG Enterprise is revising the Toy Safety Directive (88/378/EEC). Two consumer organisations, ANEC and BEUC, have been involved in providing stakeholder input.
Both NGOs have a joint position to strengthen two major points :
The use of the comitology process (1) in order to make the directive very flexible. It will allow a more detailed directive on issues such as chemicals content, noise, speed of toys.
Regarding the use of chemicals in toys, ANEC and BEUC urge the EC to take precautionary action to limit the use of chemicals.
An Experts Group, whose role will be to advise the Commission on how the Directive can ensure children’s health and safety, is in the process of being set up.
For more information:
(1) The Comitology procedure stands for setting up committees of experts who will be in charge of expertise in the appropriate file, ahead of any European Parliament consultation.
