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News

Watch Out for Warnings this Christmas

Is it a toy or is it a decoration?  Trading Standards professionals across the South-West are concerned that parents may not realise how important it is to know.

The Borough of Poole’s Trading Standards team have teamed up with colleagues across the South-West to find out just how safe Christmas novelties and decorations really are.  The officers selected products that were brightly coloured or which looked like soft toys, buying them from national retailers, corner shops and market stalls.

The tests were carried out as young children often do not distinguish between what is designed as a toy, and what is something else. Once in the mouth small objects are a choking hazard. 

In total 100 items were tested against the European standard for toys.  Even though the products were selected because officers thought they would be attractive to children as playthings, 60% failed to match up to the safety standard for toys.  The most common failure was small parts that could be pulled off by a child and were then a choking hazard, but there were also problems with sharp points and heavy metals in paint.

Many of these products carried warnings.  However some warnings were only 1mm high, whilst others were hard to find or vague – simply saying something is not a toy does not make it clear that it could be dangerous to let a child play with it.

In Poole items tested included a mini snowman which resembled a soft toy but had no labelling, had detachable parts posing a choking hazard and a sharp point under the nose.

Shaun Robson, Head of Environmental and Consumer Protection Services, Borough of Poole, said: “These items are not toys, and so do not get caught by the strict safety standards laid down for toys.  The importers may have stayed within the letter of the law by using warnings, but it only costs a few pence extra to fit safety eyes that even the most determined child cannot budge. 

“I am disappointed that some of the largest retailers in the country appear to have decided to rely on a warning many shoppers will not have time to read rather than spend those few extra pennies.  I urge shoppers to look carefully at Christmas goods and any warnings they carry before buying.  We all want Christmas to be a happy time, not a tragic one.”

Poole items tested included:

• Musical & moving parachuting snowman - CE marked for EMC (electrical interference) - Labeled not a toy but for ages 8 and up. Analyst’s opinion was that if suitable for ages 8 and over it is a toy and should comply with toy safety standard which on the tests applied it did - obviously should not be labeled as not a toy. \n
• Snowman Xmas stocking - Design would be child appealing - labeled as 'not a toy' & should be kept away from small children & naked flame. Analyst commented that it contained detachable components that were potential choking hazards and would be better if had a warning re the small parts. Passes flammability test. \n
•  Animated Santa on rocking horse - labeled as a Christmas ornament and not a toy but CE marked with reference to part of toy safety standard. Analyst commented that it had detachable components that were potential choking hazards so should be labeled with warning re presence of small parts.
• Snowman with blue/white stocking attached - labeled for display purposes only - not a toy - keep out of reach of children. On testing a button came detached  and posed a potential choking hazard. Analyst’s comment was that better if labeling said 'includes small parts'.
• Angel decoration - no labeling - detachable components that are potential choking hazards and sharp point - should be labeled that it is not a toy as hazardous for children-could be labeled warning re small parts and sharp points.

All toys have to comply with the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995. One of the requirements is that they carry a CE mark on the product or the packaging. Christmas novelties and decorations are covered by the General Product Safety regulations 2005, which allow the use of warning notices on goods that might otherwise be unsafe.  They should not carry CE marks.  The Trading Standards staff are currently considering whether any of the products tested break this law.

Andrew Crossen-White, Principal Officer, Environmental & Consumer Protection, Borough of Poole tel 01202 261732