Press Release

06/09/2007

Special toy safety mark should be evaluated - stronger enforcement needed. Malcolm Harbour MEP

"EU Member States must ensure that product safety rules, especially for toys, are properly enforced", says EPP-ED Internal Market Spokesman Malcolm Harbour MEP.

"Rogue manufacturers who fail to comply with EU product safety rules must be driven off the market by proper monitoring and inspection. The problem is not with the responsible makers, like Mattel, who immediately withdrew millions of toys when they discovered problems from their own tests. It is irresponsible makers and importers whose products have not been properly tested that present the biggest problem."

The existing CE marking is not just a "toy safety symbol", noted Mr Harbour. It applies to any product which is covered by any EU Directive.

"We should now consider whether there is a case for a specific marking for toys, and be consulting toy makers about the introduction of such a mark, backed by test standards, as soon as possible."

EPP-ED Members on the Internal Market Committee will be looking at this idea when they debate new Commission rules on product testing at next week's Committee meeting.

For further information:
Malcolm Harbour MEP, Tel: +44-777-4198831
Robert Fitzhenry, Head of the EPP-ED Group Press Service, Tel: +32-475-493356

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 278 Members from all 27 Member States.