Toy Industries of Europe (TIE), alongside NGOs and industry groups, urges EU policymakers to address regulatory gaps that allow non-compliant products to enter the market via online platforms. The unchecked flow of direct imports through online marketplaces is a growing concern.
Insufficient responsibilities placed on these platforms combined with a lack of possibilities to enforce existing EU regulations harm consumers, the environment, European businesses, the internal market, and the overall credibility of EU legislation.
To stop the influx of illegal products, protect children from unsafe toys, and ensure fair competition, we have a range of recommendations, including:
- Ensuring every product sold online into the EU has an EU or EEA-based economic operator responsible for compliance with safety and sustainability rules.
- Equipping customs authorities with effective rules to stop illegal imports in small packages. Some parts of the proposed Customs legislation review should be fast-tracked, including the “deemed importer” concept.
In a recent mystery shopping exercise, TIE purchased 19 toys from the online marketplace Temu. None of the toys fully complied with EU safety regulations, and 18 posed serious safety risks such as choking, strangulation or cutting hazards for children.
Read the full joint statement with all recommendations here.
