Toy Industries of Europe (TIE), in collaboration with national toy associations, has launched a Europe-wide petition urging the EU to take stronger action against illegal and unsafe toys sold online.
The petition, StopIllegalToys.eu, calls on policymakers to close legal loopholes and make online platforms responsible for the safety of the products offered on their platforms when no other EU-based party is responsible. Unsafe toys put children at risk and undermine legitimate businesses.
A recent shopping exercise conducted by TIE and national toy associations found that 80% of toys purchased from unknown, non-EU sellers via major online platforms failed to meet EU safety standards. These non-compliant products were bought from platforms including Allegro, AliExpress, Amazon Marketplace, Bol, Cdiscount, Fruugo, Light In The Box, Shein, Temu, and Wish.
“Every euro spent on an unsafe toy is a euro not spent on a safe toy,” says Catherine Van Reeth, Director General of Toy Industries of Europe. “Toy companies across Europe, 99% of which are SMEs, take full responsibility for the safety of their products. When no EU-based party is responsible, online platforms must ensure the safety of toys sold on their sites. This petition is an opportunity for every European toy business to speak up and demand action.”
EU action that could make a difference includes:
- Stronger laws to make online platforms legally accountable for the illegal toys sold on their sites when no other EU-based party is accountable.
- Better enforcement of existing EU toy safety rules to prevent rogue traders from operating freely.
- Improved customs controls to manage the flood of small, often unsafe, toy shipments entering the EU.
- Robust enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to ensure all sellers are identifiable and that platforms take greater responsibility for removing dangerous and counterfeit toys.
The petition will be presented to EU policymakers and national governments in Spring 2025.
TIE and national toy associations urge all toy companies to sign the petition at www.StopIllegalToys.eu and encourage their industry peers to do the same.
