You are in:
- Archives » 2007 » September 2007
Toy Safety Symbol For EU?
Concerns about the safety of imported toys have led to calls in the European Parliament for a new Europe-wide safety symbol.
The BBC reports that while manufacturers currently test and certify their products, MEPs want to see independent testing by experts leading to an EU "kitemark". The concerns are fuelled by reports of faulty and even dangerous toys originating from China: An EU Commissioner has said that the EU has the power to ban Chinese imports if they fail to meet standards.
It's also a part of the EU's drive to regulate, as covered by Charlemagne in this week's Economist. Brussels, the newspaper reports, is becoming the world's regulatory capital, setting global standards for products which now even US manufacturers are following.
Some Americans believe this is a form of European "empire-building". The Chinese, too, won't be too happy at what they see as yet more scaremongering from Brussels. Last week, the Chairman of toy manufacturer Mattel issued a grovelling apology to the "Chinese people" in which he made clear that a fault previously blamed on Chinese factories was in reality a design flaw which originated on the (US) drawing board. Will a EU Commissioner one day have to issue a similar apology?
