Making sure the EU’s 80 million children can (safely) enjoy the magic of play is at the heart of everything TIE and its members do. As studies show, regular play is vital for children’s development, health and wellbeing. Through play children learn the skills needed to navigate the adult world. For kids themselves, the best […]
With Christmas fast approaching, many people are turning to online marketplaces to do their shopping for the holiday season. These platforms are very convenient to use, and offer a great choice of products. However, if you are buying toys, don’t forget that online marketplaces are not required to screen third-party sellers before allowing them to […]
Today, ministers responsible for employment, social affairs, health and consumer policy from across the EU met to discuss the Economy of Wellbeing. The idea is that, if you put citizen’s wellbeing at the centre of policy and decision making, and make sure people enjoy their fundamental rights and reach their full potential, then the economy […]
Today’s World Standards Day reminds us how important standards are for TIE’s members. For reputable toy manufacturers, safety will always be the top priority and we need standards as practical tools to help us deliver on that promise of safety. Standardisation guides the range of tests that toys are put through to make sure they […]
Toys accounted for 14% of goods detained by EU customs officials, the second largest category behind cigarettes. Nearly 3.8 million potentially dangerous fake toys were seized in 2018. With a retail value of almost 26 million euros, EU customs officials prevented criminal toy producers from profiting off of counterfeit toys. The amount of toys seized […]
As an official partner of the European Commission’s European Week of Sport, Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) is putting play in the spotlight with a round table discussion to talk about play’s role in setting children up to #beactive for life. In the face of the EU’s worsening inactivity crisis, it is vital to get […]
The British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), and its members have launched today a white paper calling for action from the UK government to ensure that unsafe toys are removed from the market after conducting a study across online platforms. The calls come after a BTHA study found that 22% of toys being sold on […]
As the voice of reputable toy manufactures, TIE welcomes the adoption of the new Regulation on Compliance and Enforcement by the European Parliament today. The agreement can help to prevent the sale of unsafe toys by dishonest operators and, in doing so, protect children throughout the EU. The development reinforces the EU’s strong toy safety […]
Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) is delighted to welcome Smyths as our newest affiliate member. The reputable brand joins 31 other responsible manufacturers, national associations and affiliates that make up TIE’s membership. Smyths Toys is an Irish toy manufacturer and international retail chain with stores in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The […]
Dishonest operators are putting children at risk and damaging the reputation of responsible companies In 2018, toys from illegal traders were once again the product that appeared most often on Safety Gate – the EU-wide alert system for dangerous goods, according to the annual report published today. They represented 30 percent of all products flagged […]
We are pleased to announce that Sanjay Luthra (Mattel) was appointed as the new Chairman of the TIE Board at its meeting on 5 March. Sanjay, who is Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mattel, has a wealth of experience in the sector, having worked in several global positions for the company […]
Last week, the European Parliament voted to increase the funding that is directed to children and young people through the European Social Fund Plus – the European fund devoted to youth employability and equal opportunities for children at risk of poverty or social exclusion. It’s great to see the EU investing in its children and […]