The European Union’s (EU) rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products (RAPEX) stopped numerous substandard toys from reaching European children last year, according to European Commission statistics released today. Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) and its members believe that RAPEX plays an important role in guaranteeing product safety. Effective market surveillance and enforcement are vital […]
Toy sales in the sector’s five largest European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) grew by 4% in 2014, according to market research company the NPD Group. Toy Industries of Europe’s (TIE) Director General, Catherine Van Reeth, noted that this outcome was particularly exciting considering it comes after a flat performance was recorded […]
Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) has teamed up with UNICEF this Christmas to provide disadvantaged children with play materials in order to allow them to experience the fun, benefits and magic of play. UNICEF’s Early Childhood Development Kits target children under six years old who represent the highest percentage of those affected by today’s emergencies, […]
While an overwhelming majority of parents (87%) think that play is an important part of their children’s lives, they are worried that social factors are limiting their children’s play opportunities, according to a survey commissioned by Toy Industries of Europe (TIE). Factors such as changes in the school system, inadequate play spaces, increasing homework, intolerant […]
Customs at the EU’s external borders seized counterfeit toys worth € 23.199.855 (retail value had they been genuine) last year. Toys (excluding games/electronic games) accounted for 7,63% of articles (35.940.294) detained in 2013 due to suspicion of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement, according to a report published by the European Commission. Catherine Van Reeth, Director […]
A report published by the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (EuroSafe) on 16 June 2014 once again highlights the need for a robust injury data system in Europe. ‘Injuries in the EU: Summary of injury statistics for the years 2010-2012’ shows that the data currently available in Europe is not precise or […]
Today’s judgement from the General Court of the European Union (EU) recognises that toy safety is guaranteed by the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. Toy Industries of Europe’s (TIE) Director General, Catherine Van Reeth, commented: ’We are pleased that the Court’s judgment recognises that toys that comply with the provisions of the Toy […]
The European Union’s rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products (RAPEX) prevented many substandard toys from reaching European consumers last year, according to a European Commission report released today.Once again, over 94% of the toy brands notified on RAPEX in 2013 were not members of Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) or its national association members. […]
Sales of traditional toys in the industry’s five largest European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) were flat in 2013, according to information from the NPD Group. While sales grew in France (+0.7%), Germany (+1.5%) and Spain (+0.3%), they fell in both Italy (-3.3%) and the UK (-1%). Other European countries such as […]
Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) fully agrees with the European Child Safety Alliance’s advice to help prevent injuries when playing with toys. Parents should bear in mind the following tips to avoid needless accidents: choose toys that are suitable for the child’s age and skill level carefully read and follow all warnings and instructions not […]
With the recent vote in the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, steps were taken to bring the general safety of products more in line with the already stringent safety rules for toys. For instance, other consumer products will now be subject to the same traceability requirements that have already been in place […]
Counterfeit toys with a domestic retail value (had they been genuine) of €19,520,878 were seized by customs at the EU’s external borders in 2012. Toys (excluding games/electronic games) accounted for 4.10% of all articles (1,637,941) detained in 2012 due to suspected intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement. These figures were published today in the European Commission’s […]