Press Release: Toy Safety: Commissioner Kuneva to sign ‘safety pact’ agreement with toy retailers and importers

On 18 December, 2008, European Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva will sign an agreement with representatives of toy retailers and importers in a toy store near Brussels, as part of the Commission's drive to improve toy safety by engaging all actors throughout the toy industry. The industry signatories will agree to a number of activities to further improve toy safety, including providing education and training on safety standards, with a particular focus on the 'lower end of the market' where the vast majority of non-compliant toys are found; work to ensure compliance with all relevant EU and national legislation will be intensified at retail and import level. Clear safety guidelines will be developed for use throughout the industry, to outline the systems and procedures that can be put in place to ensure that products meet the required standards. The signatories are also committing to further co-operation with the European Commission as part of a multi-stakeholder industry forum to take forwards the recommendations set out in the Commission's fact finding mission 'Evaluating Business Safety Measures in the Toy Supply Chain'. Earlier this year, the Commission signed a similar agreement with Toy Industries of Europe.