A project led by the council on behalf of the West of Scotland Safety Working Group has resulted in more than 16,000 unsafe and non-compliant toys being removed from sale. Inspections covered 165 retail and wholesale premises, examining 32,316 toys in total.
Over half of the toys inspected, amounting to 18,075, were found to be non-compliant or unsafe. A significant hazard identified was the presence of small parts that could easily detach, posing a particular danger to children under three years of age who may ingest them, leading to choking, suffocation, or internal injury.
Chemicals used in toy manufacture are regulated due to potential long-term health effects, including impacts on fertility and increased cancer risk. Several toys failed safety tests conducted by officers.
Toys sold in the UK must display a UK-based manufacturer/importer name and address, product traceability information, and a CE and/or UKCA mark to confirm safety assessments have been completed. Many inspected toys lacked this essential information.
“"Parents and carers should be able to trust that toys offered for sale are safe. This project identified significant levels of non-compliance and demonstrates the vital role Trading Standards services play in protecting consumers. Through coordinated enforcement activity, more than 16,000 non-compliant or unsafe toys were removed from the market, reducing the risk of harm to children and supporting responsible businesses."
The West of Scotland Safety Working Group plans to use these findings to enhance product safety compliance and address unsafe products throughout the supply chain. Further toy safety initiatives are ongoing across Scotland, with additional results anticipated later in the year from the North and East Safety Working Groups.
