EU plays Santa Claus on toy safety

12.48.00pm GMT Tue 16th Dec 2008

Just ahead of Christmas, MEPs are expected to pass new EU legislation this week to make toys safer by toughening the regulations.

The new law will require clearer 'warning' labels, expand the list of banned substances to include allergenic fragrances sometimes found in playdough, and seek to reduce the risk of suffocation or strangling from small detachable parts of toys. Also this week MEPs will strengthen controls to tackle the illegal trade of counterfeit goods which can include toys.

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"The festive season is good timing for the EU to act as Santa Claus by improving child safety. This adds to the long record of action that the EU has taken to protect both the consumer and our children over the years."

"I hope that that these regulations will now be implemented swiftly and effectively. But it is vital that member states implement strict checks not only on domestic manufactures but especially on imported goods, the vast majority of which come from China."