Regulations in force at present require toys to be designed and made so that they comply with safety requirements. The requirements include aspects such as mechanical safety, flammability, exclusion of toxic materials, hygiene etc. There are standards which guide the toy manufacturer. In most cases, if a toy complies with those standards, it will comply with the legal Regulations.

Toy companies are required to know about the safety of their products and keep records which describe the steps they take to ensure that the toys comply.

Toy retailers are required to ensure that the toys on sale comply with the Regulations. This is usually done by getting assurances from their suppliers that the information required is available. Often retailers request independent certificates to show that the products they are buying are safe.

If a retailer imports a toy product directly, then he is responsible for the safety of the product and maintaining the technical data.

Toys have a very good safety track record and this is supported by a look ataccident statistics. Only a small percentage of all home accidents involve toys, and even in these rare instances the toy is usually not the cause of the accident.

The Following publications cover toy safety:

The Single Market - Toy Safety published by the Department of Trade and Industry, available from DTI, Room 301, 10-18 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0NN - free of charge.

The Toy (Safety) Regulations, available from the Stationery Office (TSO), postcash dept., P.O. Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Telephone 0870 600 5522 quoting ISBN 0110548701 or go to www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

Main libraries may be able to make toy standards available under reference BS 5665 and BS EN 71.

Toy museums are dotted all over Britain and the US and can sometimes help. The main museums include the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA, the Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TG.

US See: http://www.astratoy.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=185&Itemid=405
http://www.cpsc.gov/
http://www.astm.org/index.shtml