Conferences and Events

European Parliament Conference: “Combating Counterfeit, Contraband and Organised Crime”

22 February 2010

Bryan Ellis, President of TIE, was invited to give a presentation at a conference organised by the European Parliament Forum on the Combat of Counterfeit, Contraband and Organised Crime. This conference, which took place on 22 February 2010 in Brussels, was co-hosted by Bill Newton Dunn MEP, Andreas Schwab MEP and Edit Herczog MEP. The conference addressed the many dangers of buying and using fake goods. Bryan’s presentation focused on the dangers of counterfeited toys. This conference was hailed by all participants as a huge success.

For further information please see:

Playing Fair: The dangers of counterfeit toys

Bill Newton Dunn’s website

Andreas Schwab’s website

The London Toy Fair

26 - 28 January 2010

TIE participated in the 57th Toy Fair, which took place in the Grand Hall at London’s Olympia Exhibition Centre, reported a major surge in attendance figures in 2010.  The Toy Fair is organised by TIE member, the British Toy & Hobby Association. For more information on the Toy Fair, see the Toy Fair’s homepage and the BTHA’s website.

Second Toy Industry European Summit: “Toy Safety: Today and Into the Future”

8 - 9 April 2008

This summit brought together around 100 industry representatives, policy-makers and other interested parties from across the globe. The summit took place over two days, beginning with a cocktail and dinner with key note speech by Commissioner Günter Verheugen on the evening of 8 April. It was followed on 9 April by a day of lively discussion and presentations from some of the best known figures from the toy industry and the EU institutions. Highlights included speeches from Pat Kane, author of The Play Ethic, Carter Keithley, President of the US Toy Industry Association (TIA),  Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO of Lego, and Commissioner Meglena Kuneva (responsible for Consumer Policy).

All speeches and presentations as well as a selection of photos are available here

Signing of a Voluntary Safety Agreement

28 May 2008

European Commisioner, Meglena Kuneva, and TIE President, Bryan Ellis, signed a voluntary agreement on toy safety. For more information and a full version of the agreement, see the Newsroom.

Meeting with Commissioner Kuneva

5 November 2007

TIE and a number of toy industry CEOs met with Commissioner Kuneva to discuss actions on toy safety. The group then had a lunch meeting with representatives from the European Commission and the European Parliament.

EU Open Doors Day: Europe’s 50th anniversary celebrations

5 May 2007

TIE was invited by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise to provide a play area for children in the European Commission’s headquarters, the Berlaymont building, on the occasion of the official EU Open Doors Day. This year the day also marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

The aim of this initiative was to raise awareness of the importance of play and the industry’s commitment to high EU toy safety standards while at the same time creating a fun, family-friendly space.

First Toy Industry European Summit

3 - 4 October 2006

TIE’s first Toy Industry European Summit brought together a distinguished circle of the industry’s leading figures and firms as well as representatives from national associations and key opinion leaders from the European Commission and European Parliament to explore how the changing European markets are impacting the future of the toy industry. This premier toy industry event discussed the ever increasing complexity of doing business under a changing legislative environment.

International Toy Fair in Nürnberg

3 February 2006

TIE discussed the threat that piracy and counterfeiting represent for business at the Branchenforum during the Nuremberg Toy Fair.

International Toy Fair in Nürnberg

10 - 15 February 2005

TIE highlighted the important contributions toys and play make to children’s development at International Toy Fair in Nürnberg.

Click here to read more

5 - 10 February 2004

TIE promoted the value of play at the International Toy Fair in Nürnberg.

Click here to read more

6 April 2004

TIE proudly teamed up with MEP and Chairman of the AMAR International Foundation, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, to support this admirable foundation in equipping primary schools being built in Iraq.

Providing a brighter future for the children of Iraq

Counterfeiting & product piracy: A threat to consumers, unfair to business

25 March 2003

TIE organised a conference in Brussels on "Counterfeiting & product piracy: A threat to consumers, unfair to business”. Keynote speakers included MEPs and representatives of both the European Commission's DG MARKT and the toy industry among others.