TIE’s principal goal is to ensure safe toys for our children. The first standards on toy safety in Europe were developed over 20 years ago, and the toy industry has been involved in developing standards from the beginning.

TIE has contributed to vast improvements in toy safety over the past two decades and our members, who are competing firms within the toy industry, continuously work together to develop and improve toy safety standards. Toys are among the safest and most highly regulated consumer products on the market. The toy industry has much higher standards than all other household and electronic goods, such as MP3 players, portable game consoles, and mobile phones.

From their initial design, toys are created and manufactured to comply with rigorous standards for intended and foreseeable use laid down in mechanical and electrical safety standards. Toys must withstand “use and abuse tests”, a series of drop tests, tension tests, impact tests, torque tests, compression tests, topple over tests, etc.

Safety is our top priority

TIE continuously strives to improve supply chain management. For example, TIE was an active partner in the drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the European Commission and Chinese authorities to improve the quality of toys imported into the EU. In line with the MOU, in 2005 and 2006 TIE sent leading experts to China to participate in a training and exchange of best practice for toy factory and product quality managers.

Since 1997, TIE has also been highly involved in the ICTI CARE Programme, which promotes social rights in Chinese factories.

In May 2008 TIE signed a voluntary agreement with Commissioner Kuneva committing the toy industry to spreading best safety practices throughout the sector and to harnessing expertise in the areas of training, education and cooperation with authorities. This voluntary agreement was the culmination of many months of constructive dialogue with the Commission on the issue of toy safety.

TIE is keen to ensure that any new legislation regarding toy safety guarantees a high level of safety for consumers within a framework that is proportionate, balanced and workable for responsible manufacturers, in particular SMEs which make up 80% of the toy industry in Europe.

The new Toy Safety Directive

TIE fully supported the adoption of the new Toy Safety Directive which guarantees the highest safety and quality standards in Europe. TIE, in collaboration with the European Commission, created factsheets about the new Toy Safety Directive.

TIE EC Factsheet - Warnings 

TIE EC Factsheet - Traceability

TIE EC Factsheet - Scope

TIE EC Factsheet - Declaration of Conformity

TIE EC Factsheet - Conformity and Safety Assessment 

TIE is also working together with the European Commission and the national associations to ensure that the toy sector is aware of and understands the changes that the Toy Safety Directive entails.

TIE is aware that the most valuable and practical contributions its members can make towards the shared objective of toy safety include sharing their expertise, providing education, and helping to enhance enforcement efforts.  In this context, TIE has invited the European Commission to participate in a Roadshow on the new Toy Safety Directive.