Members of the European Parliament voted to ban the use of toys that disrupt the endocrine system

The purpose of this modification: to allow children to have fun with less risk. The European Parliament voted Wednesday to ban harmful chemicals in toys, especially endocrine disruptors. Members of the European Parliament overwhelmingly approved this text, which they considered in the first reading (603 votes for and 5 against).

“We are sending a clear message about protecting children. This is a regulation adapted to our times,” said Marion Walsmann, German MEP (EPP, right), rapporteur on the text, after the vote.

According to the 2009 European Directive, toys sold in the European Union (whether made there or not) must meet strict safety requirements in order to be declared compliant and bear the “CE” mark. They must not be dangerous or flammable and must not contain carcinogenic substances.

Introduction of the digital passport

The legislative draft presented by Brussels proposes to go further and ban the most harmful chemicals. Environment Committee President Pascal Canfin (Renewal, Centrists and Liberals) hailed “a big victory for children’s health”, welcoming a ban on endocrine disrupting substances “which may still be present in baby teethers and plastic toys” . like PFAS, “those perennial pollutants that are harmful to the environment and our health.”

To verify the presence of these chemicals, MEPs voted to create a digital passport that should “contain all information on the compliance of toys.”

Despite current regulations, many non-compliant toys end up in the European Union, in part because they were purchased online. In February, Toy Industries of Europe (TIE), the European toy industry lobby, explained that it tested toys purchased on Chinese e-commerce platform Temu and found that 18 out of 19 toys posed a “real risk” to children.