With the holidays just around the corner, families are likely to come across misleading reports circulated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding allegedly "harmful" toys. However, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) — which works year-round to provide parents and caregivers with reliable information about safe play — is warning families not to fall for these fear-mongering tactics.
"Each holiday season, a small group of non-governmental organizations seek to generate publicity and donations for themselves by needlessly frightening parents during an otherwise joyful time of year," said
Steve Pasierb, President & CEO of the Toy Industry Association. "Having spent more than two decades in public health, I see these groups time and again failing to support their claims with credible, scientific data that families can trust. What parents
can rely on is knowing that all toys sold in the U.S. are highly regulated 365 days a year by the federal government and must meet more than 100 safety standard requirements. These are established facts in which parents can have faith."
TIA has conducted a thorough analysis of U.S. Public Interest Research Group's (PIRG) 2014 "Trouble in Toyland" report, W.A.T.C.H's 2014 "10 Worst Toys" list, and Clean and Healthy New York's 2015 "Toxic Toys in
Monroe County" report. The analysis revealed that the data provided by these groups is unreliable and consistently fails to support their allegations that the listed toys present any danger to children at play.
HERE ARE THE FACTS:
- None of the toys named in these reports have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency charged with overseeing toy safety.
- W.A.T.C.H. doesn't test the toys it claims are unsafe. Their allegations are based on pure conjecture and opinion.
- Clean and Healthy New York's test results are incorrect. Instead of using a Consumer Product Safety Commission-accredited lab, Clean and Healthy NY used an unreliable XRF device to "test" the toys named in its report. When an independent, CPSC-accredited lab tested those same toys that were available at Monroe County retailers, every single toy complied with all federal toy safety standards and requirements.
- PIRG also failed to use proper toy testing methods. Nearly 85% of the products named in PIRG's report were tested at a lab that is not accredited by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to do that testing, seriously calling into question the validity of their methods and results.
- PIRG cited 29% of the toys in its report for having "near" small parts and "nearly" fitting into the Consumer Product Safety Commission-approved small parts tester to check for choking hazards. The fact remains that if an item passes the small parts test, it's not a small part ... and not a hazard.
- Many 'dangerous' toys named by PIRG and Clean and Healthy NY aren't even toys. Including non-toy items – like backpacks, headbands, and towels – in a toy report is disingenuous and creates confusion about the safety of compliant toys. Non-toys are not subject to the same rigorous safety standards as toys.
Toy safety and protecting children at play is the top priority of the toy industry. TIA welcomes independent monitoring and analysis by outside parties — as long as these activities are carried out in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, groups like PIRG, W.A.T.C.H. and Clean and Healthy New York do nothing to advance toy safety and are not serving the interests and well-being of children and their families.
TIA was a vigorous supporter of the CPSIA, the federal consumer product safety legislation adopted in 2008, and works year-round with medical experts, consumer groups and government regulators to ensure the safety of children and maintain U.S. toy safety standards, which are among the strictest in the world. The Association educates toymakers on how to meet these standards and provides consumers with accurate facts about toy safety.
Families looking for reliable information are invited to visit TIA's
www.PlaySafe.org, an online repository of toy safety facts, recall information, and tips for safe play.
