9 IN 10 TOYS BOUGHT ONLINE FOUND TO PUT KIDS HEALTH AT RISK – An investigation found that toys posed choking and hearing hazards
Almost 9 in 10 toys purchased through major online retailers are putting kids’ health at risk, a shock investigation has revealed.
Tests on the toys bought from 11 well-known third-party sellers including budget website Temu and Amazon found they didn’t comply with safety rules, posing choking and hearing hazards.
Almost one in 10 sold online were also deemed illegal, the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) found.
The group, which represents British toy manufacturers, labelled the findings ‘unacceptable’ and ‘shocking’ and called on the Government to take urgent action.
It also warned the findings could be the tip of the iceberg, with many other potentially dangerous toys potentially being sold on these marketplaces.
Unlike traditional retail models, online marketplaces are not legally responsible for the safety of products sold by their third-party sellers, though there are some proposals to change this currently being considered by Parliament.
However, the current loophole means it is currently too easy for illegal and unsafe toys to be sold in the UK.
