TIE: Toy Industries of Europe

Today we released the results of a 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲. https://lnkd.in/eqkefUEZ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: 80% of toys we purchased on popular online marketplaces from third-party traders fail to meet EU safety standards. Despite the EU’s strict toy safety rules, unsafe toys are still slipping through a legal loophole. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲: Current EU rules don’t hold online marketplaces legally responsible for the safety of toys sold by non-EU sellers on their platforms. This means rogue traders can ignore EU laws, and no one is accountable when these toys put children at risk.  𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻: ✅ EU laws to recognise online marketplaces as economic operators—so they can be legally responsible. ✅ Fast track customs rules to make sure someone in the EU is always accountable for imports. ✅ Better target and invest more in market surveillance and law enforcement to stop the flood of unsafe toys coming into the EU. ✅ Ensure robust and swift enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA).   If the thousands of reputable toymakers – 99% SMEs -  can guarantee safety, so should big online platforms.   Let’s close the loophole and ensure every toy sold is safe for our children. FJP : Fédération française des industries Jouet - Puériculture AEFJ Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Juguetes Assogiocattoli Deutscher Verband der Spielwarenindustrie (DVSI) e.V. Legebranchen - LEG Lek & Babyrevyn

👏 We are happy to reveal the finalists for the 5th edition of the 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬! https://lnkd.in/gqV5yPE3 👇 Here are the ten outstanding toys and initiatives that have been shortlisted in each prize category:     𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐘 & 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍  🫂 Playing Together Project | MINILAND GROUP  🫂 Mattel Games™ Colourblind Accessibility Initiative | Mattel, Inc.  🫂 The new Generation of LEGO® Friends | the LEGO Group    𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒   💡 ROBOTICS - Smart Robots Pro | fischertechnik GmbH  💡 Binocular Camera | LeapFrog / VTech  💡 My SvooryTales | Svoora    𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘   🌍 Smoby Life - XL Slide | SMOBY TOYS S.A.S  🌍 ️Wave Stacker | PlanToys  🌍 Build the Change 2023 – Environmental Sustainability through Play | the LEGO Group  🌍 Fisher-Price® Planet Friends | Mattel       Big thanks to all participants for their great entries – the decisions were tough!     Who will take home the gold?  We will find out on 5 November – stay tuned for the big day! #PlayforChangeAwards #toysector #awards

📢 Job alert: we are searching for a new Senior Technical Officer to join our team at TIE. If you know a talented technical expert with strong communication skills who thrives in a technical and political environment, please share this opportunity with them! Applications are open until 30 November 2024. #Hiring #SeniorTechnicalOfficer #ToyIndustry 

International Product Safety Week provided a perfect platform for Lars Vogt, our EU Policy Director, to present the findings of our latest mystery online shopping exercise. 🔵 The results highlight a significant legal loophole allowing dishonest sellers outside the EU to sell unsafe toys to EU consumers via online marketplaces. 🔵 We believe it's time for stronger accountability—someone must be accountable for toy safety, no matter where or how the product is sold. A big thank you to the moderator Courtney Griffin and fellow panelists Stefanie Grunert and Sue Davies MBE for a great discussion! Our findings are available here: https://lnkd.in/eqkefUEZ #IPSW #ICPHSO2024 #toysafety 

2024 Play for Change Awards: 36 toy companies, big and small, are in the running for this year’s top honours! 👏 A huge thank you to all participants whose innovative toys and initiatives are shaping the future of play by promoting diversity & inclusion, sustainability, and life skills. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you as well to the jury members who had the challenging task of selecting from so many excellent entries. ❔ Who will make it to the finals? Stay tuned—the finalists will be announced soon. #PlayforChangeAwards #ToyIndustry #Awards

Play allows children to express themselves, build independence, and understand the diverse world around them. #importanceofplay #playmatters

Together with 58 NGOs and industry groups, we are calling on the EU to close regulatory gaps that allow non-compliant products to flood the market via online platforms. The surge in direct imports through these platforms poses significant risks to consumers, the environment, and harm European businesses and the internal market.   What’s needed? ✔ Recognise online marketplaces as economic operators responsible for placing products on the market if there is no other EU party fulfilling this role ✔ Enhance obligations for online marketplaces ✔ Improve product traceability ✔ Equip customs authorities with better rules to stop illegal imports in small packages   Read the full joint statement with all our recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/e_4ESHx3 Legebranchen - LEG Deutscher Verband der Spielwarenindustrie (DVSI) e.V. FJP : Fédération française des industries Jouet - Puériculture AEFJ Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Juguetes Lek- och Babybranschen LightingEurope European Environmental Bureau EURATEX - European Apparel and Textile Confederation APPLiA ECOS EFIC - European Furniture Industries Confederation EucoLight EXPRA - Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance Zero Waste Europe European Commission Stéphane Séjourné Henna Virkkunen Jessika Roswall Christel Schaldemose Morten Løkkegaard Pascal Canfin Engin Eroglu

We are looking for a new communications intern! Know someone interested in gaining hands-on experience while working for a dynamic organisation representing the toy sector in the EU? Please send them our way! More details are available on our website: https://lnkd.in/ensJp3FX

As EU policymakers roll up their sleeves to tackle key and complex issues, they should not overlook something as simple yet vital as play. Play offers countless benefits for children's development and well-being, but it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Ensuring that policies create the time and space for children to play will help shape a healthier, happier future generation. Here’s how: https://lnkd.in/ev3rVtMV

Today is International Literacy Day!  Did you know that play is a powerful way to build literacy skills? Through storytelling, imaginative play and word games, children develop language and communication skills - all while having fun! #internationaliteracyday #learningthroughplay #playmatters