Austria Warns of Unsafe Toys Ahead of Black Friday and Christmas Shopping
Austrian authorities have raised alarms over unsafe toys as Black Week and Christmas shopping approach. Many budget products fail to meet safety standards, posing risks to children. Social Affairs and Health Minister Korinna Schumann urged shoppers to exercise caution when making purchases.
Inspections by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) frequently uncover serious defects in toys. Common hazards include small parts that can be swallowed, dangerously loud noise levels, unsafe magnets, and banned chemicals. Toys designed for children under three are especially prone to these issues.
The ministry is also taking legal steps against online platforms like Temu. The action targets deceptive design practices and weak safeguards for minors. Meanwhile, consumers are advised to check for the CE marking, age recommendations, and solid craftsmanship when buying toys.
Experts recommend choosing products that comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EG. Updated regulations ban harmful chemicals and enforce strict standards from design to sale. Trusted indicators include the GS label and certifications from independent testing institutes. Shoppers should also consult the EU-Safety-Gate database and buy from reputable retailers.
Buyers are warned to avoid extremely cheap toys or those from unreliable sources. Testing the volume of toy phones and handling magnetic toys with care are additional precautions. Later this year, the new EU Toy Safety Regulation is expected to introduce even stronger protections for children.
The warnings come as Black Week and Christmas shopping begin, a peak time for toy purchases. Authorities stress the importance of verifying safety marks and avoiding questionable deals. The upcoming EU regulation aims to further reduce risks for young consumers.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
