The Toy Association’s Statement Re: U.S. PIRG’s 2022 Report

Because its products are intended specifically for children, the toy industry holds itself to a particularly high standard of safety. All toys sold in the United States, no matter where they are produced, must conform to rigorous safety standards and laws. Because of that, toys are among the safest consumer products found in the home.

Typically, only 0.003 percent of the three billion toys sold in the U.S. each year are recalled. Toy recalls have declined dramatically in recent years and remain very rare. U.S. PIRG’s report includes items that have been voluntarily recalled or discontinued by companies and are no longer available for purchase from legitimate sellers.

The Toy Association agrees that recalled and counterfeit toys should be avoided. The Toy Association continues to urge parents to shop only from reputable brands and sellers, whether in stores or online, whose toys comply with over 100 different safety standards and tests required by law. A reputable seller will not sell a recalled or counterfeit product.

PIRG’s report also mentions non-toy items, such as high-powered magnets and balloons, thus undermining the toy industry’s deep and ongoing commitment to safety. The Toy Association agrees that these items may pose a risk to children as they are not subject to the same rigorous standards as toys. Parents should be clear on the fact that these are not toys.

U.S. toy safety requirements are among the strictest in the world. These safety requirements include, but are not limited to:

• A highly effective small parts regulation that was adopted internationally and has on multiple occasions been reviewed by doctors and other specialists, and found to be appropriately protective;
• A longstanding federal law that requires batteries in toys for young children to be kept inaccessible (the toy battery standard has effectively protected children since the 1990s and, thanks in part to The Toy Association’s advocacy work, has now been emulated in Reese’s Law, covering other consumer products in the home);
• Strict standards prohibiting the use of strong magnets in any toy part that is small enough to be swallowed (PIRG’s report mentions magnets that are not toys and are not meant for children);
• Internationally emulated limits on sound level output

Safety is the toy industry’s top priority every day of the year. For more safety tips, visit www.PlaySafe.org.