Toy Association’s Joan Lawrence Shares Toy Safety Tips with Families

January 19, 2021 | The holiday season might be over but that doesn’t mean families should stop exercising due diligence when shopping for toys online. For The Toy Association, underscoring the dangers of non-compliant counterfeit toys in online marketplaces remains a year-round priority and a cornerstone of its consumer education program.

“Although families can rest assured that all toys sold through legitimate sellers adhere to the 100+ rigorous U.S. toy safety standards no matter where they are sold, the increase in online sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in an increase in the number of counterfeit products in the marketplace,” said Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association. “If the product is not complying with counterfeit laws, those sellers are also unlikely to comply with safety laws.”

This month, Lawrence hit the airwaves to educate consumers about these dangers. To date, she has been featured in broadcast segments in New York and Sacramento, sharing tips on how to identify and avoid fake toys sold by illicit sellers online.

In addition, The Toy Association has continued to make progress in advocating for the removal of dangerous products from online marketplaces through a range of concerted efforts. This includes the release of a new white paper, which updates the Association’s inaugural 2019 report and outlines solutions to tackle the issue of unsafe counterfeit toys sold online; working with lawmakers to introduce multiple pieces of legislation to hold marketplaces and illicit sellers accountable; and encouraging further collaboration and communication between Toy Association members and major online marketplaces.

To learn more about The Toy Association and its advocacy work to protect and promote the toy industry, visit www.ToyAssociation.org.