Industry Statements

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

11/17/2022
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.

 

The Toy Association Response to 2022 W.A.T.C.H. ’10 Worst Toys’ List

11/16/2022
Each year, W.A.T.C.H.’s “worst toys” list comes out near the holiday season, needlessly frightening parents and caregivers with misinformation in an effort to gain media attention. What’s important to know is that by law, all toys sold in the United States must first meet 100+ rigorous safety tests and standards before reaching consumers.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Magnets in Toys

10/31/2022
Strict federal toy safety standards prohibit the use of certain powerful magnets (usually rare earth magnets) in any toy part that is small enough to be swallowed and is intended for children under 14 years old.

 

The Toy Association Statement on the Misuse of Gel Beads

10/31/2022
The Toy Association is urging families to be aware of the gel beads social media trend, and to educate their children about the dangers of misusing products in this way.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Responsible Marketing to Children

10/27/2022
The Toy Association and its members are proud of the important, life-shaping role that toys, games, and play have in the development and growth of children. Play is an integral component of an educational, happy, healthy, and well-rounded childhood.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Phthalates

10/18/2022
Specific restrictions on the presence of phthalates – ingredients that make some plastics soft and pliable – in toys and childcare articles are defined in 16 CFR 1307 (previously Section 108 of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), a federal law that was passed in 2008).

 

The Toy Association Statement on Button Cell Batteries

9/29/2022
Batteries – especially small button- and coin-size batteries – can pose a serious health hazard if swallowed. If they lodge in the esophagus, the results can be life-threatening and immediate medical intervention is needed.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Toy Guns

8/1/2022
There have been a number of unfortunate incidents where items have been mistaken by law enforcement for real guns, often resulting in tragedy. While the items involved are often described as “toy guns,” they are not.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Flame Retardants

9/24/2020
Safety is the toy industry’s top priority. All toys sold in the United States must conform to stringent federal safety standards such as the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Not only do these toy safety standards contain tough flammability requirements, they also restrict the use of substances known to be harmful to children and to which children might be exposed.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Packaging / Environmental Sustainability

9/24/2020
Though toys comprise less than 1 percent of the typical household waste stream, there is an industry-wide understanding that everyone has a role to play in support of sustainability.

 

The Toy Association Statement on the Safety of Toys Made Outside of the U.S.

9/24/2020
Consumers have every reason to trust the safety of the three billion toys sold in America each year. All toys sold in the U.S., regardless of where they are made, must comply with strict U.S. standards. It is the responsibility of the companies selling products in this country to make sure that those toys are safe. Regular testing and certification by government-approved, independent laboratories provides an additional verification of a company’s compliance with our country’s strict federal regulations.  

 

The Toy Association Statement on Chemicals in Toys

9/24/2020
All toys sold in the U.S. must comply with 100+ strict toy safety regulations, tests, and requirements designed to protect children at play, including the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Among other protections, these regulations make it illegal to sell toys or children’s products containing substances harmful to children and to which they might be exposed.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Cadmium and Heavy Metals

9/24/2020
Toys* sold in the United States are prohibited from containing heavy metals or any other substances that can result in harmful exposure to children. By law, toy companies must ensure that their products comply with all relevant standards, regulations, and tests – including applicable heavy metal limits – before they can be sold in this country.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Bisphenol-A (BPA)

9/24/2020
The Toy Association assures parents and caregivers that any Bisphenol-A (BPA) found in toys is safe, given its limited scope of use, minuscule amounts present, and limited risk of exposure in toy and game products.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Digital Play and Screen Time

9/24/2020
The Toy Association and its members are proud of the important, life-shaping role that toys, games, and play have in the development and growth of young minds and bodies.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Small Parts Regulation

9/24/2020
The federally-mandated small parts regulation that has been in place in the U.S. for more than four decades was established using research from the American Academy of Pediatrics, child development experts, government officials, and others. These requirements take into account the physiological makeup of a child.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Play and Healthy Lifestyles

9/24/2020
The Toy Association and its members are proud of the important, life-shaping role that toys, games, and play have in the development and growth of children. With the rise in childhood obesity rates sparking public health concerns, parents are rallying alongside medical professionals to encourage more active play – that which stimulates the body by encouraging kids to run, jump, and stretch.

 

The Toy Association Statement Regarding the Sound Level of Toys

9/24/2020
No toys intended for children and sold in the United States have been found to be dangerous based on their sound level. Toys sold in this country are required to comply with standards that include limits on sound level output.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Recalls

9/24/2020
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.

 

The Toy Association Statement on the Use of XRF Technology

9/24/2020
The Toy Association believes that X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technology may be reliably used as an initial screening mechanism, in the hands of a well-trained operator, for detecting the potential presence of certain substances in toys – as long as prescribed test methods are followed and the appropriate standard reference materials are used. A “positive” XRF result merely indicates that further comprehensive testing must be done by a government-accredited lab to confirm the presence of the substance.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Lead

9/24/2020
Working alongside medical experts and government officials, The Toy Association helped establish the first federal standards for lead in children’s products nearly 40 years ago.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Counterfeit Toys & Safe Shopping

9/24/2020
The Toy Association encourages shoppers to spend a few extra minutes digging deeper into a lesser-known online seller’s history, by searching for the company’s website and mission statement, and carefully reading reviews.

 

The Toy Association Statement on Toy Safety, Age Grading and Small Parts

9/24/2020
U.S. toy safety standards are among the toughest in the world and U.S. toymakers are committed to ensuring the safety of the toys they produce. It is equally important that parents and caregivers take an active role in ensuring safe and fun play.

 

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