Amazon Among Online Marketplaces That Fail Safety Standards in Children's Toys

The Toy Industries of Europe warns that without stricter regulations, unsafe toys will continue to endanger children.

By Thea Felicity

Oct 17 2024, 11:02 AM EDT

FRANCE-AMAZON-DISTRIBUTION-NGO — A worker packages unsold toys that will be donated to the Dons Solidaires association at the Amazon's distribution center of Saran on October 26, 2018, Central France. - Toys will go to associations helping families in difficulty and the "C Ke du Bonheur" association which prepares Christmas trees for hospitalized children and teenagers. GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images

In Europe, toymakers were found selling unsafe toys to children and online marketplaces like Amazon are receiving the drag.

Some products contained not just dangerous materials that can harm children if swallowed, but also toxic chemicals they should not be touching in the first place.

In a report by CNN, TIE or the Toy Industries of Europe tested over 100 toys from third-party sellers on 10 platforms and found that 80% did not meet EU safety standards when it comes to protecting children's health.

Director, Catherine Van Reeth, gave warnings to online marketplaces like Amazon, to take more responsibility for ensuring product safety. Otherwise, more unsafe toys will continue to be sold. Van Reeth emphasized that every part of the supply chain must play its role to close this dangerous safety gap and protect children.

TIE conducted independent lab tests on toys from online marketplaces and among the products tested was a baby teething toy that could break into small parts, potentially choking a newborn. Slime products also contained boron levels, which can harm the reproductive system, that exceeded the limit by over 13 times.

Online Marketplace Selling Unsafe Toys

Currently, Yahoo Finance shared that US regulators are investigating Amazon, Shein, and Temu for their part in allowing the sale of dangerous baby products and toys. Both EU and non-EU sellers offered these products.

An Amazon representative responded back by stating that it has already removed said items under investigation. The company also contends that it implemented measures to prevent the listing of unsafe products. Temu also replied by underlining the quality of their product and their priority to consumer safety. They claimed that all sellers on the platform must adhere to strict safety standards.

Shein has yet to comment on the investigation they received.

TIE clarified that their findings do not represent the overall safety of all toys sold on these platforms since they did not include products from reputable brands.

For now, Amazon and other online marketplaces, have committed to the EU's Product Safety Pledge, a voluntary agreement that ensures all products sold by third-party sellers meet safety standards.