EU regulation improves toy safety

An updated European Union safety regulation on toys will place pressure on Chinese toy makers and affect the nation's exports to an already weakening European market, but could also provide an opportunity to upgrade the domestic industry, say industry insiders.
The new safety directive, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in 2009, took full effect on July 19. It sets stricter requirements on the quality of toys and manufacturers' obligations by adding more articles on the chemical content of products.