The government is testing more than 1,000 products to help ensure
gifts given at Christmas are safe for families, Consumer Minister
has announced today (Saturday
11 December).
The products, including toys, are from third-party sellers on
online marketplaces and the Office for Product Safety and
Standards (OPSS) is
ensuring they meet the UK’s high standards for product safety, or
else ensuring that they are removed from sale. If any dangerous
or faulty products are identified, OPSS will
contact the online marketplace to have them taken down so that
Christmas gifts are safe. Consumers will be able to return
products and receive a refund.
OPSS has
identified goods such as toys, cosmetics and electricals that can
pose particular risks. The products are checked for correct
labelling and packaging and any which fail are sent away to a
testing house for further investigation.
Today’s announcement is the next step in enforcement action that
has already seen 12,500 products removed from supply so far in
2021. OPSS officials
also undertake direct enforcement action alongside Local
Authority Trading Standards and Border Force.
Consumer Minister said:
No parent should have to worry about the safety of the toys
they’ve bought their kids at Christmas. Sadly, there are greater
threats than finding a lump of coal under the tree on Christmas
morning which is why we’re pulling out all the stops to keep
everyone safe.
The UK has some of the highest product safety standards in the
world and we’re hard at work to ensure nothing from the naughty
list makes its way into Santa’s sleigh this Christmas.
Martyn Allen, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First
(ESF), said:
We welcome this enforcement activity from OPSS,
particularly in the run up to Christmas when so many people are
using Online Marketplaces to buy gifts for their loved
ones. ESF is pleased to be
working closely with OPSS to
help identify and raise awareness of the serious safety issues,
including simple checks the public can make to help ensure the
products they buy are safe.
Mike Andrews, National Co-ordinator at the National Trading
Standards eCrime Team, said:
Many of us will be doing our Christmas shopping online this year
and so it’s vital we remember there are online fraudsters out
there tempting us with deals for dangerous products. Consumers
should be on their guard when shopping online and check the
website to ensure it is genuine before making a purchase. If you
suspect products are unsafe, report the seller and the website to
the Citizens Advice Scams Action service on 0808 250 5050.
How to stay safe when buying toys this Christmas
Shoppers are encouraged to stay safe when buying toys this
Christmas. Steps you can take to protect you and your loved ones
include:
Knowing who you are buying from
Get as much information on the seller as you can, especially if
you’re buying from an online marketplace. Not everything
advertised on an online platform is sold by them. If the actual
seller is based overseas or fails to provide an address, there
are greater risks.
Always reading the warnings and instructions
Toys must be clearly marked with age restrictions, which are
based on risks such as choking hazards. Always follow the age
recommendations.
Looking out for hazards and checking for button
batteries
Small parts and loose ribbons can pose choking and strangulation
hazards. Ensure any button batteries in a toy are safely behind a
screwed-down flap.
Comparing the sellers
Bargains may be too good to be true. Compare the toy’s price with
other sellers. If it’s a fraction of the cost, it could be a
counterfeit.
Checking for product recalls
See if the toy you’re
buying has been recalled. It is the manufacturer or
retailer’s responsibility to notify the public if any unsafe
product is recalled, but we encourage consumers to check this web
page regularly for important product safety information.
Find out more about buying
toys safely this Christmas.
Additional Information
Following a call for
evidence earlier this year, the government has committed
to consult on regulatory changes to address these issues
including ensuring that the responsibilities of online
marketplaces are clear and there is greater accountability for
products sold in the UK.
In November OPSS issued
an Important Product Safety
Message, reminding the public to check who they are buying
from and providing a safety checklist for purchases.
OPSS is
running a Christmas Toys product safety information campaign in
the run up to Christmas, which includes warnings about button
batteries, small powerful magnets, and the heightened risk of
buying online from a seller outside the UK.
Last summer, the government launched a consultation on further
measures to protect consumers from online rip-offs. This
includes tackling bogus online reviews by making it illegal to
pay someone to write or host, a fake review, and helping
regulators stamp out other unscrupulous tactics like businesses
paying to have their product feature highly on a trader’s website
while hiding the fact they paid for such placement.
