New rules for Harris Tweed toys 29/7/11
Craft makers producing toys out of Harris Tweed should be aware of new safety rules which came into force last week.
The new European Toy Safety Directive introduces strict safety requirements ensuring that children benefit from the highest levels of protection.
Before placing a new toy on the market, manufacturers will have to identify the hazards and the potential exposure to children via a safety assessment.
Manufacturers are also obliged to ensure traceability of the toy by indicating the name, address and batch number of the item. There are rules about declarations of conformity, safety assessments, the location and wording of warnings and pictograms, how long information must be retained, as well as traceability.
Trading Standards are responsible for enforcing this new legislation.
The rules now define toys as ‘any products or materials designed or intended whether or not exclusively for use in play by children under 14 years of age’.
A Comhairle spokesperson said: “This legislation puts new obligations on all toy manufacturers. Any manufacturers must ensure that they are complying with these new rules, and this will include the many local producers in the Western Isles, who make soft toys made using Harris Tweed textiles.”