The focus: Market office warns of dangerous risks!

The focus: Market office warns of dangerous risks!

Wien, Österreich - The market office in Vienna carried out comprehensive control of cheap toys in the city on July 7, 2025. A total of 29 toy shops were checked, with 102 samples being removed from questionable products. In this campaign, 30 advertisements were raised due to violations of consumers. The complaints are particularly alarming: 44 of the drawn samples have defects, including easily detachable buttons or eyes on soft toys, as well as lead in colors and forbidden plasticizers in plastic toys. Market office director Andreas Kutheil emphasized the importance of the safety of cheap toys to protect children.

In the event of serious violations, the market office immediately pulls the goods out of circulation. The controls are part of the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act (LMSVG), which places high demands on toys in the EU. Member States are obliged to comply with minimum standards. According to consumer health.gv.at, toy products are defined as those that are intended for children under 14 years.

safety requirements for toys

The safety requirements for toys are harmonized at EU level. According to Directive 2009/48/EC, also known as the "toy guideline", products must meet basic safety requirements and be provided with CE marking. The market entrepreneur must demonstrate compliance with corresponding certificates and technical documents. Before toys can be placed on the market, an EC declaration of conformity is also required.

As part of the current developments, the European Parliament has accepted revised EU regulations on the safety of toys. With 603 yes votes, 5 no votes and 15 abstentions, the existing guideline should be converted into a directly applicable regulation. These new regulations increase the security requirements and expand the prohibition of certain chemicals in the toy, including carcinogenic and genetic -changing substances as well as chemicals that affect the respiratory system. Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) may no longer be included in toys.

digital challenges and consumer protection

A central element of the new regulations is the digital product pass, which is intended to replace the EU declaration of conformity. This pass enables improved traceability and facilitates market monitoring and customs controls. Consumers also receive simple access to security information and warnings, for example via QR codes. The new regulations also consider toys with digital functions and their safety requirements, especially with regard to data protection and cyber security.
According to [europarl.europa.eu] (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/de/press-rooom/20240308ipr19012/strengere-eu-----sicherheit-sicherheit- von-von-toy, toys represent the most frequently registered product category, with 23 % of all reports by the EU Safety Gate in 2022.

The market office carries over 124,000 checks annually and accepts questions about a special market office telephone, which can be reached Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The number 4000 - 8090 is available for everyone who wants to find out more. The protection of children and the safety of toys remains the top priority of the authorities.