Life-threatening toy warning: Called up wood truck from Vienna!
Wien, Österreich - On April 25, 2025, the Austrian Agency for Health and Nutritional Safety (AGE) issued an urgent security warning. The "Little Storiz! 24m+ vehicle truck tippers made of wood" from the Chinese manufacturer Gifi is affected. The Ages warns of the danger that small parts of the toy could replace during the game, which leads to an increased risk of suffocation for children. The affected GIFI transactions in Vienna and Styria are already closed, and all Austrian branches no longer exist.
Consumers who have this toy are urgently asked to no longer use it and dispose of it immediately. Despite the closure of the shops, the product could continue to be available through online retailers. A return is only possible through direct disposal, and the Ages makes it clear that the warning does not mean that the risk of health was caused by the producer or distributor.
safety standards for toys
The AGEN points out that toys for children under the age of three must not contain any small parts that can be swallowed to avoid suffocation risks. According to the European standard EN 71, no component must fit into a standardized small parts test cylinder. These regulations are part of strict security requirements that apply to toys and must be checked routinely. In addition, toys must not hand over to healthy chemicals, not even with long -term contact with the mouth.
A large number of legal requirements are intended to ensure that the toys are harmless not only for the safety of children, but also for their health. The AGES has the responsibility to check compliance with these regulations so that the risks for children are minimized.
Current developments in the EU
The incident with the GIFI toy also falls into a larger European context. The European Parliament has recently adopted revised regulations on the safety of toys. Among other things, these new regulations address the challenges of digital toys and online trading by converting the existing guideline into a directly applicable regulation. An increase in security requirements and a ban on certain chemicals should ensure the protection of the health and development of children.
The regulations include a ban on carcinogenic and genetic -changing substances as well as strict requirements for toys with digital functions. Manufacturers that produce digitally networked toys in the EU must adhere to strict security and data protection standards. This ranges from the traceability of toys to the documentation of compliance with safety regulations by a digital product pass.
toys represent a significant part of the product reports, with 23 % of all reports on toys in 2022, according to the EU Safety Gate. The incident around the GIFI toy is strongly reminiscent of the need for constant vigilance and careful checks in the toy industry.
In summary, it can be said that both the AGEs and the EU provisions strive to create a safe environment for children and ensure that dangerous products are quickly identified. Consumers should always be informed about security instructions and act immediately if they have potentially dangerous toys in their property.