On 18 November, the General Administration of Customs announced that it will carry out random inspections of some import and export commodities not listed in the catalogue of commodities subject to statutory inspection. The objective is to protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers and safeguard health and safety. Import commodities that will be subject to inspections include stationery for students, baby products and electronic products. Export commodities include children’s toys.

Hong Kong exporters have a reputation for high quality toys. Contract manufacturing with overseas manufacturers and licence holders generates a large share of the industry’s revenues. In order to reduce operating costs and stay competitive, the majority of Hong Kong toy makers have set up production facilities offshore, particularly in mainland China and Southeast Asia. The role of their Hong Kong offices has shifted towards quality control, management, marketing, product design and production planning. In 2023, Hong Kong was the world’s ninth largest toy exporter.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is extending from 8 November to 8 December the deadline for public input on a proposal to establish additional performance and labelling requirements for water bead toys and toys that contain water beads.

Recently, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2406 was published in the EU’s Official Journal. It amends an earlier Decision (Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1698) on European standards for certain child care articles, children’s furniture, gymnastic equipment and laser products. The European standards have all been adopted under the EU’s Directive on General Product Safety (2001/95/EC).

On 5 September 2024, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) voted unanimously to keep the position of the previous legislature on the proposed toy safety Regulation and to start trilogue talks with the EU Council. Provisional agreement on the proposed Regulation may therefore be reached imminently between the co-legislators.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking public input by 8 November on a proposal to establish additional performance and labelling requirements for water bead toys and toys that contain water beads.

Public input is being sought through 14 October on a CPSC proposal to address the risk of injury and death associated with children ingesting button cell or coin cell batteries obtained from toys by adopting performance and labelling requirements for battery-operated toys containing such batteries.

The European Commission has recently published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1459 on an interoperable interface of the Safety Gate Portal for providers of online marketplaces. Pursuant to the new Regulation, the technical framework would enable providers of online marketplaces to link their interfaces with the EU’s Safety Gate Portal, which displays dangerous products (e.g., dangerous toys or clothing placed on the EU market), in an easy, quick and reliable way. This new Regulation will become applicable on 13 December 2024.

The Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement (“Forum”) recently conducted a workshop regarding the so-called REF-10 project and subsequently released a workshop summary. The intent of the REACH-EN-FORCE (“REF”) project was to gather data on compliance with the EU’s chemical restrictions and obligations. The Forum is a network of authorities within the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”) responsible for enforcement of regulations, and it aims for harmonised enforcement of chemicals-related rules by Member States.

On 15 May 2024, the Council – which represents the Member States – announced that it has adopted its position (i.e., its negotiating mandate) on the EU’s revised toy safety legislation. The text updates the rules to protect children from risks related to the use of toys. While the current legislation (Directive 2009/48/EC) is already strict, the proposed legislation aims to (among other things) increase protection from harmful chemicals (e.g., endocrine disruptors) and strengthen the enforcement rules with a new digital product passport.