In December 2008 a directive on toy safety was voted on in the European Parliament. Sadly, the only group that voted against the rushed-through directive were the Greens/EFA. The reasons for voting against such legislation were because it allowed excessive limits on substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction.

The Greens/EFA are asking the EU to take a safety-first approach and revise the toy safety legislation. Commissioner Günther Verheugen, at the request of the Greens/EFA, has decided to review the scientific evidence. But, I ask, why was this process not taken in the first place prior to the legislation going through voting? It is rather irresponsible for such legislation to go through when the safety standards in this legislation are clearly inadequate as shown in a study made by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

Cancer cases among children are on the rise. And toxic substances in toys should clearly be taken seriously because we are talking about our children's health.

The government should be aware of this law and recommend that restriction on harmful substances should be enforced and that safer testing of toys is carried out by organisations that are independent of the manufacturers. Unfortunately, both the EPP and the Socialist group, in which the Nationalist and Labour parties are affiliated, did not vote in favour of toy safety.