Half of toys from abroad have choking hazards, says Dutch regulator in holiday alert
More than half of toys purchased from foreign websites and tested in the Netherlands were found to be unsafe, according to the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The main concern is choking hazards from small parts, magnets, and detachable components.
The NVWA laboratory tested 66 toys purchased from online marketplaces including AliExpress, SHEIN, Temu, and Wish. The products were intended for babies and young children and included rattles, stuffed animals, wooden toys, toys with magnets, suction toys, ball-shooting pistols, and spinning disks.
Thirty-five of the 66 items were deemed to present a “serious safety risk.” In extreme cases, small pieces and magnets can detach, creating a choking hazard. Long cords and small balls were also identified as potential risks for suffocation.
In addition to physical hazards, the NVWA tested 26 items for bacterial and fungal contamination. Nine squeeze balls were found to contain contaminated liquid, which could pose health risks if the toy breaks and children come into contact with the substance.
The NVWA warned that enforcement against sellers outside the European Union is difficult. Many online shops act merely as intermediaries for multiple suppliers, making them hard to locate.
The authority has requested the foreign websites remove the unsafe items from sale. Results of the investigation will be shared with other EU member states and the European Commission.
Earlier, in late October, the Dutch Consumers’ Association also issued warnings that products from SHEIN and Temu frequently fail to meet EU safety regulations.
