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| Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair is Asia's largest, with more than 2,000 exhibitors attending this year's fair, held earlier this month |
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A&H Toys has been manufacturing infant and pre-school educational toys for the international market for 17 years. Along with today's tough economic environment, the Hong Kong company is grappling with more stringent safety standards being imposed on toy products entering Europe and the United States.
"For businesses already struggling, the future doesn't look good," warns Alfred Liu, Sales Manager of A&H Toys. Mr Liu estimates that the new regulations will add 10 per cent to production costs. He is taking a wait-and-see attitude, though, until the full implications of the regulations become clear. Still, he admits to being worried.
About a dozen new regulations, including the use of phthalates and the introduction of a tracking label system for children's products, are due to come on stream this year alone. Following the passage last year of the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, all toy products entering the US must now come with general certifications of conformity. In addition, children's products subject to lead paint regulations must include third-party certification.
Readying for New Regulations
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Speaking at the Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2009, Richard O'Brien of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission briefs delegates on new regulations |
Richard O'Brien, Director of International Programs and Intergovernmental Affairs for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), briefed the industry on the upcoming changes at the Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2009. The Conference took place earlier this month at the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair.
"We are listening, but there are limits on the discretion and flexibility the commission has in administering the law," Mr O'Brien says. "Where there is flexibility, we are working at it; where we don't have many options, the industry needs to resign to the reality.
"We're doing our best to help minimise the financial impact," he says, noting the response in general has been positive. "Manufacturers have been saying, 'yes we will and must comply.'" He adds, however, that many did raise concerns about the law's impact on production costs, which he says authorities are trying to take into consideration.
Industry to Have its Say
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| Lawrence Chan, Hong Kong Toys Council Chairman: no compromise on quality |
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The US official believes that costs will come down as manufacturers adjust to the new requirements. He also noted that the industry now has a chance to have its say on new proposals under consideration, including more feasible test approaches. He stressed that the US consumer watchdog wants to accommodate the needs of the industry, without compromising safety. Details of proposals now under consideration are available on the CPSC website.
The new EU Toys Directive, meanwhile, was approved by the European Parliament last month. The main changes to existing toy safety requirements relate to the use of chemicals, warning labels, suffocation and toys contained in food. The new directive also defines obligations for manufacturers, importers and distributors on the required technical documentation. EU member countries have 18 months to introduce the new legislation.
The new US and European product safety directives come at an inopportune time for toy manufacturers already contending with deteriorating economic conditions. Nevertheless, Lawrence Chan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Toys Council, says the global economic downturn is no excuse to let up on safety. "No one can afford to compromise. We, as manufacturers, should not reduce costs by compromising quality."
It's a view echoed by one toy manufacturer. IEC Asia's Bruce Keung admits the new laws will affect his company's bottom line, but he insists that profit and consumer safety are unrelated. "They are separate issues," Mr Keung says. "We need to make products safe."
Related links
US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Official Journal of the European Union
Testing Time for EU-Bound Toys
