Websites ‘must do more’ to stop sale of potentially unsafe toys
AMAZON AND eBay are failing to take “basic steps” to stop listing toys that appear to have been declared unsafe by the EU safety alert system, according to watchdog Which?
The consumer group has called on the next Government to make online marketplaces legally responsible for stopping dangerous products from being sold.
Which? said it found evidence of toys listed for sale on Amazon Marketplace and eBay that appeared to have already been flagged by Safety Gate – the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous products – despite both sites claiming to have dedicated teams and technological systems in place to monitor listings.
In its latest research, Which? presented eBay with 12 products including toy slimes, a Transformers helmet and cartoon helicopter, which all appeared to bear significant similarities to Safety
Gate-listed dangerous products – such as a shared batch or product number – and which the consumer champion believed presented a risk to children.
The products were classified as unsafe for a range of reasons, including high levels of a toxic chemical which could damage reproductive systems, volume levels which could harm a child’s hearing and small parts that can detach and cause a child to choke – eBay has since removed all 12 product listings.
Which? reported six products to Amazon, including a magnetic building set, an inflatable swim ring and a remote control car, which had been flagged a safety risk.
An eBay spokeswoman said: “While the overwhelming majority of retailers selling through our marketplace are diligent, we take appropriate action against sellers who breach our policies or the law.”
Amazon said the product listed on Amazon.com could not be shipped to the UK.
A spokesman added: “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”