U.S. toy safety annual report released, export companies need to be alert to quality risks

Recently, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released the 'Annual Report on Toy-related Child Injuries and Deaths　　 The annual safety report is an important basis for CPSC to carry out the supervision of children's products. The high-risk toy standards and supervision listed in the report may continue to be tightened. Toys and other children's products are my country's important export commodities, with an annual export value of more than 100 billion yuan, while the export of toys at Ningbo port has exceeded 10 billion yuan, of which the US market accounts for about 40%. How should Ningbo's toy export companies view this annual report? 　　Ride-on toy safety issues attract attention　　The toy safety annual report is completed by CPSC by collecting and analyzing data from relevant US government departments and medical institutions. It can be seen from the reports in the past two years that toy-related accidents are generally stable, and fatalities have decreased, but the number of injury incidents has not shown a significant decline. In particular, mechanical hazards such as cuts, abrasions, sprains and fractures remain It is a high risk of toys.　　 According to the statistics of this annual report, in 2016, there were more than 240,000 child accidents caused by toys in the U.S. market, including 7 fatal incidents, involving children's tricycles, riding toys, toy balls, water guns and other products. Ride-on toys have become the category with the highest accident rate, resulting in 65,000 accidents, accounting for 27%. Non-electric scooters are the most risky ride-on toys, accounting for the total number of ride-on toy accidents. 74% of the volume, the potential safety hazards are highlighted. Intensive update of American toy standards In recent years, the United States has been very intensive in updating standards for children’s products such as toys, and the Consumer Goods Improvement Act requires that all voluntary standards for durable children’s products be converted into mandatory standards. Even if there is no mandatory standard for products, the committee does Products can be required to comply with voluntary industry standards such as ASTM, otherwise they can be regarded as dangerous goods and measures such as port interception or market recall can be taken.　　 For example, the electric balance scooter that once sold well in North America was compulsory by CPSC to meet UL certification due to frequent accidents. Due to the high threshold, a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises in my country have completely lost the US market. As for the toys with a high accident rate mentioned in the report, it has always been the focus of US supervision. For example, the new version of ASTM F963 has made a lot of updates to the safety requirements of ride-on toys, and enterprises are facing increasing pressure. Since the beginning of this year, more than 720 batches of toys of Chinese export companies have been issued by CPSC on the grounds that they do not meet the standards or regulatory requirements. Rectification, if not implemented as required, will face more severe legal measures. This year, CPSC has implemented more than 20 toys and child care products recalled, and the risks cannot be ignored.　　The export market continues to grow. Quality risks still need to be guarded.　　The United States is the primary market for my country's export of children's products. According to statistics, the number of toys exported at Ningbo Port alone has exceeded 10 billion yuan this year, an increase of more than 20% year-on-year, of which the US market accounts for about 40%. The United States is the vane of global toy and children's products supervision, and the impact of stricter CPSC supervision on my country's export industry cannot be ignored. Ningbo inspection and quarantine experts remind export companies: On the one hand, they must continue to pay attention to the update of technical regulations of European and American toys and children’s products, and take preventive measures from the sources such as structural design and raw material selection in accordance with relevant requirements; on the other hand, they should strictly follow the standards of the importing country. Carry out testing and certification to ensure that products meet quality and safety requirements. At the same time, it is necessary to provide eye-catching and detailed instructions and warning signs for products such as scooters and other high-risk toys to remind consumers to strengthen child supervision and reduce safety risks.　　(Original title: The release of the annual US toy safety report. Ningbo export companies should pay attention to these situations.) 　　Keywords: children's toys, toy exports, US market risks