Thousands in Support of Toxic-free Children’s Toys in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan

Survey and monitoring conducted by AWHHE in the shop, Armenia

Project started to eliminate children’s toys with toxic substances from the market in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by 2020
Source: AWHHE

Consumers in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are becoming more aware of the products they buy. This has become evident from the results of a study conducted by two non-governmental organizations dedicated to the idea and work for toxic-free toys for children.

WECF Partner and member of the Safe Toys Coalition “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” (AWHHE) and its Kyrgyz counterpart “Independent Ecological Expertise” (IEE) are currently running a project aiming towards further support of the already existing efforts to eliminate toxic substances in children’s toys from the market in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by 2020. Read more

To learn more about toys safety and download the WECF guide 'Safe Toys', please visit WECF Safe Toys.

Testing confirms that toys sold on the EU market still contain chemicals of concern

WECF releases results of tests made on 29 toys sold in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Even if not representative of the global toys market, the tests give information on some of the hazardous chemicals which can be found in toys placed on the EU market. The road towards healthy toys still seems to be long.
To learn more, read WECF press release here.

WECF France and WECF the Netherlands organise Toys Events in November

A toys testing action on 16th November in Paris
Toys should not contain chemicals of concern that can be harmful to children’s health. To investigate the presence of brominated flame retardants, formaldehyde, benzene and other chemicals of concern in toys, WECF France organizes a toys testing action on November 16th in Paris.
Parents, children and all people willing to participate are invited to bring their toys and have them tested. Raising concerns about electromagnetic fields in toys will also be addressed.  The event is organized with the support of Quad-Lab laboratory. Read more

The First Dutch Ever Toys Convention on November 10 in Utrecht
The convention will be an informative and interactive afternoon attended by (concerned) parents, toy manufacturers, retailers, politicians, childcare workers, etc. In short, stakeholders, just like you.
Speakers and audience will collectively prepare  questions and statements which national and European parliamentarians can take with them.  During the convention everyone is invited to bring their toys and have them tested. Read more

High levels of Phtalates found in childcare dust

A studie conducted by the German NGO BUND has revealed that in dust, collected in German childcare institutions, high levels of the phatalates DINP and DEHP were found. Here you can read more in German about the study. The European Union classifies DEHP officially as toxic to the reproductive system, DINP is not yet classified. The levels of these softeners were on average thrice as high as as those found in German households in a survey conducted by the German federal environment agency (UBA).
Softeners in toys are allready banned, but still allowed in other products.