Blog

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2020-05

Exports of toys and children's products need to pay attention to the international trend of plastic restriction orders.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently released ISO 8124-6:2014, "Toy safety – Part 6: Certain phthalates in toys and children's products," applicable to the detection of phthalate content in plastics, textiles, and coated components of toys and children's products. Currently, only a few countries, such as those in Europe, the United States, and Japan, have established monitoring systems for phthalates in toys and children's products. The release of this international standard provides important technical reference for some emerging market countries to establish similar monitoring systems, accelerating the internationalization of phthalate restrictions. Exporters of related products should pay close attention. Phytates are a collective term for esters formed from phthalic acid. Because they are softening chemicals, they are often used as plasticizers and are widely found in plastic products such as toys and children's products. Due to their potential hazards, since the beginning of the 21st century, this substance has received high attention in developed markets such as Europe, the United States, and Japan, with frequent updates to regulations and continuous improvement in testing technologies. Furthermore, countries and regions such as Australia, China, and Taiwan have also strengthened monitoring, forming a global collaborative effort. The Chronic Hazards Advisory Group (CHAP) of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, after four years of research and investigation, released a hazard analysis report on phthalates and their alternatives in July of this year. Given their harm to children's reproductive and endocrine systems, it recommended further strengthening of regulations. This move will undoubtedly elicit a widespread response from the global market. The release of this new ISO standard will inevitably promote the internationalization of phthalate restrictions, significantly impacting the export of toys and children's products from our city. Therefore, the inspection and quarantine department reminds relevant enterprises to proactively understand and master relevant foreign laws, regulations, and technical standards, conduct in-depth research on them, continuously improve production processes, strengthen source control of raw materials and auxiliary materials, implement incoming inspection of key raw materials and auxiliary materials, ensure product quality and safety from the source, and reduce export risks.

2020-05-29

29

2020-05

The China Association of Game Industry joins hands with JD.com to launch "I Support Safety—A Nationwide Campaign for Safe Consumption"

As the annual 3•15 International Consumer Rights Day draws nearer, China’s Toy and Infant Products Association (referred to as CTJPA hereafter), in collaboration with JD Baby, is launching the "I Support Safety—A Nationwide Campaign for Safe Consumption" initiative on March 16. This campaign aims to promote safe purchasing practices and boost consumer confidence amid growing concerns about product quality and safety. **Cleaning Up the Consumer Environment, Restoring Confidence, and Encouraging Domestic Purchases Over Overseas Alternatives** With China's toy and infant products market continuing to expand, the industry has seen steady improvements in market regulation, rapid brand growth, and consistently higher product quality. However, challenges remain, including the coexistence of high- and low-quality goods, as well as counterfeit and substandard products. These issues persist, leaving consumers grappling with difficulties in choosing the right products, trusting brands, and effectively defending their rights after purchase. Toys and infant products are particularly critical, as they directly impact children’s health and safety. Unfortunately, these consumption challenges have eroded some consumers’ confidence in "Made in China," prompting a rise in overseas purchases of children’s goods. To address this, the General Administration of Quality Supervision issued Document No. 314 [2014], emphasizing the need to safeguard consumer safety, enhance the overall quality of the consumer environment, and restore consumer trust. Building on this, the State Council Office further reinforced this commitment in Document No. 18 [2016], which highlighted the importance of focusing on key consumer goods like toys, children’s clothing, and infant products. The document called for targeted initiatives to improve the supply of quality consumer goods, including the implementation of a special action plan to enhance product quality, expand product variety, elevate quality standards, and strengthen brand recognition. Back in 2013, CTJPA recognized the pressing need to address safety concerns in China’s toy and infant products market. That same year, the association launched the "Care for Children’s Growth: Safety Starts with Me—Brand Self-Discipline Across China" campaign. This initiative aimed to foster greater self-discipline within the industry, raise product quality standards, and encourage companies to build robust reputations for quality while fulfilling their responsibilities toward both product safety and societal welfare. Additionally, the campaign sought to collaborate closely with government agencies in overseeing product quality, protecting intellectual property rights, and ensuring fair market practices. It also focused on educating both industry stakeholders and consumers about safe purchasing practices, empowering families to choose reliable, high-quality products. Over the past four years, through dedicated efforts, by the end of 2016, a total of 142 companies and 201 toy and infant product brands had voluntarily applied to join the program. After rigorous evaluation by CTJPA, these brands were officially recognized as "Safety Pledge Brands." **March 16–18: A Widespread "Safe Pledge Brand" Shopping Event Across All Product Categories** From March 16 to 18, nearly 100 "Safety Pledge Brands" listed on JD Baby will jointly offer exclusive discounts and promotions on a wide range of products, including toys, strollers, cribs, children’s clothing, footwear, sleep essentials, home items, feeding supplies, personal care products, and car seats. This marks the first time since CTJPA initiated its "Care for Children’s Growth: Safety Starts with Me—Brand Self-Discipline Across China" campaign in 2013 that such a comprehensive "Safe Pledge Brand" shopping event has been rolled out directly to consumers. **Consumer Safety Survey, Report Release, and Selection of "CTJPA Top 10 Consumer Choice Brands"** During the Safety Consumption Festival, CTJPA, in partnership with JD Baby and via its official WeChat account, will launch an engaging consumer survey and review program, inviting feedback from parents and guardians on brands, products, and services. Based on the insights gathered, CTJPA will release the "China Toy and Infant Products Safety Consumption Report." Additionally, CTJPA will introduce the "CTJPA Consumer Choice Award," honoring the top 10 brands across various product categories each year. **"I Support Safety—A Nationwide Campaign for Safe Consumption": Uniting Industry and Society for a Safer Future** This year’s campaign theme—"I Support Safety—A Nationwide Campaign for Safe Consumption"—encourages all sectors of society and industry to play their part in safeguarding children’s health and ensuring their safe growth. It calls on manufacturers to prioritize product safety, retailers to eliminate counterfeit and substandard goods from their shelves, consumers to make informed, safe purchasing decisions, and media outlets to actively promote consumer education and oversight. Together, we believe that with collective efforts from the industry and society, China’s toy and infant products market will continue to evolve into a more regulated and trustworthy environment.

2020-05-29

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