The Toy Association Statement on Chemicals in Toys

The Toy Association Statement on Chemicals in Toys

All toys sold in the U.S. must comply with over 100 different safety standards and tests designed to protect children at play, including the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Among other protections, these regulations make it illegal to sell toys or children's products containing substances harmful to children and to which they might be exposed.

As an industry that creates magical products for children, toy companies are held to a higher standard of care. This is why The Toy Association works year-round to ensure that U.S. toy safety standards remain the most protective in the world. If a toy fails to meet these tough national standards, we want that product out of the stream of commerce.

As a normal part of doing business, manufacturing organizations often consider a range of material options to use in their products to meet functionality, manufacturing efficiencies, and product safety requirements. All aspects of safety are considered - including chemical, mechanical, electrical, and flammability safety, among other safety aspects, for a holistically safe product. The Toy Association believes that alternative materials considered for a toy should be fully vetted by undergoing a full risk assessment and comparison to the original materials, in order to ensure that the substitution does not compromise performance or safety.

Before NGOs or government entities advocate for the banning or restriction of a substance, alternatives must be evaluated and shown to be an improvement to the original ingredient in all aspects of safety. Failure to do so could create a situation that reduces safety rather than improves it.

Members of the toy industry will continue to work with medical and child development experts, engineers, scientists, and government and consumer representatives to maintain the stringent toy safety standards and regulations that take into account all aspects of a product's intended use. We support ongoing scientific research that can help inform and strengthen these standards - and reinforce the safety of toys.

Keeping children safe while they are playing with toys always has been, and always will be, our industry's top priority.

This statement was reaffirmed by The Toy Association in October 2024.