Meeting summary for RJS PBH-RJS POSITIVE MEDIA October 27, 2024 "How Safe are The TOYS Sold in India for Children ?" (10/27/2024)Co-orgnizer: Consumer Online Foundation.

Meeting summary for RJS PBH-RJS POSITIVE MEDIA October 27, 2024 "How Safe are The TOYS Sold in India for Children ?" (10/27/2024)

Co-orgnizer: Consumer Online Foundation.

Quick recap

The meeting discussed the importance of safety in children's toys, the implementation of the Bis Act, and the certification process for toy manufacturers under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The team also addressed the challenges of ensuring a good recall system, the need for awareness and regulation in the toy manufacturing industry, and the potential psychological impact of certain toys on children. Lastly, the conversation ended with a discussion on the safety of toys, the importance of fostering innovation and creativity in the toy sector, and the idea of creating toy libraries.

Next steps

• Here are the key action items from the meeting:

• Rasujit to communicate to BIS standardization team about including psychological impact assessment in toy safety standards.

• Dr. Satrunjayi Rao to engage engineering students to conduct surveys on toy safety standards compliance in stores and share reports with BIS.

• Consumer Online Foundation to collaborate with Dr. Satrunjayi Rao on methodology for student toy safety survey project.

• BIS to improve transparency by making public the results of market surveillance and corrective actions taken.

• Consumer organizations to conduct awareness programs and surveillance to support BIS activities on toy safety.

• BIS to consider setting up toy libraries showcasing BIS-approved toys to increase awareness.

• Rasujit to look into toys without BIS certification being sold in stores like Decathlon.

• BIS to explore ways to make the certification process more industry-friendly while maintaining standards.

• Matthew to connect with local BIS office to organize toy safety awareness programs in rural areas.

• Prof. Duraisingam to prepare an investigative report on unsafe toys in Tamil Nadu markets to submit to government.

• BIS to review penalties for non-compliance and strengthen enforcement against manufacturers of uncertified toys.

Summary

Toy Safety and Regulation Discussion

Uday discussed various topics, including a potential data manager and the importance of safety in children's toys. Prafull then shared his viewpoint column from the Aware Consumer Magazine, focusing on the safety concerns of toys and how to overcome these issues. The discussion also touched on the need for regulation in the toy manufacturing industry and the potential psychological impact of war-themed toys on children.

Safety in Indian Children's Toys

The meeting involved a discussion about the importance of safety in India, particularly in relation to children's toys. The participants, including a keynote speaker from the Bureau of Indian Standards, discussed the risks associated with certain toys and the initiatives taken to ensure safety. The meeting also highlighted the role of the Bureau of Indian Standards in setting standards and certifying products. The participants emphasized the need for bilingual presentations to accommodate all participants.

BIS Act and Toy Safety Standards

Rasujit discussed the history and implementation of the Bis Act, which was passed in 1986 and regulates the safety of toys sold in India. He explained that toys must conform to Indian standards for safety, and from January 1, 2021, no person is allowed to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store, or exhibit any toy without the ISI mark. Rasujit also outlined the 7 aspects of safety for toys, which align with ISO and IEC standards. He detailed the process of testing toys for safety, including sharp edges, mechanical and physical properties, flammability, migration of toxic elements, and phthalate tests. Rasujit also mentioned the testing infrastructure, with over 25 NABL accredited labs for toy testing. He concluded by discussing various tests for different types of toys, such as drop tests, stability and overload tests, and tests for small parts and soft toys.

BIS Certification Process for Toy Makers

Rasujit discussed the process of obtaining certification for toy manufacturers under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). He explained that manufacturers must apply through the Mannag online portal and submit an application, which is then scrutinized by BIS. If any shortcomings are found, they are communicated to the applicant for rectification. Once the application is approved, an inspection is scheduled to assess the manufacturing capabilities and testing infrastructure. A sample is drawn for testing in a BIS recognized lab. The minimum marking fee for non-electric toys varies by scale, while electric toys have a different fee structure. Rasujit also mentioned that BIS has recognized 27 laboratories for testing safety of toys and has conducted market and factory surveillance to ensure compliance with safety standards. He concluded by stating that BIS has granted over 1,500 licenses to domestic toy manufacturers and that certification increases consumer confidence due to the presence of the BIS standard mark.

Toys Safety and Ministry Support

Rasujit presented a film on toys on YouTube and encouraged everyone to watch it. Prof thanked Rasujit for the presentation and requested the organizers to share it with all participants. The chief guest, Uday, then took over the meeting. Dr. R.K. Bharti, Joint Director of MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, discussed the history and importance of the Ministry of MSME. He highlighted the need for adhering to safety standards, particularly for toys, to protect the next generation. He also mentioned the Ministry's support for the industry through the PM's scheme.

Child Safety and Toy Recall System

In the meeting, Prof. Bharti and Prof. Ramai discussed the importance of child safety and the need for a robust recall system for toys. Rasujit explained that the Indian Standards (IS) for toys are based on ISO and IEC standards, and that a recall system is in place for products that do not meet safety standards. He also introduced the Bis Care app, which allows users to verify product details and report any issues. Ranjan from the US suggested that developmental appropriateness should also be considered when designing toys. The team also discussed the challenges of ensuring a good recall system, with Rasujit assuring that both the manufacturer and consumer ends are thoroughly investigated.

Implementing Safety Standards in Toys

Prafull discussed the importance of implementing safety standards and certification for toys, highlighting that while the standards are in place, their proper implementation is lacking. Rasujit responded, explaining that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been responsible for product recalls and quality control, including testing raw materials and end products. DR raised concerns about in-process testing and the lack of punishment for non-compliance, to which Rasujit clarified that BIS conducts inspections and tests raw materials for conformity, and that there are legal consequences and fines for non-compliance. Sunil raised a question about the coverage of the BIS for the rural market, which Rasujit acknowledged as a valid concern.

Addressing Safety Standards and Licensing

Prof and Shiv discussed the challenges faced by small and tiny manufacturers in adhering to safety standards and the need for a more user-friendly process. Rasujit clarified that Bis offers two methods for granting licenses: a standard 90-day process and a simplified 30-day procedure. However, Prof expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the surveillance process, suggesting that a 24/7 helpline would be more effective for consumers to report issues.

Toy Safety and Import Standards

The meeting focused on discussing the standards and safety of toys, particularly those imported from China. Rasujit clarified that while some Chinese toys are still being sold without the mandatory ISI mark, anti-dumping charges have been implemented to discourage this. He also mentioned that the government is working on a Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme to ensure that only certified products are sold in India. The team also discussed the need for awareness programs to educate parents and manufacturers about the potential psychological impacts of certain toys. Rasujit agreed to communicate these concerns to the standardization team. The conversation ended with a discussion on the procedure for testing imported toys, with Rasujit explaining that samples are collected and tested as part of market surveillance.

Ensuring Toy Quality and Safety

The meeting was led by Prof. Vijan Kumar Misra, who discussed the importance of ensuring the quality and safety of toys in the market. He emphasized the need for awareness and surveillance among consumers, particularly in rural areas. Prof. Duraisingam suggested conducting an investigative report with evidence and photographs to submit to the government. Dr. Rawat proposed engaging engineering students to conduct surveys on toy quality in stores. Prof. Misra appreciated these suggestions and proposed collaboration with the Consumer Online Foundation to implement these ideas. Rasujit explained the procedures for seizing non-compliant products and penalizing manufacturers. The conversation ended with a vote of thanks by Prafull, who praised the successful program and the high attendance.

Toy Safety and Innovation Discussion

The meeting focused on the safety of toys for children, discussing choking hazards, sharp edges, standards of materials, and counterfeit toys. The group also discussed the psychological impact of toys and the potential for instituting a test to pre-test toys for their psychological effects. The importance of fostering innovation and creativity in the toy sector was emphasized, as well as the need for proper product design, testing, and safety checks. The unregulated sector of toy manufacturing was also addressed, with a call for awareness and regulation. The idea of creating toy libraries was proposed to encourage the use of Bis-approved toys. The conversation ended with a vote of thanks to the speakers and organizers