Do you trust the toy you’ve bought?

A shocking rise in unsafe toys on sale through online marketplaces is putting local children at risk says Milton Keynes City Council’s Trading Standards team.

As part of its Toy Safety Matters initiative and in partnership with the British Toy and Hobby Association, the city’s Trading Standards team have been raising awareness about the dangers of toys that don’t meet UK standards. Toys bought from third-party sellers on major online marketplaces can be prone to serious safety failures.

Research from the British Toy and Hobby Association has found consistently high levels of illegal and unsafe toys being sold by third-party sellers operating through well-known online marketplaces. Their annual toy safety testing and investigations since 2018 have shown little improvement and their latest checks in 2024 showed 85% of the toys they purchased were not compliant with UK toy safety requirements putting children at risk of serious harm or injury. 

The most common risks identified were around magnets, batteries, and other small parts that children could swallow, as well as cords and materials that could strangle a child. 

Milton Keynes City Council’s Trading Standards team developed its Toy Safety Matters project to educate local parents and caregivers about these risks.  Over the last month, Trading Standards officers have held 20 educational talks in libraries and family centres around the city and given advice to hundreds of local people. They’ve also created a short video explaining the dangers of unsafe toys and what to look out for in order to keep children safe.

The team’s advice includes:

• Buy from trusted retailers.

• Take extra care if you buy from a third-party seller on an online marketplace. Unlike traditional retail outlets, online market places are not legally responsible for checking the safety of products sold by third parties. Read reviews to find out what other buyers thought, and search for any product recalls.

• Check toys have a UK address on packaging and a CE or UKCA mark this could indicate a UK based company. However, research that company carefully to ensure they are reputable and can be contacted in the event of a problem. If a seller isn’t based in the UK or Europe, don’t assume safety checks have been followed.

• Once you’ve bought a toy, check for any loose or broken parts, sharp edges, and small pieces like batteries or magnets that could be removed.

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To learn more about toy safety, visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/toy-safety-matters