§ 20. Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the preparation of new regulations designed to ensure that imported toys satisfy recognised safety standards.
§ Mr. LaneProposals for more extensive regulations to replace the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1967 have been circulated for comment to local authority associations and to trade, consumer and other interested bodies. The new regulations will be made as soon as possible and will apply, as do the 1967 regulations, to all toys offered for sale in this country, including imported toys.
§ Mrs. FisherI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he make sure that imported toys conform to regulations? It seems strange that imported toys should continue to be contrary to the standards which the British Standards Institution is trying to get within the toy industry.
§ Mr. LaneI confirm that the regulations will apply to imported toys. The hon. Lady may like to know that these new regulations will cover such matters as electrical safety, the inflamability of pile fabrics, safety requirements for chiming mechanisms, the secure attachment of dolls' eyes and the elimination of sharp points and edges.