More than 16,000 unsafe toys removed from sale in west of Scotland by Trading Standards

More than 16,000 unsafe and non-compliant toys have been removed from sale across the west of Scotland.

A Trading Standards project, led by North Lanarkshire Council on behalf of the West of Scotland Safety Working Group, saw the inspection of 165 shops.

Of the 32,316 toys inspected, 18,075 were found to be non-compliant or unsafe.

Many were identified to have small, easily detached parts which may cause choking, suffocation or internal injury if swallowed.

A number of toys also failed safety tests related to the chemicals used in manufacturing.

North Lanarkshire Council said the project resulted in more than 16,000 toys being seized, with some non-compliance issues rectified.

Councillor Helen Loughran, convenor of the environment and climate change committee, added: “Parents and carers should be able to trust that toys offered for sale are safe.

“This project identified significant levels of non-compliance and demonstrates the vital role Trading Standards services play in protecting consumers.

“Through coordinated enforcement activity, more than 16,000 non-compliant or unsafe toys were removed from the market, reducing the risk of harm to children and supporting responsible businesses.”

All new toys sold in the UK must show a manufacturer or importer name and address in the UK, as well as a CE or UKCA mark on the item or its packaging.

Findings from the project will be used to help strengthen safety compliance and tackle unsafe products throughout the supply chain.