Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Children to be banned from blowing up balloons, under EU safety rules

Children are to be banned from taking part in traditional Christmas games, from blowing up balloons to blowing on party whistles, because of new EU safety rules that have just entered into force. The EU directive will also force manufacturers and retailers to attach safety warnings to toys hitherto regarded as harmless. Official guidance notes: "For latex balloons there must be a warning that children under eight years must be supervised and broken balloons should be discarded." Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned that toy safety bans were part of a trend to micro-manage children's lives at the expense of allowing them to explore, learn and have fun through play.

"Toys and activities, such as blowing up balloons, are part and parcel of the type of children's play that helps them become independent and self-reliant," he said. "These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children." Under the EU legislation, Britain will have to ensure that toys are not sold in shops unless they fully comply with the new safety requirements. As well as new rules for balloons and party whistles, the EU legislation will impose restrictions on how noisy toys, including rattles or musical instruments, are allowed to be.



All teddy bears meant for children under the age of three will now have to be fully washable because EU regulators are concerned that dirty cuddly toys could spread disease and infection. Paul Nuttall, a member of the European Parliament's consumer safety committee, said the "kill joy" world of EU officialdom was being ill-equipped to understand the concept of children having fun. "I would say that this is crackers but I sure children are banned from using them too. EU party poopers should not be telling families how to blow up balloons," said the Ukip MEP.

But the European Commission has insisted that the new safety legislation was needed to prevent "horror stories". "These safety standards have been agreed by the UK together with the other EU member states in order to prevent every parent's worst nightmare," said a spokesman. Another EU official admitted that the new regulations could be difficult to understand but insisted that safety experts knew best. "You might say that small children have been blowing up balloons for generations, but not anymore and they will be safer for it," said an official.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://fullfact.org/factchecks/EU_Europe_children_balloons_Telegraph-3026 you're welcome

Insolitus said...

It would be interesting to know how many children in the EU die yearly in balloon blowing and party whistling accidents.

On the other hand, surely this legislation doesn't prevent parents from letting their children blow balloons by themselves, anymore than law keeps children from playing violent video games or playing with toys meant for older children if their parents just let them.

A fairly silly law, the hysterics over it is maybe even sillier.

Anonymous said...

This is rubbish.

WilliamRocket said...

Utter rubbish. Are they going to ban bikes next ? Skateboards ? Roller Skates ? FIREWORKS ?
Sacre Bleu ! Crazy People are running your lives !

Anonymous said...

Without looking, I thought: "This sounds like either the Telegraph, Mail or Express". Bingo! The Telegraph. Although, with a quick Google search, I find the Mail and the Express featuring articles in a similar disparaging vein.
Why do I know this? Because it's another attack on an EU Directive with no references in the rabid article to let you get to the original source.
Well, here it is:
Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC.
Have a look at the Explanatory Guidance notes, or 'Noddy's Guide'. It is actually common sense, really, not that you'd know it from our Right-Wing press.
With reference to balloons, 3.1.4. Article 10 (2), third subparagraph states that: "For latex
balloons there must be a warning that children under 8 years must be supervised and
broken balloons should be discarded."
Common sense, no?
However with the deliberate misinterpretation and obfuscation in any of these rags' articles, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the EU was a bunch of killjoys (their words) rather than an organisation that seeks to provide information which may prevent someone's child choking to death on stupidity.
I wish Bruno Waterfield would.