The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

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EU plans to exempt books from toy law

18.11.08 Keith Nuthall

Moves have been made at the European Parliament to explicitly remove cardboard and paper children’s books from the 1988 European Union (EU) toys directive.

The legislation imposes duties on toy manufacturers such as safety assessments, special labelling and bans on use of certain chemicals to make sure children are not harmed by their products. However, the legal definition of toys has been interpreted by some EU member states as including all children’s books. This - said a report from the parliament’s internal market committee - “has led to considerable difficulties for the children’s book publishing industry in several EU member states.” And as a result, during an ongoing review of the directive, the committee has tabled an amendment that “books that do not contain any elements or added objects others than those in paper or cardboard” be excluded from the legislation’s controls. “Due to the crucial importance of books, especially at the youngest age, for improving reading skills, it is important that encouragement of books’ reading continues to be promoted,” said the committee report. It added: “So for the purpose of the directive, it should be considered that a book is not a toy unless it has evident game-related elements.”

A later communiqué explained that the amendment meant paper and cardboard books “which do not contain any added elements such as plastic toys or sound features”, would therefore be excluded from the directive’s controls, although books with plastic covers and elements such as audio devices would still require its safety assessments and labelling.

The amendments will need to be approved by the full parliament (a vote is expected in December) and the EU Council of Ministers for these books to be conclusively removed from the directive’s scope.

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