Česká obchodní inspekce

Controls of toys - water toys (Continuous report of the first trimester 2011)

(Prague, May 12, 2011) Technical of the CTIA General Inspectorate continuously evaluated results of the control activity focused on control of toys – water toys. These are especially inflatable toys designed for children in shoal water under sight of adults, just like swimming belts, various inflatable animals or boats that can carry children’s weight. Controls were carried out by all CTIA inspectorates and were focused especially on compliance with requirements of the Act on General Safety of Products (Act No. 102/2001 Coll.) and the Act on Technical Requirements on Products (Act No. 22/1997 Coll.). During the first trimester, 41 controls were carried out and infringements were found within 7 of them.

Inspectors checked whether products are in the market that could damage children’s health with regard to their unsuitable mechanical and physical features, bad construction or insufficient or incorrect warning. Abidance with other obligations required to fulfil basic safety requirements.

Detected deficiencies:

Selling products without obligatory marking

Selling products without proper information about the product

Selling products with information provided only in a foreign language

Issued measures:

Ban on sale of 87 pieces of water toys in the total amount of CZK 4,752 – in 2 workplaces

2 fines were imposes at the spot in the total amount of CZK 2,000 and administrative proceedings will be launched with 3 checked persons for failing information obligations defined by the Act on Consumer Protection

Remedy of detected deficiencies in a defined time limit was issued to two controlled persons

Conclusion:

The CTIA will pay increased attention to controls of water toys, including taking of samples in case of suspicion that they do not comply with conditions defined for products designed for users who can easily get hurt.

„Consumers who buy water toys for children are advised to get familiar with warnings concerning risks when using these products and follow rules for the safe use. They should especially realize that these are toys and that it is them in the first place who is responsible for safety and health of their children,” said the CTIA Acting Director ing. Jan Štěpánek.

Controls overview according to CTIA inspectorates:

Inspectorate	Number of controlled units/importers	Number of findings/ takings
Středočeský and Prague	9	1
Plzeňský and Karlovarský	7	0
Ústecký and Liberecký	4	1
Jihočeský and Vysočina	2	0
Královéhradecký and Pardubický	9	0
Jihomoravský and Zlínský	2	1
Moravskoslezský and Olomoucký	8	4
Total	41	7

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