"Launching this inspection campaign comes in line with the extreme importance attached by the Council to the safety of children in Abu Dhabi", Al Muaini

The UAE market is the world's 7th biggest importer and re-exporter of toys and has more than 18,000 importers of toys of all types. With exposure to a large variety of manufacturers from around the world; it is the Council's responsibility to ensure the safety of the products that remain in Abu Dhabi markets.

ABU DHABI - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council has launched an inspection campaign on toy stores to ensure the safety of children's toys and their conformity with safety standards, particularly the GCC Conformity Marking. This activity forms part of a broader program of consumer goods inspection that is being conducted in Abu Dhabi by the Quality and Conformity Council.

The current campaign is focused on children's toys in the  under 3 years category and is covering all shops in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi including Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain and the Western Region.

So far the campaign has inspected 4616 products of which 35% have been found to be non-compliant - resulting in 53 formal warnings issued to retailers at the first stage of corrective action.

Abdulla Hassan Al Muaini, Director of Consumer Safety in the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, commented that the selection of this category of products for inspection and examination is in line with the high importance attached by the Council to the safety of children in the Emirate. "We are concerned with safety issues in all toy categories and our initial focus is to protect the most vulnerable age group in our multicultural society, that is children under three years of age who are exposed to many and varied types of toys coming from the different markets of the world."

Statistics issued by the Middle East Toy Fair showed that in 2009 the UAE was the 7th biggest toy import and re-export market in the world. According to the same source, the UAE market contains more than 18,000 toy dealers who trade goods from a wide variety of product manufacturers from around the world, with varying degrees of product quality.

The regulations for toys include the necessity for the product to clearly display in Arabic and English the manufacture's name or trademark as well as the country of origin, targeted age category and the product's barcode, Al Muaini said. The packaging should also contain clear information on whether the game or toy needs to be used under the supervision or control of adults, he said.

Inspection will also cover aspects related to the culture of the UAE.  A toy or its package should not contain pictures or shapes that affect the religious, moral and cultural constants or constitute an insult or offensive language to any section of the society.

Breeches of the regulation, where products violate the safety standards of the Emirate and to pose a threat to children, will consequently be banned from being displayed and sold. In cases where the GCC Conformity Marking is not available, however, a warning will be forwarded to the store owner showing the violations that should be rectified.

Since the campaign launch at the beginning of the year, 1617 products identified as non-compliant have been withdrawn from the market and warnings issued to retailers; requiring them to take corrective measures and obtain the technical file of the product within 7 days.

Al Muaini underlined the importance for consumers especially parents to be alert and check information attached to products in general and the toys for children under three years in particular. "It is necessary for consumers to deal with the stores known for their quality and good reputation", he said, "it is recommended that consumers look for the GCC Conformity Marking on these products, read the instructions and warnings and make sure that the battery is in a place that is not accessible by children. It is also necessary not to give children in their early years toys that contain small pieces that pose a choking hazard, and jeopardize their life."

Al Muaini said it is advisable for those who suspect any products that are dangerous for the children's health and safety to file a complaint with Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council. He pledged to take all the necessary measures most urgently to prevent hazards and handle the situation in accordance with the regulations. Consumers can convey their relevant product related complaints to the Council through the Government's call center on toll free 800555, he said.

Al Muaini also stressed that retailers must ensure that manufacturers or importers have identified where controlled products meet the standards through use of the GCC conformity mark.  Noting that applying the GCC mark to products is making a legal declaration that the product meets the required standard and has legal consequences to those that apply it if the product then fails inspection testing.

The Abu Dhabi Government, through the Quality and Conformity Council, is now creating a world-class technical infrastructure in partnership with a global operator to enable testing of consumer products, and ensure that quality and safety standards are met, Al Muaini revealed.

This inspection campaign comes as part of the applied programme emanating from the Consumer Product Safety Forum, which was held by the Council in December 2011 and attended by the owners of importing companies, toy and gift stores and establishments selling domestic electronic appliances in addition to officials of government authorities involved in ensuring, promoting and applying the quality and conformity criteria and specifications in the different business sectors of Abu Dhabi.

The forum was aimed at familiarizing the attendees with the Council's methodology and work plan for the upcoming period for serving Abu Dhabi economy and enhancing its competitiveness at the regional and global levels. The forum illuminated the Federal requirements for electric appliances and children's toys. It also gave an explanation of the Council's future plans for surveying Abu Dhabi's markets.

Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council works in coordination with the Emirates Authority For Standardization and Metrology (EASM), the Federal entity responsible for developing UAE standards and identifying products to be subject to conformity programs including toys, to assure the implementation of the safety and conformity regulations in Abu Dhabi.

-Ends-

About Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council
The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) was established by law No. 3 of 2009, issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

QCC is responsible for the development of Abu Dhabi Emirate's Quality Infrastructure, which enables industry and regulators to ensure that products, systems and personnel can be tested and certified to UAE and International Standards. 

Development of Abu Dhabi's Quality Infrastructure ensures that the goods and services traded in Abu Dhabi meet the standards of an international developed economy and is central to positioning Abu Dhabi among the most competitive and innovative economies in the world.

For Media co-ordination and follow-up
Ghazi Al Shoubaki - Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council
Mobile: 00971555417498
Fax: 0097124066666
Email: g.alshoubaki@qcc.abudhabi.ae

© Press Release 2012