In 1988, the EU approved a directive aimed at regulating all the existing laws (which had not even been introduced in many member states) and ensuring that all toys manufactured in the EU followed basic security norms. Spain adopted that law in 1990, extending it to any product that can be defined as a toy.

The CE label
One of the main guarantees of safety is offered by the CE label that must be visible on the toy, the packaging and on the accompanying instruction sheet (in the language of each country) listing all the warnings corresponding to the recommended age for the toy.

Also listed on said label must be the brand of the product, the manufacturer (with address), and the exporter if the toy has been brought into the EU. The main problem with this label is that its location is up to the manufacturer or distributor, which means cases of falsification have occurred.

Basic norms
To make sure toys do not endanger your children's security, follow these basic instructions:
-The toy must not have sharp edges or blades.
-If the toy is made up of detachable pieces, they should be of a certain size to ensure babies do not swallow them or choke on them. For children of less than 3 years, pieces must be longer than 3.5cm according to Spanish law, and chewing rings and rattles should be over 5cm in length.
-In electronic devices you should ensure that all the pieces are insulated, to prevent small shocks. In Spain, the maximum power of a toy cannot exceed 24 volts.
-You should take special care with bags and toy packaging, as well as their stuffing, which are often small and attention-grabbing.
-The National Institute of Consumption advises that chemical toys should not be bought for under-12s.

Spanish Association of Toy Manufacturers (AEPJ)
In November 2003, the Spanish Association of Toy Manufacturers (AEPJ) and the National Institute of Consumption (INC) signed an agreement to create a protocol to improve the quality and security of toys distributed in Spain. In this way, the AEPJ will collaborate in the inspections to determine the security and risks of launching a new product on the toy market, thereby unifying criteria and urging its members to improve security levels and the overall quality of their products.

However, the best way to avoid accidents is to always supervise your children as they play with their toys. An ideal way to spend time with your children and enjoy their company.