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- Childhood with an idea: in Russia they want to label toys according to a new standard
Childhood with an idea: in Russia they want to label toys according to a new standard
A child's toy is not only a source of joy for a child, but also a means for his development, education and upbringing. However, according to some experts, children are increasingly confronted with ideas that justify violence and reject family values. The State Duma and Roskachestvo propose to start labeling toys that have not passed the socio-psychological examination in accordance with the new national standard prescribed in the presidential decree. Manufacturers consider the new measure to be excessive — the criteria under discussion are already provided for in other regulations. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Games with values
The State Duma is developing a bill that will support manufacturers of games and toys that rely on traditional values and promote the healthy development of children, State Duma Vice Speaker Anna Kuznetsova told Izvestia. According to her, the lower house of parliament is currently analyzing possible options for improving the document. In particular, the definition of "patriotic goods" is being developed.
According to the press service of the Popular Front, the new national labeling standard prepared by Roskachestvo provides for special socio-psychological criteria that toys will have to meet. There are 10 key requirements in the proposed list. Among them, toys should not depict scenes of cruelty and violence, encourage children to commit antisocial acts, cause fear or panic in children. In addition, GOST suggests classifying goods by the age of the child: for children under six years of age and older.
"If at least one of the 10 criteria is violated, the product will be marked in a special way," said the expert from the Popular Front. Analytics", director of ANO "Mama in law" Victoria Rashina.
It is assumed that labeling will help both parents and retailers specializing in the sale of children's goods to make a choice.
A toy should be safe not only in terms of the material it is made of, but also in terms of the meanings it carries, believes Senator Olga Epifanova, an expert at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.
— Monster toys won't surprise anyone today. How do these "cool" toys fill the souls of our children? Nothing good. Therefore, the introduction of socio-psychological expertise and labeling of toys is decidedly important," the Izvestia interlocutor believes.
At the same time, she added, it should be remembered that simply restricting certain types of toys without creating a full-fledged alternative may not give the desired result.
— We also need to pay attention to the industry of children's sweets, which is actively developing in the same direction. On any marketplace, you can find a lot of options for chewing marmalade and lollipops in the form of excrement, eyeballs, pistols, feet, fingers, and a bunch of other options," said Epifanova.
The subject of harmfulness
Antonina Tsitsulina, President of the Association of Enterprises of the Children's Goods Industry (AIDT), was critical of the innovations under discussion.
— It is proposed to introduce similar criteria from the existing law on the protection of children from destructive information, — says Antonina Tsitsulina. — In general, the described violations should not be a priori in children's toys.
According to her, there is no reliable scientific evidence that any type of toy has been recognized as harmful and has a bad effect on children. Previous scientific studies, such as those conducted by the Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University on the effects of Monster High dolls, have not revealed a threat to children's mental health. The recommendations of experts are related to the age characteristics of childhood and, as a rule, are focused on the educational values of the game, and the limitations are mainly related to the peculiarities of physical development. The association believes that it is not changes that are needed, but the implementation of the norms of current legislation.
—Labeling does not affect product safety, and if there are several types of labeling, as suggested by the developers of the standard, it is more likely to confuse the consumer," says Antonina Tsitsulina. — Since 2011, the technical regulations for toys have been in force, which establish mandatory labeling requirements, including restrictions.
In her opinion, it is important to buy products for children at proven sites, as well as pay attention to the age that should be on each toy and the availability of a certificate confirming the safety tests.
Olga Dorotyuk, General Director of the Vesna toy factory, is also confident that there is no need for changes, since the technical regulations of the Customs Union on toy safety list properties that can harm a child's health. This document is updated periodically, so the legislative acts on security are already in force. It is important to comply with them, as all Russian manufacturers do, she is convinced.
In addition, the marking that the toy has passed a psychological and pedagogical examination does not guarantee protection from harmful substances. This level of security is also regulated by the regulations and is confirmed by the relevant certificate. Therefore, parents need to pay attention to the packaging, which contains all the information about the product.
Starting from June 1, 2025, the "Fair Sign" system will be mandatory for labeling new toys.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
