Christmas can be an expensive time for parents.

But attempting to save money by shopping for children’s toys online could put your family at risk if you order from unscrupulous sellers, according to an Ireland South MEP.

Deirdre Clune has warned Cork mums and dads that the vast majority of toys sold on online platforms do not meet EU safety standards.

In fact, an assessment carried out by Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) found that out of 193 toys that they surveyed, 97.4% were being sold illegally in the EU, while 76.1% were identified as dangerous, with the potential to seriously harm children who played with them.

Some key risks they identified included sharp points, risks of choking, strangulation or burns, as well as flammability and unsafe chemicals.

Yikes.

This week, MEP Clune will vote as part of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) on a report on how the Toy Safety Directive from 2009 has been implemented so far and to highlight its shortcomings and how it can be improved.

“While the EU already has the world’s strictest toy safety legislation, it is very important that we take more strides to reduce the instances of unsafe toys being sold on online platforms,” said MEP Clune.

‘Buy direct from reputable shops’

“While this legislative process is underway, I urge consumers to try where possible to buy directly from reputable shops online, rather than purchasing from third parties on various online platforms. Often, such toys do not comply with even basic EU safety regulations and will go on sale on these platforms, be subsequently flagged as unsafe and taken down but then show up the next day on the site, from an apparently different seller all the while presenting the same risks.

“Consumers should also be wary of products that are marketed cheaper than expected, as these may be counterfeit and of poor quality, but it is not always easy to see that what is being sold is unsafe.”