La Laguna Police Seize 3,600 Unsafe Toys
Police in La Laguna removed over 3,600 toys from sale during the 'Safe Toy' campaign due to non-compliance with EU safety regulations, missing labels, and potential choking or toxicity hazards.
Police in La Laguna have removed over 3,600 toys from sale in shops across the area. This happened because the toys didn't meet safety rules set by the European Union and other official groups.
This action is part of the 'Safe Toy' campaign, a special effort run during Christmas to prevent problems. Its goal is to protect children from unsafe products.
The City Council reported that officers inspected many shops all over the town. Before this, plainclothes officers visited the shops to spot any issues and plan what to do next.
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez praised the work done during this campaign. He said the aim is to prevent accidents and make sure children's products come with the right instructions and warnings, as required by law.
Badel Albelo, the local Councillor for Citizen Security, said a key concern for his department is products that could harm children's health. Because of this, businesses have been told to be very careful when buying these items from suppliers.
Police often found missing required labels and the CE mark (European Conformity). In some cases, the CE mark had been faked with similar-looking stamps. This mark shows that the maker confirms, on their own responsibility, that the product has been tested and meets the main safety and health rules set by European law.
They also insisted that instructions must be clear and in Spanish, as some toys had no instructions or basic warnings at all. Some of these products were dangerous for children. They contained small parts that could cause choking or potentially toxic substances, especially for toys meant for children under three years old.
The Citizen Security department reminded people how important it is to follow these tips when buying toys, not just at Christmas but all year round. They advise buying from reputable shops and keeping receipts in case a return or complaint is needed.
The 'Safe Toy' campaign also helped teach shop owners about their responsibilities when selling toys and the need to make sure all items are safe.