The aim of the focus action was to verify whether or to what extent buffer balls or fluffy balls and similar products on the Austrian market meet the requirements of the Toy Ordinance, in particular whether they meet the requirements of the European standard "mechanical and physical safety of toys".
50 samples from all over Austria were examined. 27 samples were found to be defective (in some cases several times):
- 21 samples were classified as "toys for children under 3 years", all 21 were rejected:
- three samples had detachable small parts, the choking risk was assessed as a "serious risk" and the samples were objected to as "harmful to health"
- 18 samples were rejected due to detachable small parts, the risk was assessed as "high risk" due to the shape, nature and size of the small parts and thus rejected as "not complying with the safety requirements of the Toy Ordinance".
- five samples were rejected because of a missing or defective EC declaration of conformity
- one sample was rejected due to deficiencies according to the Toy Marking Regulation (missing information regarding name/address or identification marking, CE-marking not correct)
- all 21 samples were found to be defective in terms of labeling
- 29 samples were classified as "Toys for children over 3 years of age", six samples were objected to (some multiple times):
- four samples were rejected due to safety deficiencies (e.g. packaging films too thin, risk of strangulation due to a too long/elastic yoyo cord)
- three samples had labeling deficiencies (inadequate warnings)
- three samples were rejected due to deficiencies in accordance with the Toy Labeling Ordinance (including missing information regarding name/address or identification labeling, CE labeling incorrect)
- three samples were rejected due to missing or defective EC declaration of conformity