Europe cracks down on counterfeit toys originating from China.

On August 1st, the European Commission (EC) officially launched a campaign against counterfeit goods, particularly toys, a large portion of which originate from China.

European Commissioner for Industry, Antonio Tajani, said one of the campaign's slogans was "Don't let an accident ruin your summer."

Speaking to the press, Antonio Tajani cited an example of children's shoes manufactured in China that contained chromium levels exceeding the permitted limit by six times. Chromium is a toxic substance that can cause cancer.

Antonio Tajani holds a toy at the launch of the Safe Toys campaign in Brussels, Belgium, on August 1st. (Photo: EC)

Antonio Tajani emphasized that the majority of toys sold in stores in Europe are manufactured in China.

According to annual statistics published by the EC, approximately 58% of goods considered dangerous in Europe originate from China.

In addition, nearly 500 billion euros worth of counterfeit goods, spanning almost all sectors, are currently circulating worldwide, and this figure is expected to double by 2015.

Antonio Tajani announced that after this summer, the EC will present an action plan for the period 2013-2015 to strengthen controls on European markets.

However, according to him, even the strictest rules are not enough to guarantee safety. The important thing is that member states need to act to implement the rules set forth by Europe.

According to VNA - NT