The Toy Association Urges India Regulators to Revise New Testing Mandates for Imported Toys

September 28, 2017 | The Toy Association is working on behalf of members to urge regulators in India to delay a new rule that has been in effect for all imported toys since it was approved on September 1. The new rule mandates that all imported toys (with the exception of those not already in transit) be tested by an independent laboratory accredited by NABL, India to demonstrate compliance with the Indian Toy Safety Standard IS 9873 and the electronic toy standard IS 15644.

These requirements are placing additional burdens on U.S. toy companies selling in India as customs agents are asking for certification to the new requirements before allowing toys to enter the Indian market. Until testing capacity builds up, toy companies selling in India should expect significant delays.

“The new requirements create undue and unnecessary testing burdens for toy companies selling in India, especially for toys that are already compliant with strong international standards,” says Rebecca Mond, The Toy Association’s senior director of federal government affairs. “We are actively seeking to address this issue with the Indian government as toymakers have little wiggle room to comply. By implementing a law that is near impossible to comply with, the U.S. toy industry is effectively going to be shut out of the Indian toy market – and during the critical holiday season.”

Highlighting significant concerns, The Toy Association is aggressively advocating for an immediate stay of enforcement of 12 to 18 months in a recent letter to the Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) within the Ministry of Commerce. In addition to requesting a stay of enforcement, The Toy Association requested that DGFT consider allowing toy importers to demonstrate compliance by using an International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) accredited testing facility. The Association is also asking the Indian government to provide an opportunity for toy manufacturers to comment on the new rule to highlight any additional issues.

Members with questions can contact Rebecca Mond.