Sansad TV: Perspective- India’s Toy Story | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Steps taken

• The government took various actions to reduce imports and boost exports. 
• These actions included stricter quality tests for imported toys, higher customs duty, and new licenses for local manufacturers. 
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) made it mandatory to test samples from each shipment, and only allowed sales if quality testing succeeded. 
• If there was a failure, the shipment was sent back or disposed of at the importer's expense. 
• The government also introduced the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020. 
• This order made it necessary for toys to have Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification starting from January 1, 2021. 
• According to the Quality Control Order (QCO), every toy must meet the relevant Indian Standard and display the Standard Mark under a BIS license. 
• This rule applies to both domestic and foreign toy manufacturers. BIS has given licenses to 843 domestic manufacturers for toy safety. 
• Among these, 645 licenses were for non-electric toys and 198 for electric toys. Additionally, 6 licenses were issued to international toy makers.

Toys (Quality Control) Order

• This pertains to the regulation of toys and materials used for play by children under 14 years old, or other notified products by the Central Government. 
• The order was issued by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Key toy safety provisions:

• Toys need to meet the latest Indian Standards.
• Toys must bear the Standard Mark under a BIS license as per Schedule-II of Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
• The Bureau is responsible for certification and enforcement.

Challenges faced:

• Experts in the industry state that small manufacturers struggle to adopt machinery production due to high taxes on equipment. 
• The production of electronic and battery-operated toys has increased in India, which were mostly imported before. 
• However, many small toy makers lack the necessary equipment to produce electric toys and hesitate to upgrade due to a 34% import duty on equipment. 
• Although BIS granted over 800 licenses to toy producers, many find it hard to keep up with the changing regulations and BIS standards. 
• This is a problem for small-scale retailers who rely on bigger companies for quality products, as they're unwilling to buy lower-quality items. 
• The industry is also concerned about potential changes in the tax system, as previous shifts have impacted them. 
• In 2020, the Indian government raised customs duty from 20% to 60%, along with BIS certification requirements. 
• This slowed the inflow of low-quality imported toys, particularly from China, benefiting local toy makers. Plastic has also become costlier, and the limited supply with higher demand has led manufacturers to increase prices. 
• Polymer prices increased by 40% to 100% in 2021, depending on the grade.

Safety and Quality

• Parents prioritize safety and quality when purchasing toys and products for children. 
• It's important for both the industry and the government to play an active role in promoting these concerns. 
• A recent survey by the Quality Council of India found that 67% of imported toys are not safe for children.