The European Union (EU) recently approved a new toy safety directive which states that children younger than eight are not permitted to blow up balloons.
Even more ridiculous, all children under the age of 14 are banned from blowing on whistleblowers, the favorite party favours that uncurl a long paper tongue when the whistle end is tooted.
Both rules are designed to prevent swallowing and choking.
Other Big Brother rules in the legislation include restrictions on how loud toys such as baby rattles and musical instruments are permitted to be.
Even teddy bears did not escape unscathed. Stuffed toys meant for children under 3 will have to be washable to prevent young children and babies from exposure to dirt and disease.
Even simple coloring books were regulated along with anything played with by children under the age of 14.
Paul Nuttall of the European Parliament’s consumer safety committee, calls the EU legislative world a “kill joy”.
He went on to say:
“… this is crackers but I’m sure children are banned from using them too. EU party poopers should not be telling families how to blow up balloons.”
British toy manufacturers are concerned that the new regulations will drive up the price of toys due to required warning labels and safety tests.
A spokesman for the European Commission defended the new toy rules as necessary to prevent any parent’s worst nightmare and that the safety experts knew best.
One official put it this way:
“You might say that small children have been blowing up balloons for generations, but not anymore and they will be safer for it.”
My question is where will it all end?
For example, just because a teddy bear is washable doesn’t mean that it will actually be washed. Will the EU see fit to pass another rule to require parents and caregivers to wash them too? If so, how often? How hot should the water be? Is there a certain type of soap that must be used?
These types of restrictions and rules are an ever tightening noose on the throat of a society becoming increasingly dependent on its “Government Family” for direction regarding even the most mundane of everyday decisions.
This is the type of inconsistent mess that occurs when government tries to legislate personal and parental responsibility.
Source: Children to be Banned from Blowing Up Balloons Under New EU Safety Rules
Sarah Pope has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. Her work is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.
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Unbelieveable!
In fact, I don’t believe it.
You’re quoting a newspaper article that doesn’t seem to cite its source, and this type of “EU officials have gone PC mad” article is pretty common. A disappointing post…
Regulation might be a little tough. However, a friend of mine was very adamant about telling me about safety with balloons of children under 8. He sat in the hospital room while his own daughter had another type of emergency surgery with a parent whose child died on her birthday because she put the broken balloon pieces in her mouth. It inflates in the throat, and there is nothing medical personnel can do for the child. I guess if you’re there when it happens, it doesn’t sound as drastic to you.
The irony of the EU vs. California!