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. Â 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. Â 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: Â Children to be Banned from Blowing Up Balloons Under New EU Safety Rules
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!
I allow my kids to be dirty and they’re the healthiest kids I know!!! The parents who pull out the sanitary wipes every time their child touches something – their kids are the ones who are sick all the time. I don’t agree with them, but if that’s their choice, so be it and they are responsible for the outcomes of that choice. Just like I am with what I choose for my children.
Would I let my youngest children blow up balloons? No. But if my 8 year old wants to try, sure. I wouldn’t let him do it unsupervised, but that’s just common sense.
I think government should be synonymous with buzzkill in the dictionary 😀
In my school, there are students who are severely allergic to latex. If a balloon is popped while they are near it spreads tiny particles of latex through the air and they suddenly cannot breath.
There have been other cases where a balloon pops suddenly in front of a baby, they may startle and as they do take a deep breath. Balloon latex then gets caught in their windpipe causing suffocation.
I think it is a parents responsibility to be responsible. Keep balloons away from babies. If your kid is not allergic to latex, no big deal let them have the balloon when they are old enough.
A few years ago, when the ruling came down no latex balloons allowed in school period I was kind of shocked, but then educated myself.. I teach chemistry and wear latex gloves many days. After being educated on latex allergies it made sense that the rash that never went away on my hands came from the latex gloves that I used during labs. I switched to nitrile and the rash was gone.
Is it the laws responsibility to make sure nothing happens? I don’t know, but I do know that people will sue if something does. Education, education, education.
Any law -especially the stupid ones, are only as good as the enforcement. Beyond enforcing the availability of balloons, noisemakers, teddy bears etc and pressure on the toy manufacturers – – – – how is it really possible to enforce this law? Surely there are more important matters to legislate!!!
That’s crazy!
Sounds like Burgermeister Meisterburger is running the show at the old European Union.