A toy is a product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play, whether or not exclusively, by children of less than 14 years of age. There are some specific exclusions from the legal definition. For example, Christmas decorations and crackers, detailed scale models for adult collectors, folk dolls, toy steam engines, bicycles designed for sport and for travel on the public highway (cycles with a maximum saddle height of 435mm are considered toys), video toys connected to a video screen and fashion jewellery for children are not considered to be toys.

Q. How do you know you stock safe toys?

Most reputable suppliers have independent checks made that their toys comply with the law and are safe. This is often (but not always) done in accredited safety testing laboratories and certificates may be available. Besides obtaining assurances (preferably in writing) from suppliers and checking new stock, retailers who are members of the Toy Retailers Association have an additional assurance through the Associations "approved suppliers lists" which contain the names and addresses of all members of the BTHA (British Toy & Hobby Association) and EQUITOY (the Association for toy importers) who make an annual declaration to their respective Associations that all products are supplied in accordance with a strict code of practice. These lists are updated annually in the BTHA Handbook (www.btha.co.uk) which is circulated to Toy Retailers Association members.