According to the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry, the intervention by the Center against substandard toys has resulted in a significant decrease of 67% in toy imports to India. This decline has been consistent, with toy imports dropping from $332.55 million in 2014-15 to $109.72 million in 2021-22.
To promote the domestic toy industry and restrict the import of unsafe and substandard toys, the government has taken proactive measures. In February 2020, a Quality Control Order for Toys was issued, making it mandatory for all toys in the market to be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards, effective from January 1, 2021. This order applies to both domestic and foreign manufacturers intending to export toys to India, and requires compliance with relevant Indian Standards and the use of the Standard Mark under a BIS license. An AIR correspondent reports these developments.
