Why it is no longer possible to sell Toys & Games on Amazon
Amazon requires that retailers provide ‘‘EC declaration of conformity’’ documents for products in the Toys & Games category even though retailers do not legally need these documents, only suppliers/manufacturers do. Nearly all toy suppliers in the UK will not supply these documents, leading to a situation where you can buy products but you cannot sell them because Amazon will mark them for removal.
Id rather Amazon just told 3rd party sellers upfront that they no longer want them.
I have consulted my MP, Trading standards, The business support helpline, Citizens advice and The office for product safety standards. Unfortunately no one is in the wrong and Amazon is legally allowed to ask for these documents, and suppliers legally do not have to supply them, so there is nothing that can be done unless the law is changed to include retailers.
34 replies
Seller_7VbclcPFFRTnc
Whilst I agree it a pita, if it stops dangerous toys being sold on here, I’m all for it
Have you seen the amount of ‘fidget’ etc type toys on here lately
My friends bought one for my 7 year old. Arrived in just a plastic bag with no CE/UKCA marks, nothing - went straight in the bin
Seller_DnL3AXoQFgZKI
Do you know the really ridiculous thing, you can purchase Toys from AMAZON themselves and then after delivery ask THEM for their respective ‘‘EC declaration of conformity’’ documents and in many cases they DON’T HAVE THEM.
Talk about hypocritical!
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
I suppose a lot depends where sellers are purchasing the toys from. Some purchase them from other retails whilst others may purchase toys from wholesalers or even manufacturers. We know other retailers or wholesalers rarely provide documentation to ensure the product is in compliance with toy safety requirements. The option suggest before purchasing large stocks is to ensure the manufacturer provides you with the relevant certificates of conformity.
We had an issue with toys we purchased over 5 years ago. The manufacturer sold out of them and was unable to provide us with the relevant certificates. The only option we had was to remove the product listing. We did not purchase large quantities and only had one left.
The odd thing about this matter lots were sold on Amazon.
Seller_KKcTTZzy6Jd6Q
To be precise, it is the seller’s responsibility to ensure that their suppliers have these documents available, as a retailer you are supposed to either keep a copy yourself OR guarantee that you can supply a copy “immediately” (within 10 days) of a customer requesting it (via a complaints body, afaik there’s no legal requirement if they request it directly).
In Amazon’s case they would be the ones responsible for this, as such they are ensuring their compliance by obtaining a copy in advance of any sales.
Seller_0OfHtkRrD9lBk
This is why I left the toys and games categories, soon more categories will come to light, for being a danger to the environment etc and so on. I was stopped for selling plastic plates. soon cardboard plates may be stopped as they are causing backlogs in the recycling centres 
. So start thinking of the safer items and just sell those, but expect lower profits and more competition also.
Or we all will have to open market stalls to go around these issues. Frankly its only going to get worse on here lets not kid ourselves.
Might have to sell stocks on alibaba back to the open world and let amazon keep the cream.
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
The question I would like to raise on this matter if there are numerous sellers selling the same product how did other sellers continue to sell the product?
Seller_rNVOMIFW5Mta3
The real nonsense is that the EU require toys to have a CE mark but provide no means for the public to check whether a product in a box actually has the requisite paperwork. The CE mark is actually not even issed by an authority so far as I understnad it but is rather self-issued by a responsible person acting for their manufacturer.
In fact if you had the product made and stuck the label with your branding on it then you could issue the complaince document yourself.
I agree it is utterly ludicrous having a ‘trusted mark’ which you cannot check anywhere. Not much point in having the mark then.
Seller_8IBTKy4xXgF04
Some of the problems mentioned here spreads out into other products due to automated searches of inventory. While I pity the poor child who gets a replica of the Millennium Dome for Xmas (pulled on safety grounds by Amazon), a more serious problem occurs when BOOKS that relate to games get pulled from sale (Lego, Warhammer 40000 etc).
