Over three quarters of children's clothing tested during a safety campaign did not comply with safety requirements, the Ministry of Economy reported on Monday.
Of the 40 garments thoroughly tested, intended for children up to 14 years old, 31 did not meet safety requirements. They have since been taken off the market.
The Ministry also carried out this safety campaign in 2021 and 2022 in order to check the compliance of manufacturers and the safety of children's clothing on the Belgian market.
The Ministry notes that the cords or drawstrings of children's clothing have been involved in several fatal accidents in Europe and elsewhere. They can get stuck in playground equipment, such as slides, or moving vehicles (bus doors, ski lifts and bicycles).
The results of the check showed that several hoodies, shorts, trousers, dresses and pyjamas posed a danger to children. The companies producing or importing this clothing have been warned and most of the companies concerned have taken the necessary measures, the Economy Ministry reports.
Related News
- Number of young people with diabetes has risen since Covid-19
- Decathlon products recalled over 'drowning risk'
The government wants to reassure parents, specifying that "the results of this campaign do not reflect the situation of the Belgian market for children's clothing as a whole", emphasises Etienne Mignolet, spokesperson for the FPS Economy.
"For this campaign, agents from the FPS Economy were specifically looking for non-compliant and potentially dangerous products on the Belgian market."
The government calls on parents to be careful when buying clothes, especially for cords and drawstrings which can lead to a risk of strangulation or entrapment.
