HALL SPEAKS OUT ON CHILD LABOUR DAY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Jun 2007

As the world observes International Day against Child Labour, North East Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall has called for greater efforts to combat the production of toys by children younger than the market they are designed to supply.

Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against Child Labour and the exploitation of children in the production of toys in the European Parliament.

Fiona Hall said: "I find it quite perverse that we have a system of labelling toys that recommends the age group a given product is suitable for and yet there can be no guarantees that the product itself has not been made by a child that is younger than those it is intended for.

"Retailers and importers of children's toys need to adopt an ethical approach to their purchasing strategy and only deal with manufacturers who can give an unqualified undertaking that children have not been exploited in the production of their goods.

"It is alarming that toys that you might buy for your children could be produced by children even younger than them.

"In the 21st century it is unacceptable that toys you buy for your children could have been produced by even younger children."