New Delhi, Sep 16 UNI) The government on Wednesday extended the time period given to the domestic toy manufacturers for compliance with new quality standards by four months till January 1 next year.

'The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, today issued notification,extending the date of implementation of Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 as 1.1.2021 in place of 1.9.2020,' according to an order issued by the ministry.

The decision allows domestic manufacturers four months of extra time to make necessary arrangements for compliance of standards in view of difficulties arising out of COVID-19 pandemic, the order dated Tuesday said.

The order mandates all toys and materials designed or intended for use in play by children below 14 years of age to be certified by the BIS.

The move came in the wake of a study by the Quality Council of India (QCI) revealing that 67 per cent of imported toys failed a testing survey, which prompted an aggressive push to produce safe toys in the country.

Imports from China and Taiwan account for around 90 per cent of the domestic toy market.

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