Safety At Binkley Toys Inc.

There has been quite a few questions from my business friends and customers concerning the new regulations, which targets many areas of children's products including cribs, so I thought that I would comment on that.
My comments will only be dealing with the products I make which are stuffed toys (soft toys, plush toys - all the same thing) and their accessories.
First I would like to dispel some of the panic. My company is not panicked because I have been making high quality toys for over 15 years. I have always put safety first and that will not change. The new regulations will not affect my customer’s prices, their obligations or their risk to legal issues.
Every production order that I make complies with all safety regulations being put in to place now. There are a few extra steps my staff has to take to comply with the new rules but our clients are not effected by those steps. Everything is done for you!
The new mandatory testing items include;
-- Total lead content in paint
-- Small object test

Some mandatory testing items delayed until 2010
--Total lead content in substrate
--Phthalates content in plastic

Binkley has been complying with these testing items for as far back when these testing methods were available. (many, many years ago)

We also go beyond mandatory test and comply with regulations under the US ASTM F963 Standard.
--Mechanical & Physical test
--Flammability test

For our Canadian and European customers we use the appropriate safety regulation guidelines for your specific country.
Every production order that I produce will receive a "General Conformity Certificate" which should be copied and past on to retailers. You are not required to provide a copy of the Certificate to individual consumers but I don't see anything wrong with it, other then it will identify us as your manufacturer.

Thanks.
Rob Bishop - Binkley Toys Inc.

Oct. 2008
With the recent news about toy recalls we thought it would be best to be clear about our position on toy safety.

We have been getting a lot of questions about the recalls on toy products from China. The news is mainly about several product lines from one company.

The two main concerns with the recent recalls is lead content in paint and small magnets.
Paint is generally used on plastic or wood toys, which we do not make. We only make plush (stuffed / soft ) toys.

Magnets are rarely used in our toys, and only are used if securely fastened inside of a toy. Very few designs we make in a year rely on magnets. The hazards of magnets noted in the news is for magnets glued to the outside of a plastic toy. When two or more magnets are swallowed by a child, they pass through the intestines, and will attract to each other through the intestine walls. This 'pinches' the intestines and can only be corrected with surgery. The small magnets can also come off the toys, and become lodged in noses, ears, and throats.

We do not affix magnets to the outside of toys for any reason.

The news sites the problem as stemming from companies pushing more and more to make cheaper products for higher profits.

Here is a direct quote from newsday.com

"But the rise and fall of Polly Pocket!, more than any of the other dolls and toys, truly tells the story of what's become of the toy industry in this era of profit-pressed American companies and cheap labor abroad."

Here at Binkley, we do not have shareholders to answer to, and we do not have banks to impress with higher and higher profits. Our main concern in the past, now, and in the future is toy safety. We will be sure that every product that leaves our factories in China are safe, well made, and meet or beat international toy safety standards. Since we mainly produce toys for other companies, we often work with large corporations like McDonalds Restaurants, and Serta Mattresses. We are required to provide full safety tests, and factory inspections on every order for these large corporations. Binkley surpasses all safety needs and passes all safety tests to satisfy the largest organization.
You can be sure your toy is made in a safe and effective way. If you need more information on safety testing your product, just let us know.

== Product Liability ==
Don't feel comfortable taking our word for it? Binkley can add your name as an Additional Insured with our policy. This covers our products for up to $3 million dollars including our Umbrella policy. More details are available, after you get a quote.

Thanks.
Rob Bishop - Binkley Toys Inc.