The Government has taken proactive steps to restrict import of sub-standard and unsafe
toys and to promote domestic toy industry.
A Quality
Control Order for Toys was issued on 25/02/2020, through which toys have been
brought under compulsory certification from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) with
effect from 01-01-2021… After
implementation of QCO for the toys, Search and Seizures were conducted by BIS
and 41,106 quantity was seized till 16.03.2023 across the country including
major airports, ports and shopping malls.
Till date, BIS has granted 1,114 licenses to domestic
toy manufacturing units and 35 licenses to foreign toy manufacturing units.
As a result of various steps taken by the Government,
the volume of import of toys into the Indian market has shown a consistently
decreasing trend. The import of Toys (HSN Codes 9503, 9504, 9505) to
India has decreased from USD 332.55 million in 2014-15 to USD 109.72 million in
2021-22, a decrease of approximately 67%.
In addition to the issuance of Quality control order
for toys following steps have been taken by the government to reduce Import of
Toys :-
1. A comprehensive National
Action Plan for Toys has been formulated by the government to promote designing
of toys based on Indian values, culture and history; using toys as a learning
resource…2 Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) vide Notification
No.33/2015-2020, dated 02-12-2019 mandated sample testing of each import
consignment and no permission for sale unless the quality testing is
successful. In case of failure, the consignment is either sent back or
destroyed at the cost of the importer. 3The Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on Toys
(HS Code-9503) was increased from 20% to 70% in February, 2023. 4 QCO on Toys
was amended on 11-12-2020 to exempt goods and articles manufactured and sold by
artisans registered with Development Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles and by registered
proprietor and authorized users of a product registered as Geographical
Indication by the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and
Trademarks.5. Special provisions were notified by BIS on 17-12-2020 so as to
grant license to micro scale units manufacturing toys without testing facility
for one year and without establishing in-house testing facility.