According to the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, the local industry is being squeezed by Chinese competition and impending European Union regulations that could further hinder domestic producers.
The Polish market, like many others in Europe, is being overwhelmed by millions of low-cost shipments from China. Many of these products are sold at dumping prices—significantly below market value—making it difficult for local companies to compete. To make matters worse, these imports often arrive without proper safety certifications, exacerbating concerns over consumer protection.
Toy industry sounds the alarm
Polish toy makers are particularly vulnerable to this trend. Chinese companies sell their products at unbeatable prices and offer fast shipping—delivering in as little as nine days—and free returns, making it nearly impossible for local manufacturers to keep pace. Polish companies, lacking the financial backing to engage in similar pricing practices, are feeling the squeeze.
“The flood of cheap toys is suffocating Polish producers, who cannot match the prices or the logistics of Chinese firms,” the report states.
Adding to the industry’s concerns are new EU regulations currently under consideration. These rules, meant to enhance toy safety, are seen by many in the Polish toy industry as overly burdensome and counterproductive.
“The draft legislation includes too many requirements on aspects that have no real impact on child safety. As a result, we don’t see these proposals as solving the issue of unsafe toys in the EU market,” said Monika Chmielińska, president of the Polish Association of the Toy and Children's Products Industry, in an interview with Rzeczpospolita.
New EU regulations could hit local manufacturers hard
The proposed legislation, while aiming to improve toy safety, would impose significant administrative and financial burdens on businesses—particularly manufacturers already complying with existing rules. According to Rzeczpospolita, these new standards will do little to stop the flow of unsafe toys into the EU, especially from countries like China, which has long been a dominant player in the market.
The association argues that Chinese manufacturers and e-commerce platforms will find ways to bypass the new regulations. "After the introduction of new norms, laboratories will not be able to test all toys quickly enough, and importers will still be bringing in goods from outside the EU," the report highlights.
(jh)
Source: PAP, Rzeczpospolita