Toys 'beautiful but deadly': anti-abuse blitz, 500 dangerous pieces seized

They had set up stalls, selling various items, especially small toys, non-compliant with European Union regulations, lacking CE marking, counterfeit, or dangerous.

The presence of those foreign national street vendors residing in Agrigento, stationed at a fixed spot along Viale della Vittoria, did not escape the notice of the local police officers, who quickly initiated anti-illegal trade checks.

The results were swift. During the operation, about five hundred items were seized for confiscation.

The merchandise, almost entirely of Chinese origin, bore no indication or description in Italian, and in some cases was lacking minimum indications (specific instructions and precautions for use).

One of the vendors was issued a 3,000 euro administrative fine.

The operation was carried out to restore decorum and legality in the city center and also due to the presence of authorized stalls for the Mandorlo in fiore.

Non-compliant toys remain the most widespread category of dangerous products. The main risks to consumer health are due to the toxicity of certain substances used in the production of the plastics employed and, especially concerning children, suffocation due to movable or easily detachable parts from the toys.

The CE marking regulations serve to protect against these risks, but the rock-bottom price can lead to the purchase of toys that are "nice but deadly".

On Viale della Vittoria, as well as in San Leone, the presence of this market, mostly illegal, makes pedestrian passage impractical. Stalls and boxes full of merchandise are displayed everywhere. This especially happens on weekends.