Ban on sending toys to Germany and France [Information required, please]

[Mike at C&M]

I have just been informed by my local Post Office that Germany and France have banned the import of toys from the UK. As someone who deals with European railways, this is alarming!

 

I have tried to find more information on the internet, and have only found lists of banned items, which does include toys. Other types of goods may be affected, and other countries may be part of the ban.

 

Any further information on this would be gratefully received.

[njee20]

Did you ask them? They presumably have some directive. I’ve certainly not seen anything. That sounds pretty dubious. 

[Wellyboots]

Found this on the Royal Mails website;

 

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/international/country-guides/germany

 

It also prohibits;

 

Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans, and Photographic or cinematographic products!

 

It does make me think that the rule makers don't really live in the real world.

 

Regards

[pete_mcfarlane]

The list of banned things includes:

• Inorganic chemicals

• Organic chemicals

So that's everything banned then.......

[Grovenor]

That listing looks very misleading, the list makes no distinction between subheadings and the list below that subheading. Once you identify the subheadings then it starts to make more sense as the subheadings are not really part of the list. Hence the ban is not on all toys but on those items listed under toys, such as toy weapons.

[Mike at C&M]

31 minutes ago, njee20 said:

Did you ask them? They presumably have some directive. I’ve certainly not seen anything. That sounds pretty dubious. 

With the Post Office being busy, there wasn't time to discuss the detail, but they had had a parcel returned from Belgium due to prohibited goods being sent, and it was a box of toys for a youngsters birthday. 

 

The links that "Wellyboots" posted above was one page visited that showed toys as a prohibited item for Germany. 

[Simon Lee]

Look on www.zoll.de they have a very clear section, in English on what can be bought into Germany from a non EU state. As the guardians of the border, one would hope they are up to speed on what allowed.

 

There is nothing unexpected on the prohibited list, certainly no mention of models, be it trains, ships, cars, aircraft.

 

Likewise printed material, only the usual dubious magazines (non railway)

and anti constitutional books.

 

 

 

 

[Simon Lee]

3 minutes ago, Mike at C&M said:

With the Post Office being busy, there wasn't time to discuss the detail, but they had had a parcel returned from Belgium due to prohibited goods being sent, and it was a box of toys for a youngsters birthday. 

 

The links that "Wellyboots" posted above was one page visited that showed toys as a prohibited item for Germany. 

 

That sounds like a mis declaration on the customs form CN22 IIRC.

 

I receive a bi monthly CD of merchant shipping data compiled by a friend on a not for profit basis. The last one was returned to him as the form had a couple of figures transposed. 

He resent it with a full written description, and i received it no problem.

 

[Steamport Southport]

I think it's someone in the PO being over sensitive after hearing something and applying it literally.

 

The items banned would be ones that don't comply with EU regulations. All UK toys do and ones made for the UK market do as well.

 

If it's sold as a toy and has CE on it, it's fine.

 

Models sold for an adult market (over 12) are exempt as they aren't expected to be played with by small children.

 

Exemptions are the ones mentioned above. Toy weapons and things with stuff like Swastikas being particularly frowned upon. Iron Crosses as found on planes are fine so you can send things like Airfix kits as they no longer contain any symbols that may be seen as controversial.

 

Also bizarrely fidget spinners.... 

 

 

Jason

[Andy Hayter]

You ned to tell the PO counter staff to get a refresher course.

 

Toys which do not carry the CE mark will be banned.  Those that do will not.  

 

AS for publications, only those that are deemed as potentially damaging to children and or contain non-constitutional material are banned.

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

... things with stuff like Swastikas being particularly frowned upon.

I often see things representing the 1930s omitting those (like Hindenburg Zeppelin replicas* with blank patches on the tail surfaces).

 

* Not quite scale models,

[Steamport Southport]

31 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I often see things representing the 1930s omitting those (like Hindenburg Zeppelin replicas* with blank patches on the tail surfaces).

 

* Not quite scale models,

 

Yes. They stopped supplying them in Airfix and other manufacturers kits a few years ago and the box art has them removed.

 

If you want them on a model you have to get them from third party suppliers. 

 

 

Jason

[APOLLO]

A couple of months ago my wife sent two parcels to her sister in Germany via Royal Mail 2nd class untracked. Just new ladies clothing (from the Debenhams closure sale) and English tea bags for her husband. Two parcels were sent so each was under the 2Kg (or so) weight limit, declared value £25 each.. Time passed, 3 or 4 weeks later and one was delivered, nothing to pay. The other went AWOL. A claim was made (postage only due to service used) and we thought that was that. Last week the postman delivered the second parcel back here (I had put on our senders address). There were stickers galore on it in German and I gather it actually got to the town in Germany and then a few weeks later it turns up here.

 

Told the wife don't send anything again untracked etc Just a total PITA. She received some a small parcel from family in Thailand the other week, Thai post / Royal Mail, took 7 days tracked all the way. Little value & nothing to pay.

 

Europe is getting Bolshi I guess. 

 

Brit15

[Fen End Pit]

1 hour ago, APOLLO said:

 

Europe is getting Bolshi I guess. 

 

 

No, remember we voted not to be a member of their club and so we have chosen to abide by the rules applied to non-members.

Just wait until the 'country of original' rules come into effect, then pretty much all 'UK manufactured' models will become subject to even more complex rules.

 

David

[Dava]

I have just sent a package to my grand daughter in France including a farm set in a tin & a dress. Hope it gets there. 
 

This Brexit lark isn’t really working out very well, is it?

 

Dava

[Guest]

22 minutes ago, Fen End Pit said:

No, remember we voted not to be a member of their club and so we have chosen to abide by the rules applied to non-members.

 

Rules that we played a part in writing.

[Andy Kirkham]

2 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

Yes. They stopped supplying them in Airfix and other manufacturers kits a few years ago and the box art has them removed.

 

 

Certainly  in the 60s and 70s, when I was making Airfix planes, the decals and the box art omitted swastikas. Was there an interim period when swastikas were allowed?

[Steamport Southport]

14 minutes ago, Andy Kirkham said:

 

Certainly  in the 60s and 70s, when I was making Airfix planes, the decals and the box art omitted swastikas. Was there an interim period when swastikas were allowed?

 

On Airfix or in general?

 

As my Stuka I built in the 1970s certainly had one. 

 

https://www.vintage-airfix.com/junkers-ju-87b-stuka-p-256.html

 

https://www.vintage-airfix.com/images/Special 1-24 scale Ju87B Stuka.jpg

 

 

 

But we've got to be careful discussing this as some people might get offended. That's not my intention. I was just pointing out some places in Europe they don't allow them on models.

 

 

Jason

[Ozexpatriate]

40 minutes ago, Andy Kirkham said:

Certainly  in the 60s and 70s, when I was making Airfix planes, the decals and the box art omitted swastikas. Was there an interim period when swastikas were allowed?

5 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

As my Stuka I built in the 1970s certainly had one. 

I recall 1970s models having them. At that time the box artwork also included combat scenes - particularly so the "dogfight" combination kits. Box artwork doesn't include combat scenes anymore either.

 

That symbol has been understandably banned in Germany for a long time now.

 

[Bernard Lamb]

7 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I recall 1970s models having them. At that time the box artwork also included combat scenes - particularly so the "dogfight" combination kits. Box artwork doesn't include combat scenes anymore either.

 

That symbol has been understandably banned in Germany for a long time now.

 

Not quite correct.

If you look at the web site for one of the specialist decal suppliers such as Ostmodell you will find a note that explains the terms under which they produce accurate period decals and engraved plates. Allowed, but only under certain conditions.

Bernard

[EddieB]

10 hours ago, Fen End Pit said:

No, remember we voted not to be a member of their club and so we have chosen to abide by the rules applied to non-members.

Just wait until the 'country of original' rules come into effect, then pretty much all 'UK manufactured' models will become subject to even more complex rules.

 

David

Here we go again.

 

Pettiness exemplified on both sides of the Channel, while a humanitarian crisis unfolds in the waters between us.

 

EU "patriotism", the last refuge...

Edited November 30, 2021 by EddieB

[phil-b259]

2 hours ago, Bernard Lamb said:

Not quite correct.

If you look at the web site for one of the specialist decal suppliers such as Ostmodell you will find a note that explains the terms under which they produce accurate period decals and engraved plates. Allowed, but only under certain conditions.

Bernard

 

Indeed

 

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-confusing-rules-on-swastikas-and-nazi-symbols/a-45063547