It's a very good question. I have been in the toy industry for 19 years now. The question about sound-emitting toys has been challenged by virtually every country in the world. I've participated in standards-setting processes in the United States and Europe, as well as the ISO standards. I have sat down with audiologists.
The one thing I have learned is that the issue of sound is very complex because it's defined in different domains. For example, with impulsive sound versus continuous sound, you will get different results depending on the distance from which you measure the sound source. You will get different results depending on the type of equipment you use to measure the sound.
I am also quite aware of the sound levels in Canada, Europe, and everywhere else. The standard we have been using in the last few years is 85 decibels from 20 centimetres distance, which is the average distance from the source to the ear of a child. There are toys that are played with on the floor, and toys that are played with on the table. There are close-to-the-ear toys, and educational toys.
We support the regulation of sound in a sensible and scientific way. We're willing to sit down with Health Canada and audiologists to share the information we have so we can come up with a sensible and streamlined standard that applies to everybody.