Group calls for market check on lead-tainted toys

ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog BAN Toxics on Thursday called on government regulatory agencies to conduct market inspections after detecting toys containing lead sold in stores, sidewalks and commercial hubs in Metro Manila.

The group sampled 50 toys with a chemical analyzer, and 41 contained lead with levels ranging from 16 to 4,600 parts per million of the toxic substance.

Among the toys it sampled were toy cars and trucks, dolls, musical instruments, robots, battery-operated toys, toddler squeaky toys, food-shaped toys, kitchen and dinner sets, makeup set toys, basketball toys, bubble toys, dinosaurs, mini billiards, marbles, and sports toys.

«Recent market monitoring by the group revealed that an increasing number of retailers are showcasing a variety of children's toys in anticipation of early holiday shopping. Since September, BAN Toxics has randomly purchased and documented toy samples from well-known commercial hubs in Manila, Pasay City, and Quezon City,» the group said.

BAN Toxics also noted that most toys lacked proper labeling, violating Republic Act 10620 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013.

The group called the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to conduct proper testing and confiscate the tainted toys. It said only those compliant that met health and safety regulations should be sold in the market.

It also called on local government units to conduct their own inspections and review permits and certificates of product notification for toy retailers and stores within their jurisdictions.

«We are calling on the [FDA and the DTI] to prevent exposing our children to unsafe toys that may contain toxic chemicals such as lead. The lack of proper labeling alone should be reason enough for them to conduct inspections,» BAN Toxics Advocacy Officer Thony Dizon said.

Lead is considered a toxic metal and could cause serious health consequences because of poisoning. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through Administrative Order 2013-24, prohibits the use of lead in children's toys.