Holiday shoppers: Give love, not “toxic toys” on Christmas

As Christmas is just around the corner, shoppers are warned against buying toys that are potentially dangerous for kids. Toxic toys contain lead, phthalates and other toxic chemicals, and are choking, strangulation or noise hazards.

Early this week, CIBAC partylist Rep. Cinchona Cruz Gonzales sought an investigation on toxic toys identified earlier by EcoWaste Coalition, a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups advocating sustainable solutions to waste, climate change and chemical issues, as containing toxic chemicals.

Gonzales cited the results of Ecowaste Coalition revealing 70 percent of 60 tested toys having at least one toxic metal such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury.

Using X-Ray Flourescence (XRF) analyzer, the coalition found excessive levels of lead, a neurotoxic chemical, on hundreds of products including toys. Lead is easily absorbed by the body through hand-to-mouth activities impeding development of vital organs and posing harm to almost every organ in the human body especially the brains. As replacement to lead, cadmium, a heavy metal that is carcinogen, is being used by manufacturers.

In its July 2011 study, EcoWaste Coalition in cooperation with International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) released results of its investigation showing 21 samples or 27 percent of the 435 children’s products loaded with excessive amounts of toxic metals including lead.

Some of the toxic products listed were wooden number blocks sold at National Bookstore (NBS) that contained 12, 053 parts per million (ppm), way beyond the US regulatory limit of 90 ppm, a drinking glass imported from Thailand being sold at Toys ‘R Us at Robinsons, and a picnic tea set toys imported from China and sold at Toy Kingdom at SM containing 1,404 ppm of lead.

In October 2011, the toxic watchdog released Halloween products tested to be positive for harmful chemicals and are unsafe for children. Taking samples from Landmark, NBS, SM, Shopwise, SM, Robinson, 999 Shopping Mall and the New Divisoria Center, the coalition revealed that 70 percent of the samples contained at least one toxic metal above levels of concern.

The results also showed that only five out of all the samples had the mandatory license to operate (LTO) number on their labels while fifty-five had no labels or incomplete labels.

Need for stringent toy safety standards and enforcement

The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection, Department of Health’s (DOH) Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research are the agencies responsible for ensuring toys safety regulation and implementation.

DTI admittedly states that most goods in Divisoria have not passed through the certificate of conformity procedures of the Department of Health (DOH). The BHDT is DOH’s arm in regulating health and health-related devices and technology that may pose hazards to human health.

Gonzales wanted the health department to be investigated as to how it implements Administrative Order 2007-00032 entitled “Regulations on the Issuance of a License to Operate to Companies that Manufacture, Import or Distribute Toys for the Philippine Market”.

As a rule, all toys that are imported, distributed and manufactured in the Philippines should comply with the Philippine National Standards for Safety of Toys. Manufacturers, importers and distributors should have LTO released by the DOH through BHDT. Moreover, they are required to secure a Certificate of Conformity from the BHDT. All importers should also secure a Clearance for Customs Release from the BHDT prior to importation.

EcoWaste Coalition have lined up policy recommendations addressed to government lead agencies on toy safety. They remain to be heard.

Meanwhile, the Congress and the Senate at the most have called for investigations and inquiry through several House and Senate resolutions.

Social irresponsibility?

EcoWaste Coalition for its part is urging companies to take immediate action by removing the tested products from their shops as an act of corporate responsibility.

SM, NBS and Robinsons were urged by Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition President, by sending letters of appeal to stop selling children’s products that tested positive with extreme levels of toxic metals.

In August 2011, NBS recalled from its nationwide stores twenty-two wooden toys and two watercolor brands taking its cue from the toxic watchdog.

Choose toys that are safe

Much as consumers should be educated on what they buy, it is extremely hard for them to ascertain which products are free from harmful chemicals. They are at the receiving end and are left vulnerable to the lack of compliance and irresponsibility on the part of manufacturers, importers and distributors and the lack of stringent government regulation.

It would help for consumers to check the label however.

Basic information such as LTO number issued by the BHDT should appear in all toy containers or covering wrappers as per BHDT regulation.
Cautionary statements or warnings should be written in English or Filipino and placed on the packaging.
Toys should be labeled to indicate the minimum age for intended use and is placed on the packaging.
Toys with magnets should have cautionary statement as well written in English or Filipino on the packaging of the toys.

US PIRG Education Fund’s Annual Survey of Toy Safety entitled “Trouble in Toyland” released in November 2011 cites the following recommendation for consumers:

Be vigilant as there is no comprehensive list of potentially hazardous toys.
Parents should be continue to be vigilant about metals in toys as they may contain lead or cadmium above the mandatory safety limits.
If a toy seems too loud for you, then it is probably too loud for your child.
Put tape over the speakers of toys you already own that are too loud or remove batteries.