CONSUMER ALERT: Swimming floats for kids sold in local markets contain banned Toxic Substances [#OnlyOnAdoNewsNET]
MAKATI, METRO MANILA -- Inflatable swimming provides children with a fun way to handle hot summer temperatures during election campaigns in the country. Environmental watchdog group 'BAN Toxics' urges people to be on the lookout for unnotified 'Toys and Child Care Articles' (TCCA) because some may contain 'phthalates' and other dangerous restricted chemicals in plastic swimming toys for children.
Per recent market monitoring, the group found numerous stores across Metro Manila selling kiddie swimming toys and floaters priced between PHP50 and PHP200 (U$D0.90 to U$D3.61 dollars), some of which were improperly labeled. In mid-December of 2011, the Department of Health (DOH) issued Administrative Order (AO) #2009-0005-A, restricting the use of harmful phthalates in children's toys by prohibiting the manufacture, sale, distribution and import of toys containing over 0.1% of specific phthalate chemicals known to be used as plasticizers in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) products.
Citing information from the Environmental Working Group, phthalates are a class of chemicals with endocrine-disrupting properties. Independent research shows that these chemicals raise the risk of cancer and asthma and cause learning problems and behavior challenges in children: "Our monitoring shows that manufacturers and distributors of swimming toys and floaters are not fully aware of the existing regulations in the country, thus compromising children's health and safety due to exposure to toxic chemicals. The entry of restricted toys with toxic additives must be prevented, especially if we already have laws in place to protect against the use of toxic chemicals in children's products", said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner of BAN Toxics told AdoNewsNET.
The group released its findings in late-November 2024 which demonstrated the harmful impact of plastic toys on public health and the environment. In their study, the group analyzed 257 samples and found 161 or 62.64% of the toys violated the safety standards and misleading essential products. All the toys had incomplete labeling, despite the existing law of Republic Act #10620 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013.
BAN Toxics wants national authorities to focus on passing the "Safe and Non-Hazardous Children's Products Act" ahead of Philippine elections to safeguard children from plastic toy chemicals. Agency officials asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to inspect products on sale and remove unlabeled child products from the market.
PHOTO COURTESY: BAN Toxics via PR BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY: Tegna
-- AdoNewsNET Online Publication Team
