WITH THE holiday season upon us, environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition wasted no time reminding consumers to ensure that children must only be given toys that will not expose them to harm. We are one with them in this cause.
The market is flooded with cheap and unregistered toys whose quality, safety and suitability cannot be guaranteed. Under this situation, consumers, particularly parents, will have a huge responsibility to play in terms of picking the right toy for children that will not pose harm to their young bodies and minds.
The coalition, in a recent study in collaboration with IPEN Chemicals in Products Program, found lead and other toxic metals in 32 out of 100 sampled toys (32 percent). None of the samples, including a fidget spinner with 198,900 ppm of lead, provided a list of chemicals that make up a toy nor provided text or graphic warnings.
The situation is alarming. Chronic exposure to lead even at low doses can affect a child’s health over time, damage brain development and result to decreased intelligence as measured by IQ points, lower school performance, and behavioral problems.
The study also showed that toy registration and labeling requirements are not effectively enforced as evidenced by 77 percent of the samples providing zero information about their manufacturers and/or distributors, 75 percent not indicating License to Operate number on the product label, and 75 percent failing to meet other required labeling information on the packaging.
In addition to toxic chemicals lurking in toys, other hazards may be present in some toys – those with small parts may be ingested causing choking, or, in some instances, get pushed into the nostrils or ears. Toys with pointed or sharp edges may injure the eyes or cut the skin. Toys with cords longer than 12 inches may cause strangulation. There are also toys with the potential to cause blunt force injury or trauma.
The importance of ensuring that toys are adequately and truthfully labeled cannot be overemphasized. The provision of complete and honest labeling information will help consumers make informed choices on what toys to buy for children. Truthful product labeling is an indispensable tool for making the right purchasing decisions.
There is urgency of enforcing Republic Act 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013. The delay in the promulgation of the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations is not serving the best interests of the Filipino child and is only benefiting the toy industry.
Society has a responsibility to provide safe toys that can help a child to discover and enhance her or his potentials to the fullest.
