tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90589489671432324842024-02-19T19:17:01.395+01:00Safe Toys Coalitionalexandra.caterbow@wecf.euhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232480987381563693noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-34551825127941750772014-03-07T11:52:00.001+01:002014-03-07T11:52:48.185+01:00TedX Final Edit 2/16/14 (+playlist)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DdoyqbIWD_k" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-46104265287175843182012-01-24T10:57:00.005+01:002012-01-24T11:03:46.688+01:00WECF Toys Guide is now available in serbian languageHow to choose toxic-free toys<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSE7x8Usdjrd_bnZkdke-quR1xXlO91K45Ad8VBaQyR9HI7iAYPOsE38OJSObfIIoFy2vq9evIkT286XTA29RTiQcBKwM1rUKyvLPya5ZSPjG4GtruJTexfTRNn4wKsvRX4_Ujr_w8dbqZ/s1600/Ratgeber_Serbisch.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSE7x8Usdjrd_bnZkdke-quR1xXlO91K45Ad8VBaQyR9HI7iAYPOsE38OJSObfIIoFy2vq9evIkT286XTA29RTiQcBKwM1rUKyvLPya5ZSPjG4GtruJTexfTRNn4wKsvRX4_Ujr_w8dbqZ/s1600/Ratgeber_Serbisch.png" /></a>The WECF Toys Guide offers useful information on most of the hazardous substances found in toys and concrete tips on how consumers can play it safe when buying toys for children. The practical brochure provides concise information on the most hazardous substances found in toys, informs about the potential dangers and gives concrete advice on how consumers can play it safe when buying toys for their children. <br />
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So far, it has been published in <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/publications/2009/publications-toysguide.php" target="_blank">nine languages</a> in order to provide tips on how to choose toxic- free toys.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-56639461100382666172012-01-09T15:53:00.002+01:002012-01-09T16:04:21.555+01:00Thousands in Support of Toxic-free Children’s Toys in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YHp5CNlQuOewH4OcYkkhEDrUouWOLJCCqLepieyMJWcrcLOv5WJHP7n8IszOd_EDINsDnJjBfwkSBBNKNOqP9wVlWdcuuFIVScz8mac7gxnC94aUjNuIi2B8B15Ne84w3Ge6VBa0YuWx/s1600/toys-armenia-kyrgyzstan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YHp5CNlQuOewH4OcYkkhEDrUouWOLJCCqLepieyMJWcrcLOv5WJHP7n8IszOd_EDINsDnJjBfwkSBBNKNOqP9wVlWdcuuFIVScz8mac7gxnC94aUjNuIi2B8B15Ne84w3Ge6VBa0YuWx/s320/toys-armenia-kyrgyzstan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Survey and monitoring conducted by AWHHE in the shop, Armenia</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Project started to eliminate children’s toys with toxic substances from the market in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by 2020</b><br />
Source: AWHHE<br />
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Consumers in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are becoming more aware of the products they buy. This has become evident from the results of a study conducted by two non-governmental organizations dedicated to the idea and work for toxic-free toys for children.<br />
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WECF Partner and member of the Safe Toys Coalition “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” (AWHHE) and its Kyrgyz counterpart “Independent Ecological Expertise” (IEE) are currently running a project aiming towards further support of the already existing efforts to eliminate toxic substances in children’s toys from the market in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by 2020. <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/articles/2012/01/toys-armenia-kyrgyzstan.php" target="_blank">Read more</a><br />
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To learn more about toys safety and download the WECF guide 'Safe Toys', please visit <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/chemicals-health/topics/toys.php" target="_blank">WECF Safe Toys</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-78126077049347101902011-12-07T10:25:00.002+01:002011-12-07T11:08:15.734+01:00Toxic heavy metals found in children's products on the Chinese market<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4DOzli_6Kwcrej4Omsko890eZOqfU4aWpNhk6mkAjjKSciIpB_YxOdS2R6Y2RuWfrlbdAyYidxxL9yfT1uuSAG2W0Tyl4mK26-20WJlb5uIcqqBZycb8_P0zJdWGxuJPmDRNUU2udUAL/s1600/Spielzeuge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4DOzli_6Kwcrej4Omsko890eZOqfU4aWpNhk6mkAjjKSciIpB_YxOdS2R6Y2RuWfrlbdAyYidxxL9yfT1uuSAG2W0Tyl4mK26-20WJlb5uIcqqBZycb8_P0zJdWGxuJPmDRNUU2udUAL/s320/Spielzeuge.png" width="320" /></a><span class="author"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Feature Story - 2011-12-07</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For many people around the world, particularly the little people under 12, Christmas is the best time of the year. Even in China where Christmas is not traditionally celebrated, Chinese New Year follows shortly after in January or February and is the country's most important holiday. Like Christmas, it is a time to return to your family home or hometown, and shower loved ones with gifts. For some of China's 120 million migrant workers it is the only time of the year they will have to spend with their parents and children. </span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/stories/toxics/2011/toxic-childen-products-china/" target="_blank">Read more</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-8048531917162337242011-12-06T10:34:00.001+01:002011-12-06T10:36:53.584+01:00EcoWaste steps up drive vs toxic toys in Baclaran<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">MANILA, Dec. 6 (PNA) -- EcoWaste Coalition Tuesday set up the first free "Toy Check-Up Tent" outside the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, Parañaque City In a bid to reach out to grassroots consumers about the chemical hazards in some toys being sold in the market amid the pre-Christmas shopping spree. <a href="http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=7&rid=390382" target="_blank">Read more</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-88168861269659248782011-11-21T09:26:00.002+01:002011-11-21T09:29:56.974+01:0032 of 50 Christmas gift items tested positive with toxic chemicals<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MANILA, Philippines -- Popular Christmas gift items such as painted toys, glasses, and mugs tested positive with nasty chemicals known for damaging a child’s brain and future. </span>“This is the outrageous truth that we have discovered after subjecting 50 product samples to chemical analysis,” said Thony Dizon, coordinator of the<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> EcoWaste </span><span id="dtx-highlighting-item">Coalition</span>’s Project Protect. <a href="http://www.interaksyon.com/article/17792/32-of-50-christmas-gift-items-tested-positive-with-toxic-chemicals" target="_blank">Read more</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-63676944893694348682011-11-17T16:43:00.000+01:002011-11-17T16:43:18.506+01:00Des jouets toxiques dans la hotte du Père Noël<a href="http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/des-jouets-toxiques-dans-la-hotte-du-pere-noel-6827083.html">Des jouets toxiques dans la hotte du Père Noël</a>Chantal Van den Bosschehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03454794275585997904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-52964907592899100772011-11-15T14:03:00.011+01:002011-11-16T16:15:56.913+01:00Albanian Voice Conference “International Cooperation in Hazardous Substances and Product Safety in the Balkans“ results in concrete action of Albanian authorities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWVqveMFFYNrpFYcqFxLgfWEtTaF9J5wefM32PXJE7I5p_jfOAjRnryNa4JJv-CrX8LK-VAo5VleA8BfHapqlkQrNvZmjFcL2VH8e6D7psxv2uC8911KBcMFzWh4rCU_dORni-xE8FQnS/s1600/petriti-024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWVqveMFFYNrpFYcqFxLgfWEtTaF9J5wefM32PXJE7I5p_jfOAjRnryNa4JJv-CrX8LK-VAo5VleA8BfHapqlkQrNvZmjFcL2VH8e6D7psxv2uC8911KBcMFzWh4rCU_dORni-xE8FQnS/s200/petriti-024.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">The first Albanian Voice Conference “International Cooperation in Hazardous Substances and Product Safety in the Balkans“ took place on the 14th and 15th of October in Tirana, shortly after the conference first results in the Albanian politics can be observed. The conference was organized by LGZHI, the Albanian partner of WECF in the project “Product and Chemical Safety in the Balkans - civil society cooperation on EU acquis and values for consumer and corporate responsibility“.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For two days, around 200 participants from civil society organizations, national authorities and agencies, universities, institutes, trade unions, business representatives, media and other stakeholders in Albania discussed product safety and lacking regulation in the Balkan region, more than 15 speakers from national authorities were presenting the situation in Albania. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The conference resulted in a joint statement of 23 civil society organizations demanding better control mechanisms for consumer products, especially toys. More information about the conference, the participants, the discussion and the recommendations: <a href="http://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=f1ef1a6a771cb2eb&page=self&resid=F1EF1A6A771CB2EB%21190&type=3&Bpub=SDX.Photos&Bsrc=Photomail&parid=F1EF1A6A771CB2EB%21162&authkey=j%21I6IUL%2a%21DM%24"><span style="orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Albania Conference Report</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-JrkyBHfmkWTY1tqcpIuKDNmLrTEYzDhxVyzUW4Ud1R_0eHhFJ1Gu3e8-mWMqBnfFctT4qKbmahyNkJVspgqwCHuhHZOjdd72Jh5_Fd-_11iv4TaJKm6gBeMYCCudslxxZcD-nzhn4Pl/s1600/petriti-017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-JrkyBHfmkWTY1tqcpIuKDNmLrTEYzDhxVyzUW4Ud1R_0eHhFJ1Gu3e8-mWMqBnfFctT4qKbmahyNkJVspgqwCHuhHZOjdd72Jh5_Fd-_11iv4TaJKm6gBeMYCCudslxxZcD-nzhn4Pl/s200/petriti-017.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The statement was brought to the attention of state authorities and national media and i</span><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">mmediately it showed some effect: For the first time Albanian CSI controlled toys on the market and many of them, including dolls, cars, plastic toys, were so dangerous for children that they took them off the market immediately. Now the CSI </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="SQ" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">sent an official letter to the </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Customs Authorities to have attention to the clearance of toys in Albania. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Also the <span class="apple-style-span">Ministry of Economy and Technical Centre Inspectorate took some measures according Recommendation 1: Continue to examine carefully input from stakeholders about potential improvements in toy safety, including suggestions for improved safety products in Albania. </span></span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">N</span></span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">ational m</span></span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">ass media covered the issue widely, including TV and <a href="http://www.gazetastart.com/lajme/Aktualitet/44691/" target="_blank">newspapers</a>. For t</span></span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">he publication link by media as about the JS Safe Product Toys in Albania, please click <a href="http://www.lgzhi.com/?p=221" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999;"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-49808873806646123722011-11-14T16:38:00.000+01:002011-11-14T16:38:49.046+01:00Testing confirms that toys sold on the EU market still contain chemicals of concern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFQPvdiAxM2QT5yXOXJqQzaX7PPw6VS_Zj5GsTzXTqHdF-bpBEUC2UbcmAAd5_2ku5lV9ClhtIu6WIdwI1wYjBkSFWrAcC82OEwLrt7SWR9XbPoHnMZVj_H2Mb_5t6NNrs_5RD0uUg1BW/s1600/Act_jouets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFQPvdiAxM2QT5yXOXJqQzaX7PPw6VS_Zj5GsTzXTqHdF-bpBEUC2UbcmAAd5_2ku5lV9ClhtIu6WIdwI1wYjBkSFWrAcC82OEwLrt7SWR9XbPoHnMZVj_H2Mb_5t6NNrs_5RD0uUg1BW/s200/Act_jouets.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>WECF releases results of tests made on 29 toys sold in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Even if not representative of the global toys market, the tests give information on some of the hazardous chemicals which can be found in toys placed on the EU market. The road towards healthy toys still seems to be long.<br />
To learn more, read WECF press release <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/press/releases/2011/11/toys_events_november.php" target="_blank">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-80402419638850934392011-11-10T10:50:00.002+01:002011-11-10T11:38:31.935+01:00Big toys test 2011<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
In 2011 again on time before Christmas, Stiftung Warentest, a German research institute for consumer products, took a closer look at toys that are recommended for children over 3 years. 40 toys including 18 theme sets, 11 plastic toys and 11 plastic dolls were tested for phthalate and organotin compounds. The online test results, including PDF download in German, can be found <a href="http://www.test.de/themen/kinder-familie/test/Sicherheit-von-Spielzeug-Jedes-sechste-Spielzeug-mangelhaft-4294118-4294120/">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-84236588699690584932011-10-31T13:57:00.001+01:002011-11-16T16:28:39.672+01:00WECF France and WECF the Netherlands organise Toys Events in November<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzufE2PCTwZjAFo_fQ88bHIi80aLhTKvT-2BuZoKHikpSTizCrX-1CMIn97hvRDPEaPCofSY5GZlPfhqSd4fe-FO4KywQQqcF2LXBUDXAeuhKcOGmYPnzcE4Rq7NuunIdgKuM1I_mvttb/s1600/toxictoys-pressrelease.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzufE2PCTwZjAFo_fQ88bHIi80aLhTKvT-2BuZoKHikpSTizCrX-1CMIn97hvRDPEaPCofSY5GZlPfhqSd4fe-FO4KywQQqcF2LXBUDXAeuhKcOGmYPnzcE4Rq7NuunIdgKuM1I_mvttb/s200/toxictoys-pressrelease.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>A toys testing action on 16th November in Paris</b><br />
Toys should not contain chemicals of concern that can be harmful to children’s health. To investigate the presence of brominated flame retardants, formaldehyde, benzene and other chemicals of concern in toys, WECF France organizes a toys testing action on November 16th in Paris.<br />
Parents, children and all people willing to participate are invited to bring their toys and have them tested. Raising concerns about electromagnetic fields in toys will also be addressed. The event is organized with the support of Quad-Lab laboratory. <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/calendar/2011/toystest-paris.php">Read more</a><br />
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<b>The First Dutch Ever Toys Convention on November 10 in Utrecht</b><br />
The convention will be an informative and interactive afternoon attended by (concerned) parents, toy manufacturers, retailers, politicians, childcare workers, etc. In short, stakeholders, just like you.<br />
Speakers and audience will collectively prepare questions and statements which national and European parliamentarians can take with them. During the convention everyone is invited to bring their toys and have them tested. <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/calendar/2011/toys-convention.php">Read more</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-25358216033559414492011-10-31T12:38:00.001+01:002011-10-31T13:39:52.077+01:00EECCA NGO Appeal on toys safety<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5zNDCOBI2jVV_f8kZERybJ3tb4B9gyR_0Oect8GAbe4W4B1VOhcwUOG03hwQC90xLoJAWzt8hML598zbjUlIQLDYU_uKUqtoy30Zv8elPZ-EnuJcwb8fLg5Z1XkNSZLnAqxc7rKWzAHE/s1600/2008_munich_toys_85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5zNDCOBI2jVV_f8kZERybJ3tb4B9gyR_0Oect8GAbe4W4B1VOhcwUOG03hwQC90xLoJAWzt8hML598zbjUlIQLDYU_uKUqtoy30Zv8elPZ-EnuJcwb8fLg5Z1XkNSZLnAqxc7rKWzAHE/s1600/2008_munich_toys_85.jpg" /></a>After the discussion between the NGOs and EU presidency on key issues of the Environment for Europe process on 23 September 2011 in Astana, EECCA NGO made an appeal to national governments of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia region with the request to ensure toxic free toys.<br />
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The appeal was signed by 211 organisations and 1500 individuals from all EECCA countries as well as from the South-East Asia, Mexico, Canada, the United States of America, and Germany. <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/articles/2011/10/eecca-ngo-appeal.php">Read more</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-84723359286589528442011-10-31T12:07:00.001+01:002011-10-31T12:15:25.940+01:00Seminar in Skopje "Journalists workshop for toy's safety"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQFskPsnyKaSBIxkbU30uPV3v5oJOlAMIrPwtZvcmaIx4m3Ozw_xYL7CySPRR815fsE27d2jLe7ndgmx-l4uSnqQivEJaK4qlIi-48z0leEs4-yj1ewtvfH_koDQVLK5r4DYzZwb9_52e/s1600/presentationbistra.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQFskPsnyKaSBIxkbU30uPV3v5oJOlAMIrPwtZvcmaIx4m3Ozw_xYL7CySPRR815fsE27d2jLe7ndgmx-l4uSnqQivEJaK4qlIi-48z0leEs4-yj1ewtvfH_koDQVLK5r4DYzZwb9_52e/s1600/presentationbistra.jpeg" /></a></div>Journalists for Children and Women Rights and Environmental Protection, a Macedonian NGO and partner of WECF, orgnised a seminar on toys safety on May 27 2011.<br />
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The Info Centre of the Delegation of the European Commission in Skopje was the location where participants and journalists from all types of media gathered. The seminar was organised as part of the “Product and Chemical Safety in the Balkans“ project. The event was visited by journalists and representatives of SAICM and national institutions from Macedonia, as well the partners of the project from Serbia- Resource Center Leskovac and the Albania-Women's movement for Integral Development. <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/articles/2011/06/seminar-toyssafety.php">Read more</a><br />
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For more information on toys safety please visit WECF website on <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/chemicals-health/">Chemicals & Health</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-88896809526862864742011-10-31T11:23:00.002+01:002011-10-31T11:37:06.991+01:00Lead levels in new enamel household paints from Asia, Africa and South AmericaIn 2006 a report on the analysis for lead in 80 new residential paints from four countries in Asia revealed high levels in three of the countries (China, India and Malaysia) and low levels in a fourth country (Singapore) where a lead in paint regulation was enforced. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19656507">Read more</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-5114944822577097822011-10-31T11:15:00.003+01:002011-10-31T11:36:45.981+01:00The lead content of currently available new residential paint in several Asian countriesWorldwide prohibitions on lead gasoline additives were a major international public health accomplishment, the results of which are still being documented in parts of the world. Although the need to remove lead from paints has been recognized for over a century, evidence reported in this article indicates that lead-based paints for household use, some containing more than 10% lead, are readily available for purchase in some of the largest countries in the world. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16782088">Read more</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-36299825639183232862011-09-20T10:06:00.000+02:002011-09-20T10:06:18.287+02:00Sweden finds banned phthalates in toys<br class="webkit-block-placeholder" /><div class="itemdate">26-Aug-2011</div><div>The Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemi) has tested a number of toys and found that some contained levels of phthalates in concentrations higher than those legally permitted.</div><div>According to Kemi, after an analysis of 22 inflatable toys for use in water such as bathing rings, mattresses and beach balls, it found that three of the products contained higher than acceptable levels of the phthalates DINP and DIDP. The agency said that the companies, which had supplied the three toys, had been informed of the results and must now stop selling the products.</div><div>Frida Ramström, technical officer in Kemi's enforcement division, said the companies contacted were all Swedish and that “all of the products were made in China”.</div><div>She added that the agency planned to analyse more toys this autumn to examine phthalate levels. “This time it will not be bathing toys, but soft plastic toys like dolls, Halloween masks and so on," she explained. "I cannot say when the results from this study will be finished, since we have not started yet, but hopefully before Christmas.” <a href="http://www.kemi.se/templates/News____6642.aspx">Read more</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-67629343422848002642011-07-27T11:03:00.000+02:002011-07-27T11:03:04.750+02:00Toxic fun<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">30 percent of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>toys gathered in different Philippine’s toys stores and tested by EcoWaste Coalition and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">were positive “for at least one toxic metal above levels of concern,” with 60 of them containing one of a group of dangerous chemicals that are known to be poisonous: antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead or mercury. <a href="http://opinion.inquirer.net/8503/toxic-fun">Read more</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-6923411782275231192011-05-17T15:01:00.000+02:002011-05-17T15:01:23.975+02:00Common Statement now available in Russian!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The common statement of the safe toys coalition is now available in Russian. Please have a look at the category <a href="http://www.safetoyscoalition.org/p/common-statement.html">"Common Statement".</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-18959283022482711622011-05-04T12:36:00.004+02:002011-05-17T13:50:22.756+02:00Heavy metals found in toys bought in Lagos, Nigeria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">High levels of heavy metals were found in toys bought in Lagos, Nigeria. 51 Toys bought in different cities in Nigeria were examined. Lead, Cadmium, Nickel and Chromium were found in all the tested toys in varying concentrations. <br />
<a href="http://www.academicjournals.org/JECE/PDF/pdf2010/October/Omolaoye%20et%20al.pdf">The full legnths paper can be downloaded here. </a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-31885851215403270042011-03-23T17:02:00.004+01:002011-03-23T17:34:45.795+01:00Cadmium in in children's jewlery: high exposure when mothed or swallowed!Scientists revealed very concerning findings in a study, published in the peer-review journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Children who mouth or swallow cadmium containing jewelerymay be exposed to as much as 100 times the recommended maximum exposure limit to this toxic metal. The study revealed that damaged pieces leached in some cases up to 30 times more Cadmium than undamaged ones. The researchers found results, which indicate that the longer a cadmium containing piece stays in the child´s stomach, the more of the toxic metal leaches.<br />
Cadmium can cause kidney, bone, lung and liver disease.<br />
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Read the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110305100326.htm">article on Science Daily</a> and <a href="http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1003011">the abstract on ehp</a>. Download the <a href="http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=3B4625D32C7B64555134ADCFC1DBEF1F?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1003011&representation=PDF">original study from ehp here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-45324237087447030492011-03-23T15:53:00.003+01:002011-03-23T15:58:37.136+01:00High levels of Phtalates found in childcare dustA studie conducted by the German NGO BUND has revealed that in dust, collected in German childcare institutions, high levels of the phatalates DINP and DEHP were found. <a href="http://www.bund.net/bundnet/themen_und_projekte/chemie/zukunft_ohne_gift/">Here you can read more in German about the study.</a> The European Union classifies DEHP officially as toxic to the reproductive system, DINP is not yet classified. The levels of these softeners were on average thrice as high as as those found in German households in a survey conducted by the German federal environment agency (UBA).<br />
Softeners in toys are allready banned, but still allowed in other products.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-63948675160166397772011-02-17T13:42:00.001+01:002011-02-17T13:55:37.419+01:00How to choose toxic free toys - handy guides in several languagesWECF has put together essential information in small guides. There are tips for everyday life consumer decisions when buying toys for children. The guide is available in several languages, such as Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Dutch or Macedonia. The newest translation is in Estonian. <a href="http://wecf.eu/english/publications/2009/publications-toysguide.php">You can find them on the WECF website.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-55226156660701897732011-02-17T10:39:00.002+01:002011-02-17T10:47:02.339+01:0065.000 reasons for better chemicals!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBMB-w9t4rScLNQn_adbpxIko0BYhklu09nzAKB30fC9W91P-kpP9BNuDdgeZ24-pL-jRpnZZHtSn4Amhd-eFBmP892zI8bo-8ttqBMzyRKHN6_iPaLfaM3Z_EevQxT4J-G7zmumHKW4/s1600/Denmark_pub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBMB-w9t4rScLNQn_adbpxIko0BYhklu09nzAKB30fC9W91P-kpP9BNuDdgeZ24-pL-jRpnZZHtSn4Amhd-eFBmP892zI8bo-8ttqBMzyRKHN6_iPaLfaM3Z_EevQxT4J-G7zmumHKW4/s200/Denmark_pub.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Children are exposed to a cocktail of chemicals every day; from the indoor climate, from the food they eat, and from the products they use. This leaflet from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency gives eight adivces on how to deal in your every day life with the knowledge about endocrine disruptors and children. <a href="http://images.netdoktor.com/dk/Emnecenter%20om%20Kemi/65.000_english.pdf">It can be downloaded here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-31945723737333375472011-02-17T09:54:00.004+01:002011-02-17T10:22:43.837+01:00Toxic chemicals in toys - new articelThe articel <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es1009407">"Toxic chemicals in toys and Childern's Products: Limitations of current Responses and Recommendations for Government and Industry"</a> by Monica Becker, Sally Edwards and Rachel Massey was published in the environmental science and technology feature.<br />How are governments, industry and NGOs reacting to the fact that toxic chemicals are found in toys and other childerns products? What could one of them do to tackle this thread?<br />These are some of the questions the authors try to answer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058948967143232484.post-54236190522674465722011-02-17T09:52:00.003+01:002011-02-17T10:52:10.464+01:00Toys in Vietnam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j405qTaiFJ0E-1Fap-VgzWuZT1_kze3fPpP1OuXo_1cBH_Vh6ouxCN9tplgGXrlS_Y_6bocXKM8gQdC03i5BUrfvdOgNepWpXOacjrvAt1kYCsMYSnb9RINzbbvuB7126AyoAdf3ZPk/s1600/Vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j405qTaiFJ0E-1Fap-VgzWuZT1_kze3fPpP1OuXo_1cBH_Vh6ouxCN9tplgGXrlS_Y_6bocXKM8gQdC03i5BUrfvdOgNepWpXOacjrvAt1kYCsMYSnb9RINzbbvuB7126AyoAdf3ZPk/s200/Vietnam.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>The interest in the toxic toys issue keeps me busy - even in my holidays. In Vietnam I read about the fact, that 85 % of toys are smuggeled from China. No way to judge the safety of the toys for parents - and not even for authorities. Therefore the Vietnamese authorities created a system of "safety stamps" which have to be applied to every toy before selling. See article below.<br />
Hope that the enforcement works, so...<br />
Here you see a toys store in the old city centre of Hanoi.<br />
Sonja Haider<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF86263ryyL3IR1IuGJ-0AfGWusIXuTeksxEOM3yYpICMTXh4fYUP6ihVR6YKBUS0FdOCJSQGsxD51yjY2nLPm2K2WF-3paawlIeEZpfL9oZmjXJs-XgjFlMZgJILCrBoPr4jsg2vB4E8/s1600/stamp_article.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF86263ryyL3IR1IuGJ-0AfGWusIXuTeksxEOM3yYpICMTXh4fYUP6ihVR6YKBUS0FdOCJSQGsxD51yjY2nLPm2K2WF-3paawlIeEZpfL9oZmjXJs-XgjFlMZgJILCrBoPr4jsg2vB4E8/s320/stamp_article.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1