Toxic heavy metals found in children's products on the Chinese market

Feature Story - 2011-12-07

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. Read more

EcoWaste steps up drive vs toxic toys in Baclaran

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. Read more

32 of 50 Christmas gift items tested positive with toxic chemicals

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. “This is the outrageous truth that we have discovered after subjecting 50 product samples to chemical analysis,” said Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect. Read more

Des jouets toxiques dans la hotte du Père Noël

Des jouets toxiques dans la hotte du Père Noël

Albanian Voice Conference “International Cooperation in Hazardous Substances and Product Safety in the Balkans“ results in concrete action of Albanian authorities

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“.

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. 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: Albania Conference Report.

The statement was brought to the attention of state authorities and national media and immediately 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  sent an official letter to the Customs Authorities to have attention to the clearance of toys in Albania. Also the 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.

National mass media covered the issue widely, including TV and newspapers. For the publication link by media as about the JS Safe Product Toys in Albania, please click here.

Testing confirms that toys sold on the EU market still contain chemicals of concern

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.
To learn more, read WECF press release here.

Big toys test 2011

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 here.