Group warns vs ‘toxic Christmas shopping’

AN environmental watchdog warned consumers to be diligent in shopping for holiday gifts to prevent children’s exposure to unsafe toys proliferating in the market.

The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-profit group promoting the right of consumers to chemical safety, appealed for consumer vigilance with the anticipated rise in toy sales as the Christmas shopping frenzy draws nearer.

EcoWaste Coalition coordinator Thony Dizon said not all toy products that make it to toy store shelves are child-friendly.

“If we are not careful with our purchasing choices, it is likely we will be giving away toys that are not safe for children to play with,” Dizon said.

Unsafe toys, he said, are playthings that can choke, cut, poke, strangulate, or expose young children to dangerous chemicals such as lead and mercury, and which can damage the brain and nervous system and cause serious developmental disorders.

“By being super diligent in demanding information about chemicals in products such as toys, we can make better choices and lessen children’s exposure to toxic chemicals that can badly affect their health and development,” he pointed out.

Dizon also said consumer vigilance can push toy companies to finally shape up and put the health interests of young consumers ahead of corporate gains.

“Consumer demand for safe toys will hopefully compel manufacturers to disclose the chemical ingredients of their products through understandable and truthful labeling,” he added.

Department of Health Administrative Order 32, Series of 2007, says all toy products in the market, whether imported or locally produced, should bear the following minimum information on the label or package:

The correct and registered trade or brand name, duly registered trademark, model or reference number, duly registered business name and address of the manufacturer and/or distributor, place, country and date of manufacture, license to operate or LTO number, warning and/or precautionary indications, instructions on toy’s usage, functions, features and assembly, and information on the specified age requirements.

Dizon said consumers should specifically look for the LTO number, which is an indicator that the product is duly registered and compliant with the health and safety requirements of the DoH and the Philippine National Standard for Safety of Toys.

“Since most toy labels would not reveal the chemical ingredients that make up a product, consumers could ask retailers to call the manufacturer, importer or distributor to get the essential information and refuse to buy the item if the requested information is kept confidential,” Dizon said.

To stir up public attention on the issue of toxic toys, the EcoWaste Coalition will conduct awareness raising activities in the weeks leading up to Christmas. –Macon Ramos-Araneta, Manila Standard Today