Consumers' FoundationA random inspection of 28 toys sold in stores and online revealed that 21% of them did not meet regulations. Two toys had plasticizer content exceeding the standard by more than 100 times, and one toy contained excessive lead, which may affect children's intellectual development. Chuang Su-chin, deputy director of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, pointed out that the manufacturers have been asked to remove all substandard products from the shelves.
In May of this year (2010), the Consumers' Foundation and the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection jointly inspected 28 toys from various channels including hypermarkets, toy stores, and online shopping malls. Six toys (21%) were found to be substandard, all of which originated from mainland China. Among them, the "Ocean Animal Piggy Bank" sold on Fubon MOMO Shopping Network and the "Korean Style Barbie Doll" sold at Toys "R" Us in Carrefour Neihu Store had plasticizer levels exceeding the standard by 117 times and 126 times, respectively.
Chuang Su-chin stated that the phthalates detected this time are a type of endocrine disruptor, a chemical substance that interferes with the endocrine system of living organisms. They may disrupt the balance and function of children's natural endocrine system, causing feminization in men and increasing the risk of breast cancer in women.
In addition, the investigation also found that the "Korean-style Barbie doll" with an excessively high plasticizer content also failed the heavy metal test. The lead content was 251 ppm, which does not meet the national standard of 90 ppm and exceeds it by more than 2.8 times, which may cause damage to children's nervous system.
In the physics test, four objects were found to be too small, posing a choking hazard if accidentally swallowed by children. Additionally, five items failed the "Chinese labeling" check, including the absence of importer's unified number, batch number, manufacturer's address, warning labels, and applicable age information.
Chuang Su-chin pointed out that she has asked businesses to remove all non-compliant products from shelves and give them a certain grace period. If no improvement is seen by then, they will be fined between NT$100,000 and NT$1,000,000 in accordance with the "Commodity Inspection Act".
It is noteworthy that toys with excessive levels of plasticizers bore national certification, raising questions about potential issues with government oversight. Chuang Su-chin explained that plasticizers were only included in mandatory testing on July 1, 2008, so the substandard products were likely detected earlier. She added that the government will continue to strengthen market sampling to protect consumer health.
The Consumers' Foundation emphasized that many of the non-compliant products found in this spot check came from well-known retailers and online shopping channels. Retailers should take responsibility for control and must require manufacturers to provide qualified inspection certificates before selling products. If retailers fail to fulfill their due diligence, they shall bear joint liability in accordance with Article 7 of the Consumer Protection Act.
Meanwhile, the Consumers' Foundation urges parents to pay attention to whether the product has detailed Chinese labels and to ensure it bears the "Product Safety Mark" before purchasing. Parents should also avoid allowing infants and young children to put toys or other items in their mouths or chew on them to prevent the ingestion of harmful substances such as plasticizers or heavy metals, which could endanger children's health.
–Source: Kayo News Network
