Toys Without MC May Cause Cancer

By Sakini Mohd Said KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) – That toy may look attractive, but beware! it could pose hidden dangers to your children. It could be a choking hazard and even cause cancer. Awareness on the safety of children’s toys in this country is still low. This can be seen with many consumers still buying toys based on how trendy, sophisticated or attractive they are. They see toys merely as harmless means of entertaining children. This is despite numerous media reports, particularly internationally, of children suffering from various accidents and health hazards caused by toys. They still hold this view even after massive toy recalls and confiscations such as the one in Victoria, Australia, before Christmas. It was reported that over 10,000 children’s toys have been recalled and confiscated and subsequently destroyed. A NEW DIMENSION Low awareness in Malaysia of the importance of toy safety may have to do with the belated implementation of the Safety Standards Regulations for Children’s Toys, which has been long implemented in developed nations. The regulation that was enforced on Aug 1, 2010, did leave some impression on Malaysians on the importance of toy safety. The regulation dictates that all toys manufactured locally or overseas must undergo an evaluation and testing processes before receiving the Malaysian Conformity (MC) mark. Through related regulations, toy manufacturers, importers and repackers need to observe guidelines to ensure the toys are safe for supply and distribution in Malaysia. In other words, all the companies involved in the supply and distribution of toys in Malaysia are obliged to follow the guidelines. The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperation and Consumerism (KPDNKK) have mobilised efforts to raise awareness on toy safety in Malaysia through various media. A recent Bernama survey found that the ministry’s campaigns, aimed at consumers, have been quite effective. An Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia staff, Nur Izza Osman, said it never crossed her mind that poorlymade toys could be hazardous for children. “I knew about the MC marking after watching a television advertisement on it. I previously bought toys based on how attractive it was rather than whether it had an MC mark,” she said. HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH Some chemicals used in the making of children’s toys can have a lasting effect on a child’s health. The problem is exacerbated with younger children, whose natural curiousity about the texture, feel and taste of things leads them to regularly suckle on toys. This exposes them to the risk of cancer, according to the University Malaya Medical Centre Head of the Pharmacy Department, Amrahi Buang. “For example, plumbum (better known as lead, which is used in paint to make colours bright) can enter a child’s body when they play and suckle on the toy, and accumulate over time. “Couple that with the kinds of food children eat as they are growing up, and the risk of cancer would have greatly increased for them.” Such chemicals also cause lung problems, nerve disorders, allergies and other health problems. OTHER DANGERS Toy safety also encompasses the choice of materials, form, size and sound coming from the toy. The Malaysian Association of Standards Users CEO Ratna Devi Nadarajan said it was important for parents to know the age level of a toy before purchasing it. This is because not all toys are suitable for their children’s age level, and thus could expose the children to risk of injuries, such as choking. Based on the 2011 research report Trouble in Toyland, by the U.S. Federation of State Public Interest Research Groups, choking on small toy parts has continued to be the main cause of fatalities and injuries among children. The study revealed that 200 children died of choking from 1990 to 2010. “Poor-quality toys (without the MC mark) such as teddy bears with loose fur coats and buttons that are poorly-sewn on can be hazardous to children, especially those of the age where they suckle and chew on toys. “What is more dangerous is buying a poorly-made electronic toy as it can potentially explode,” she said. PREVENT FROM BEING DUPED Although the Safety Standards Regulations for Children’s Toys has been in effect since Aug 1 2010, it was implemented in stages, as many industry players were still uninformed. Starting this year, however, action will be taken upon the production of toys without the MC lettering under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, said Rashinah Abdul Hamid, the Deputy Director-General for Policy and Consumerism Standards Division of KPDNKK. “The ministry has been discussing with the industry the need for an MC mark since 2008. But not all industry players are up to date with the news and some claim to not know about it at all. “So we decided to implement the ruling in stages so that it can be done fairly, without taking anyone by surprise. To date, we have checked 59,964 premises,” she said. Rashinah gave two useful tips to detect a fake MC mark. First, the letters MC should be either in black or white. Next, there should be a registration number inscribed under the MC logo, along with the addresses of the manufacturer, importer and repacker. Consumers should not simply assume that toys in the market are safe for children. Such a mentality is dangerous and needs to be changed for the sake of children’s health and safety. Children have yet to learn to become discerning consumers so it is up to the parents to ensure that they are protected from harm. -- BERNAMA