Photo courtesy of Pxhere
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A significant number of toys that lack the required product labeling information are being sold in several stores here, a consumer group said on Monday, October 16.
“We have bought assorted toys from various retail outlets in Davao City to check on their compliance with the required labeling information,” said Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.
Proper product labeling information is essential because it will guide consumers to pick the right toy products for children that will not pose any risks on their safety and health, Dizon said.
Dizon’s Ecowaste Coalition bought 71 toy samples from various retail stores in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, formerly known as Uyanguren Street, last September 22 to 24. The price of the toys ranges from P15 to P265 each.
Of the 71 toy samples, Dizon said only three were found to be compliant with the mandatory toy labeling information required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency that oversees the product notification scheme for toy and childcare articles (TCCAs)
Based on FDA Circular 2014-023, duly notified TCCAs should contain the following product labeling information: license to operate (LTO) number, age grade, cautionary statements/ warnings, instructional literature, item/model/stock keeping unit (SKU) number, and manufacturer’s marking, including the complete name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
The consumer group also found that five of the toy samples indicated valid LTO numbers on the labels after it went a verification process. Also, 18 were found to contain lead, a toxic chemical that can have serious effects for the health of children, above the regulatory limit of 90 parts per million (ppm).
Improperly labeled toys should not be offered for sale in the market if only Republic Act 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013, is enforced, the EcoWaste Coalition said.
Under the said law, toy products “not in compliance with the requirements of this Act shall be considered a misbranded or banned hazardous substance… and withdrawn from the market.” (Mart Sambalud / davaotoday.com)
