Hong Kong must act swiftly to regulate toxic agents in children's' toys
Parents are familiar with the threat that toys with excessive heavy-metal levels can pose to their children, thanks to the vigilance of consumer and environmental watchdogs and action by governments to secure compliance with safety standards.
Parents are familiar with the threat that toys with excessive heavy-metal levels can pose to their children, thanks to the vigilance of consumer and environmental watchdogs and action by governments to secure compliance with safety standards. However, tests carried out by the Hong Kong Consumer Council show the ubiquitous presence of plastic in children's toys can conceal toxic agents, which are used to soften the material, in excess of European and American benchmarks that are not properly regulated in Hong Kong or mainland China.
The council has warned parents not to let children put toys in their mouths after it found that 16 out of 27 items which were tested contained phthalates at concentrations up to 300 times US and EU limits. Hong Kong itself has no standards for children's products, according to a Customs and Excise Department spokeswoman.
Phthalates are widely added to toys to make them more child-friendly by rendering plastic softer, more flexible and more durable. In excessive concentrations, the agent found in Hong Kong can cause kidney and liver damage. Six of 16 types of phthalate are subject to restrictions abroad because of their allegedly adverse effects on immune and reproductive systems.
Mainland authorities have targeted phthalates before in the use of plasticisers to flavour food, after a public outcry forced a review of regulations. However, not only does Hong Kong have no controls or regulations on the use of plasticisers in toys, but the mainland has only applied to their paint the US and EU cap of 0.1 per cent in all children's toys.
The Consumer Council said the toxicity levels found in the Hong Kong tests would not pose a direct threat to adults, but young children could be at risk because of a tendency to chew or suck on toys.
It is good news, therefore, that lawmakers are considering amending the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance to control the level of phthalates in toys. Hopefully the result of the Consumer Council tests will add a sense of urgency.