The Hindu : Are toys safe?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 02, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Are toys safe?

By K. Kannan

NEW DELHI, APRIL 1 .Parents beware! Playing with toys is not a child's game anymore. The scant regard for the quality of manufacturing material with an equally woeful disdain for safety standards has resulted in the growing incidences of allergies, stomach disorders and choking among children, says a study carried out by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), a premier consumer rights organisation.

Though the Bureau of Indian Standards has clearly formulated the standards relating to toy safety in terms of their physical form and toxicity, most of the manufacturers are either not following the safety norms or are completely oblivious of the same. One of the main reasons behind this laxity resulting in compromising the child safety is that the BIS norms are not mandatory for the manufacturers unless they are exporting the toys, says the study.

"These double standards on toy safety with no attention being paid to the safety of Indian children are indeed unfortunate and this anomaly should be corrected by the government at the earliest," it argues. "We found that choking was a common hazard among children and many incidents have been recorded of babies choking on parts like small balls, marbles or of loose toy parts getting into their noses."

While parents quoted in the study complained of how merchandisers usually overlooked the sharp edges of some toys, it also pointed out that noise- producing toys with sound exceeding the recommended decibel limits are impeding the learning abilities of children and causing serious hearing disorders.

The research found how the blatant use of low-quality fibres and materials in manufacturing of toys was causing stomach disorders, allergies and other related ailments in kids who have a tendency to suck toys. The use of PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride), a type of plastic used in making soft toys, is common despite the toxicity hazard it poses. Its use can result in learning disabilities and nervous system disorders and has been banned by most of the developing countries.

"Carcinogenic colours are used to give a bright look to the toys but there is every chance of the paint peeling off and the child swallowing it which may lead to disastrous consequences," argued the CUTS study adding: "Apart from some reputed manufacturers, others do not use food-grade colouring material for toys meant for kids."

CUTS would soon come out with recommendations for consideration of the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs to push forward the cause of toy safety and to ensure that BIS-specified standards are made mandatory for all toys whether to be exported or not.

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