RIYADH, 3 May 2003 — The Ministry of Health has cautioned against certain toys sold locally which are proving harmful for children, while health experts have called for a ban on the sale of some soft PVC toys intended to ease teething difficulties in children under three years.
The soft PVC toys contain harmful chemical substances known as phthalates, which are released when babies suck toys like teething rings, dummies and rattles, the MOH said in a statement.
It said parents should be careful when buying toys for their children locally. The ministry in cooperation with other government agencies is taking steps to monitor the market and to supervise the dumping of toys, especially from the Far East, which pose a health risk for children.
Dr. Ibrahim Mansour, a medical expert, said that phthalates have been shown to cause liver, kidney and testicular damage.
The Gulf states including the Kingdom have been importing millions of dollars’ worth of such toys. Saudi Arabia is one of the largest markets for such toys in the Arab world. The six Gulf states — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait — have been importing toys from several European and Asian countries including Taiwan, China and South Korea.
Some of the toys are already barred because they were found to be hazardous.
According to another expert, some toys sold in the Gulf markets release dangerous quantities of phthalates, used by the toy industry to soften PVC, when sucked or chewed over extended periods by teething babies.
A report released by the European Commission said that eight EU countries including Austria, Denmark, Finland, France and Germany have already moved to restrict the use of phthalates in toys. In addition to emergency measures, the Commission said that it would take longer-term action to ban the use of phthalates in teething toys on a permanent basis. This move would also include a provision forcing toy makers in the EU countries to carry labels warning that products contain phthalates even if the items are not intended to be put in children’s mouths. The Commission said that as a matter of precaution, parents and caretakers should be advised not to allow their babies to suck or chew such items for extended periods.
