More than 30 children's toys have been recalled in the UK after it was revealed that play sand sold by Hobbycraft was contaminated with asbestos. The products include candle-making kits, stretchy rubber toys, and sand art sets sold by retailers such as Tesco, Primark, Matalan, and M&S.
Asbestos, which can cause cancer if inhaled, is prohibited in any quantity in UK products. The affected toys are believed to contain sand from Chinese mines where asbestos fibres occur naturally and labelling rules are less strict.
The recalls follow a Guardian investigation in January that prompted Hobbycraft to withdraw its Giant Box of Craft kits. Since then, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued an advisory note on reliable testing, leading to a surge in lab requests from manufacturers.
Consumer group Which? called the recalls a serious safety failure. Head of consumer protection Sue Davies urged the OPSS to ensure proper checks and examine online marketplaces where regulation is limited. Traders have questioned common lab testing methods that failed to detect small asbestos quantities.
Campaigners criticised the UK government for not acting after earlier recalls in Australia and New Zealand. Post-Brexit laws have removed government powers to ban products without scientific evidence, placing the onus on exporters and retailers to test goods.
Product safety minister Kate Dearden said it is 'staggering' toys are sold with asbestos and promised new measures to strengthen consumer protection. The government stated it is up to companies to ensure goods are safe and act if hazardous.
