More than 30 children's toys have been recalled in the UK after play sand sold by Hobbycraft was found to be contaminated with asbestos. The products include candle-making kits, rubber toys, and craft 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 the UK. The affected toys are believed to contain sand from Chinese mines where asbestos fibers occur naturally and labeling rules are less rigorous.
In January, Hobbycraft withdrew its Giant Box of Craft kits after a customer alerted the company to asbestos traces in colored sand bottles. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) later issued an advisory note on reliable testing methods, leading to a surge in lab requests from stores and manufacturers.
Consumer group Which? criticized the safety checks, calling for OPSS to take action. Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy, said the number of recalls points to a serious failure and urged examination of online marketplaces where regulation is limited.
Campaigners also faulted the UK government for not acting after recalls in Australia and New Zealand in November. 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 called it 'staggering' that toys are sold with asbestos and announced new measures to strengthen consumer protection. Recalled items include Smyths toys, HTI Toys Stretcherz, and various sand art kits sold on eBay and Amazon.
