No toying with safety of children

Dubai: The civic body is cracking down on the sale of unsafe toys to ensure children are not exposed to health and safety hazards during the summer holiday.

“It is our responsibility to keep only safe toys in shops and confiscate those that are hazardous to children. But it is important to note that we do not only carry out such inspections during the summer but throughout the rest of the year as well,” said Redha Salman, director of the Public Health Department at Dubai Municipality.

He confirmed that it is usually about this time of year that more toys are expected to be purchased as children enjoy their summer break from school.

In the last three months of 2012, nearly 50 types of toys were taken off store shelves because they either contained small parts that could be swallowed and cause asphyxiation, had accessible hazardous sharp points that could cause cuts, or flammable materials were used in the manufacture of the toy.

All the confiscated toys were manufactured in China, except for two that were made in Korea and Thailand.

Some of the hazardous toys included a children’s scooter that had sharp and pointed edges, rubber ducks that could be ingested, and a treasure chest with components made of glass.

Fireworks

He pointed out that parents should also be responsible when buying toys, and emphasised that toys containing small pieces such as Lego bricks, miniature kitchen utensils and beads must not be given to toddlers, while certain toys such as guns can make loud noises and can affect children’s hearing.

As part of the municipality’s year-long campaign in 2012, 511 types of fireworks were pulled from the market as they were flammable, in addition to 421 toys that violated the customs and traditions of the country. “We also carry out inspections and seize chemicals, cleaning products, cosmetic items and electrical appliances,” Salman said.