Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
October 24, 2012 [Liberty Times reporter Lin Yizhang/Taipei report]
As Halloween approaches, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) recently conducted random inspections of 45 "costume toys" purchased from supermarkets and toy stores. Shockingly, 10 of these items were found to exceed the national standard limit of 0.1% for plasticizer content, accounting for 22% of the tested products. The most severe case exceeded the limit by over 420 times.
**45 Costume Toys Tested, 10 Exceed Plasticizer Limits**
Additionally, two items failed the "physical properties" inspection, as their small attached parts could pose a choking hazard to young children, while sharp edges might cause puncture or laceration injuries.
The BSMI conducted tests based on the national standard CNS 4797 "Toy Safety (General Requirements)," covering physical properties, flammability, heavy metal content, plasticizer levels, electric drive testing, and Chinese labeling. Aside from the aforementioned issues, 16 products also had non-compliant Chinese labeling.
Among the items with excessive plasticizer content, the worst offender was the "Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Gloves" (Model: 603170), imported by Shih Yu Enterprise from China's Hua Yuan Industrial and purchased at Xin Luodong Department Store's Luodong branch. Its plasticizer content reached 42.5%, exceeding the 0.1% national standard by over 420 times.
Xin Luodong Department Store stated that BSMI officials had already conducted a follow-up inspection, and the product has been removed from shelves and recalled. The importer, Shih Yu Enterprise, emphasized that the company always prioritizes product safety. Upon investigation, it was found that the company had not imported similar products for many years. The item in question was likely imported around 2003, before plasticizer content was included in national standards in 2007, and had remained in circulation.
BSMI Deputy Director Chuang Su-chin explained that plasticizers are environmental hormones that may disrupt children's endocrine systems. The BSMI has notified the violating businesses to recall and correct the products within a specified period under the "Commodity Inspection Act." Failure to comply may result in fines of up to NT$1 million. Chuang urged parents to prevent children from putting toys or other items in their mouths or chewing on them and to cultivate good hygiene habits, such as frequent handwashing. Additionally, parents should regularly check whether toy parts are securely assembled and whether small components are prone to detachment to prevent accidental ingestion.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E4……- 420% E5% 80% 8D- 203215406. html;_ylt=AmwW7ofkxOsO0GLOLl7fQIyVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTRqMzQwcDBuBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBMaWZlc3R5bGUgTUQEcGtnA2RhMjFkNzMxLTgzNDEtMzk4MS1iZjIyLWIzMjVmODJlMDNiZQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCTGlzdE1peGVkTFBDQVRlbXAEdmVyAzY2NjA2NjA4LTFkN2MtMTFlMi05ZmZiLTUzZTMwOGJmNmRiMA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3
China-made Halloween Toys Exceed Plastic Limits by 420 Times
As Halloween approaches, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) recently conducted random inspections of 45 "costume toys" purchased from supermarkets and toy stores. Shockingly, 10 of these items were found to exceed the national standard limit of 0.1% for plasticizer content, accounting for 22% of the tested products. The most severe case exceeded the limit by over 420 times.
**45 Costume Toys Tested, 10 Exceed Plasticizer Limits**
Additionally, two items failed the "physical properties" inspection, as their small attached parts could pose a choking hazard to young children, while sharp edges might cause puncture or laceration injuries.
The BSMI conducted tests based on the national standard CNS 4797 "Toy Safety (General Requirements)," covering physical properties, flammability, heavy metal content, plasticizer levels, electric drive testing, and Chinese labeling. Aside from the aforementioned issues, 16 products also had non-compliant Chinese labeling.
Among the items with excessive plasticizer content, the worst offender was the "Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Gloves" (Model: 603170), imported by Shih Yu Enterprise from China's Hua Yuan Industrial and purchased at Xin Luodong Department Store's Luodong branch. Its plasticizer content reached 42.5%, exceeding the 0.1% national standard by over 420 times.
Xin Luodong Department Store stated that BSMI officials had already conducted a follow-up inspection, and the product has been removed from shelves and recalled. The importer, Shih Yu Enterprise, emphasized that the company always prioritizes product safety. Upon investigation, it was found that the company had not imported similar products for many years. The item in question was likely imported around 2003, before plasticizer content was included in national standards in 2007, and had remained in circulation.
BSMI Deputy Director Chuang Su-chin explained that plasticizers are environmental hormones that may disrupt children's endocrine systems. The BSMI has notified the violating businesses to recall and correct the products within a specified period under the "Commodity Inspection Act." Failure to comply may result in fines of up to NT$1 million. Chuang urged parents to prevent children from putting toys or other items in their mouths or chewing on them and to cultivate good hygiene habits, such as frequent handwashing. Additionally, parents should regularly check whether toy parts are securely assembled and whether small components are prone to detachment to prevent accidental ingestion.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E4……- 420% E5% 80% 8D- 203215406. html;_ylt=AmwW7ofkxOsO0GLOLl7fQIyVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTRqMzQwcDBuBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBMaWZlc3R5bGUgTUQEcGtnA2RhMjFkNzMxLTgzNDEtMzk4MS1iZjIyLWIzMjVmODJlMDNiZQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCTGlzdE1peGVkTFBDQVRlbXAEdmVyAzY2NjA2NjA4LTFkN2MtMTFlMi05ZmZiLTUzZTMwOGJmNmRiMA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3