(Central News Agency reporter Yang Shumin, Taipei, March 26, 2012)

Parents often use bath toys to make children enjoy bathing, but the Consumers' Foundation today announced the results of a joint inspection with the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection in February. Out of 20 children's bath toys tested, 5 (25%) were found to exceed the plasticizer limit, with the highest exceeding the standard by about 380 times. These products will be required to be removed from shelves and corrected within a specified period.

The samples for this inspection by the Consumers' Foundation and the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection were randomly purchased from online platforms, toy retail stores, supermarkets, and department stores, totaling 20 "children's bath toys" for testing.

The Consumers' Foundation pointed out that according to the national standard CNS 4797 "Toy Safety (General Requirements)," the total weight ratio of six types of phthalate plasticizers—DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DNOP—and their mixtures in related products must not exceed 0.1%.

The test results showed that 5 products exceeded the limit, including:
- "Large Mother and Baby Duck" soft plastic body with DEHP content of 28.341%;
- "12-Piece Duck Set" soft plastic body with DBP content of 2.009% and DEHP content of 36.051%, and plastic transparent soft plug with DBP content of 0.015% and DEHP content of 0.284%;
- "Frog" soft plastic body with DINP content of 19.029%;
- "3-Piece Bath Duck Set" soft plastic body with DEHP content of 17.557%;
- "Disney Fishing Game Set" plastic sticker with DEHP content of 0.026% and DINP content of 6.245%.

The Consumers' Foundation further stated that according to the plasticizer content regulations in CNS 4797 "Toy Safety (General Requirements)," the plasticizer content in the "Large Mother and Baby Duck" body was about 283 times the standard, the "12-Piece Duck Set" body had the highest plasticizer content at about 381 times the standard, the "Frog" body was about 190 times the standard, the "3-Piece Bath Duck Set" body was about 176 times the standard, and the "Disney Fishing Game Set" plastic sticker was about 63 times the standard.

The Consumers' Foundation emphasized that "phthalate plasticizers" are a type of environmental hormone, a chemical that disrupts the endocrine system in organisms. They may interfere with and damage the balance and function of children's endocrine systems, leading to feminization in males and increasing the risk of breast cancer in females.

For toy products that fail to meet the national standards in quality inspections, the Consumers' Foundation stated that the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection has notified businesses to recall and correct the products within a specified period under Article 63-1 of the "Commodity Inspection Act." Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$1 million.

The Consumers' Foundation reminded parents that plastic bath toys may release plasticizers more easily when exposed to hot bathwater. Plasticizers can also enter the body through oils, so it is recommended that children wash thoroughly with soap immediately after contact. Especially after bathing, if using lotion-based skincare products, they should avoid further contact with bath toys.

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