News Archive

On March 14, 2026, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) called on the Malaysia government to ensure that all play and craft sand products sold in the country were free from asbestos, an acknowledged carcinogen. The author of the open letter Mohideen Abdul Kader, the President of CAP, reported recent product recalls and market withdrawals in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom of play and craft sand products after laboratory tests had found asbestos contamination. “Unsafe products,” he concluded “threaten lives and undermine fundamental consumer rights, and children should never face preventable risks from toys or craft materials that are assumed to be safe.” See: LETTER | Addressing asbestos risks in children's play and craft sand products.

Asbestos Contamination of Toys and Playsets

Mar 18, 2026

The article cited below, which was uploaded to an Indian news portal on March 8, 2026, took as its point of departure a commentary published on the website of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) – this website! The text highlighted growing concerns in multiple countries of the hazard posed by discoveries of asbestos contamination of children’s toys and play sets. As there was no author’s name on the article, it seems likely it was written by AI. Nevertheless, it appears to be a fairly accurate summation of the IBAS March 5, 2026 article: Global Challenges, National Responses. See: Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps.

MCCAA Urgent Toy Recall

Mar 18, 2026

Last week, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) issued a public warning after finding asbestos contamination in seven toys and children’s play sets sold in Malta which contained kinetic or decorative sand. The items recalled were made by HTI Toys, Addo Play Ltd. and Orb Toys, and included products sold in the Stretcherz range of toys, Out to Impress sand and candle making sets, and the Orb Funkee set of rubber animal figures. End users were urged “to immediately halt usage” and return the recalled items to the retailers. See: Consumer authority recalls kinetic sand toys due to asbestos contamination.

Asbestos Convictions!

Mar 18, 2026

On March 6, 2026 two Midlands companies – Sohan Group Limited and Maize Metals Limited – and site manager Ali Raza Baig were found guilty of asbestos infringements by breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court. The charges related to work undertaken at a Staffordshire demolition site in September 2023. The companies were collectively fined £88,300 with costs of £9,017.65. Baig was sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years; he received a three-month curfew order and was disqualified from being a director for five years. He was ordered to pay costs of £5,899. See: Two companies and site manager prosecuted following large-scale asbestos disturbance.

Victory on Shikoku Island

Mar 18, 2026

On March 13, 2026, the Takamatsu District Court of Japan ordered three building material manufacturers to pay a total of 24.81 million yen (US $155,775) to the families of three construction workers who died of cancer contracted following workplace asbestos exposures. At a press conference after the ruling, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers said: “This is the first ruling in Shikoku to recognize the responsibility of building material manufacturers, and therefore it is of great significance.” See: アスベスト訴訟　建材メーカー3社の責任を認めて総額2481万円の賠償命令　高松地裁 [Asbestos lawsuit: Takamatsu District Court recognizes the responsibility of three building material manufacturers and orders them to pay a total of 24.81 million yen in compensation].

Asbestos on the Underground

Mar 18, 2026

The link below is to a thoughtful and provocative commentary on the plight faced by injured workers trying to obtain compensation for occupational asbestos exposures suffered whilst employed by Transport for London (TfL) – the “statutory transport authority responsible for London's public transport network and main roads.” Whilst the case discussed related to the unacceptable experiences of John Smith, whose claim was dismissed out of hand, across the network there were hazardous close encounters on a daily basis. Between 2002 and 2024, TfL has paid out £7,034,813.25 in compensation and legal fees for asbestos claims. See: Transport for London denies Station Manager’s asbestos exposure.

EU Asbestos Recalls

Mar 16, 2026

On March 5, 2026, the Safety Gate Alert system of the European Union (EU) reported the mandatory recall of products containing colored play sand that may “contain” asbestos. The Moxy painting sets featured characters from well-known children’s cartoons including: Peppa Pig, Stitch and Paw Patrol. All the items were exported from China and many were sold via online platforms including bol.com – “the leading online marketplace and retailer in the Netherlands and Belgium.” The tests reported by the EU regulatory agency showed that “The play sand contains asbestos fibres (measured value up to 2% by weight). Asbestos could cause cancer.” See: Alert number: SR/00665/26 - Sand Art Activity Toy.

New Asbestos Recall of Toys

Mar 16, 2026

Certain ranges of toys that were sold in Australia between August 26, 2025 and February 11, 2026 were recalled from end-users by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on March 6, 2026 as tests showed that: “tremolite asbestos has been detected in some samples…” The toxic rubber figures were marketed across Australia by HTI Toys HK Limited under the Stretcherz brand name and included figures from the Stretch Squad XXL and Slammerz range of stretchy toys. HTI Toys HK Limited is a Hong Kong-based subsidiary of the UK-based HTI Group. Consumers were advised to return the products to the retailers. See: Stretcherz Stretch Squad XXL and Slammerz – stretchy toys.

Asbestos Pipes in Calgary?

Mar 16, 2026

According to data from the City of Calgary, Canada, there are still 67 kilometers of asbestos-cement (AC) pipes being used in the municipal water delivery system. The article cited below featured information provided by Julian Branch – a Regina-based board member of the NGO: Prevent Cancer Now – who summarized the health issues posed by the ingestion of water delivered via pipes made of a carcinogenic mineral. Journalist D.R. Barrios concluded his text by asking a series of cogent questions: “Where are the AC pipes located? Does Calgary test for asbestos fibres during water breakages in areas with [AC pipes] or downstream from AC pipe? Finally, what is the long-term replacement plan for AC pipes, and when can we expect it?” See: Does Calgary have asbestos in its water supply?

Recall of Toxic Toys!

Mar 16, 2026

On March 6, 2026, the UK’s Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a recall for ORB Funkee Sand Toys (2603-0062) because “the product presents a risk to health as the sand included in the set may be contaminated with a quantity of asbestos.” The toys were sold between July 2025 and February 2026 through retail outlets such as the Entertainer, Tesco, Matalan, Hobbycraft and British Garden Centres stores as well as via websites. The OPSS reported that the products had been withdrawn from the market and recalled from end users. See: Product Recall: ORB Funkee Sand Toys (2603-0062).

Confusion Surrounding NVWA Policy

Mar 16, 2026

Not so long ago the The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) said that it could not take action on asbestos contamination of children’s toys based on tests carried out by private laboratories. Now it is demanding that all tests undertaken on these products in the Netherlands be shared with the NVWA. Attempting to clarify the confusion, a NVWA spokesperson said “the data from other labs is now being requested (or, if necessary, requisitioned) to make the picture ‘as complete as possible’.” See: Onderzoeken naar asbest in speelzand opgeëist door de NVWA [Research into asbestos in play sand requested by the NVWA].

Asbestos Legacy at Libby

Mar 16, 2026

An Open Access document by Professor and Scientific Consultant Jean Pfau and Tracy McNew, Executive Director of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease clinic, which was uploaded on March 5, 2026 asked some incisive questions about the reasoning behind the federal government’s plans to delist Libby, Montana from the list of contaminated Superfund sites. “Shouldn’t we make sure,” the authors asked “before these areas lose precious protections and resources due to delisting” that people can safely live in Libby without fear of future toxic exposures? See: The Libby Asbestos Superfund Site: Safe or not?

Calls for Action on Asbestos Toys

Mar 13, 2026

The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is under increasing pressure from civil society groups and campaigners who are demanding the implementation of safety protocols which test, certify and label play and craft sand products as asbestos-free. The calls for the FDA to “take timely and decisive regulatory action” came in the aftermath of disturbing discoveries made regarding asbestos contamination of children’s goods sold in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. See: Civil Society Presses FDA to Assure Consumers that Play and Craft Sand Products Sold Locally are Asbestos-Free.

Ministry Recall Notification

Mar 13, 2026

On March 9, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a notice stating that some products sold by the Silverback company – children’s playsets – had been recalled voluntarily after results showed that they contained more than 0.1% asbestos. Customers were advised not to dispose of the recalled items in the garbage but to call the seller and arrange for them to collect them. Until then, these items should be stored in tightly sealed, plastic bags. See: 石綿（アスベスト）含有品の販売に関する注意喚起について [Warning regarding the sale of products containing asbestos].

Funeral Delayed

Mar 13, 2026

The March 6, 2026 parish church farewell to 80-year-old Pier Luigi Piacentino was cancelled on an order from the Ivrea Public Prosecutor's Office. The deceased was a Turin pensioner who had been employed at the Honeywell-Bull industrial plant in Caluso. As there is a suspicion that his death had been caused by mesothelioma, an autopsy was ordered and the funeral postponed. See: Funerali sospesi, l’ombra dell’amianto sulla morte di un pensionato di Caluso [Funeral suspended, the shadow of asbestos on the death of pensioner from Caluso].

Asbestos in Schools

Mar 13, 2026

The problems posed by asbestos-containing material still present in Manchester schools was the focus of the article cited below. According to asbestos victims’ campaigner Rob Rayner, younger people are now contracting asbestos cancer in greater numbers due to childhood exposures at school. Three hundred and four of Greater Manchester’s 379 (80%) local authority maintained schools still contain asbestos. Expressing her concerns, Shelley Asquith from the Trade Union Congress said: “We are told asbestos can be ‘safe’ if it's left undisturbed, but there's a particular risk with schools where everyday activities of children cause wear and tear.” See: The silent killer hidden in our schools.

Paying the Price for Toxic Toys!

Mar 13, 2026

One hundred and twenty-seven schools applied to New Zealand’s Ministry of Education for financial assistance with clean-up costs for the remediation of pollution caused by the use of asbestos-contaminated sand products. The end of February was the deadline for the receipt of applications for the one-off lump sum grants. Some schools have spent thousands of dollars on decontamination work. According to the ministry the grants were for schools whose insurance companies would not cover these costs. See: More than 100 schools apply for help covering cost of asbestos sand clean-up.

Toxic Toys!

Mar 13, 2026

The news circulated on February 28, 2026 by the Oxford Mail came as no surprise: Amazon and eBay recalled yet another toy due to possible asbestos contamination. The suspect product this time was a Sand Art Activity Kit sold under the Colour Day brand. According to the Office for Product Safety and Standards this playset presented a “risk to health.” Customers were advised to “contact the distributor you purchased it from for a full refund and dispose of the product in your general household waste.” See: Amazon and eBay recall toy due to asbestos contamination.

Recall of Toxic Rubber Dolls

Mar 11, 2026

On February 26, 2026, German authorities from the Consumer Agency announced the withdrawal of another set of products from the market “due to possible traces of asbestos in toys filled with sand.” The products recalled – which were stretchable rubber dolls – were sold nationwide by retailers under the trade name “Pufferz.” Consumers were warned that due to the potential health risk to children they should stop using the toys immediately and return them to the point of sale. See: Germany recalls sand filled children’s toys suspected of containing asbestos.

Tackling Asbestos Fraud

Mar 11, 2026

UK stakeholders announced last month that initiatives had been mounted to tackle the existence of incompetent and unqualified asbestos surveyors and the widespread fraud perpetrated by them. The statement below by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) detailed their collaboration with the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), the Royal Society for Public Health, trading standards services and the Daily Mail newspaper to “bring fraudulent asbestos surveyors to justice.” See: Action to Tackle Fraudulent Asbestos Surveyors Defrauding Householders and Businesses and Threatening Health.

Government U-Turn

Mar 11, 2026

On February 26, 2026, the French authorities announced the official suspension of the sale of all sand-based toys after several recalls had been issued due to the presence of asbestos contamination. The affected products included colored play sand for creative activities as well as modelling sand also known as “magic sand.” The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) recommended “precautionary measures to professionals and parents with regard to health risks.” See: Amiante dans des jouets à base de sable: les autorités appellent à suspendre leur vente en France [Asbestos in sand-based toys: the authorities call for their sale to be suspended in France].

One Nation’s Asbestos Legacy

Mar 11, 2026

The timely LinkedIn post by Environmental Consultant Ahmad Shendi cited below reviewed the wide-ranging nature of the challenges New Zealanders faced in dealing with asbestos issues. Far from being “just” a historic problem Shendi explained, significant challenges remained such as the presence of asbestos-containing material throughout the country’s infrastructure, the environmental pollution caused by illegal dumping of toxic debris and the asbestos contamination of products being sold throughout the country. See: Out of Sight, Out of Mind? The New Frontier of Asbestos in Aotearoa.

Victory for the Asbestos Bereaved

Mar 11, 2026

Last month, Rome’s Appeal Court ordered the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to pay compensation to the children of Marshal Leopoldo Di Vico, who had served in the Italian army from 1978 to 2013 as a mechanic and maintainer of armored vehicles. As a result of routine occupational asbestos exposures, he died in 2015 after a long illness. The children Giuseppe and Mario were each awarded a lump sum of €100,000 (US$115,640) and a lifetime monthly allowance of €800 (US$925). See: Amianto nell'esercito: indennizzo da 100mila euro ciascuno per i figli di un maresciallo [Asbestos in the army: compensation of 100 thousand euros each for the children of a marshal].

No More Asbestos in Schools!

Mar 11, 2026

It was announced on February 26, 2026 by the Jeonbuk Office of Education, South Korea that 100% of asbestos-containing material had been removed from school buildings in Jeonbuk. As a result, all of city’s public kindergartens and schools were asbestos-free. Work began in 2014 with an asbestos survey of all 897 schools by the Jeonbuk Office of Education; the asbestos map produced revealed a total of 1,653,681 square meters of contaminated material. According to Kim Jong-ki, head of the facilities department: “The complete removal of asbestos, a carcinogen, has created conditions for students’ right to health to be greatly improved…” See: 전북교육청, 학교 석면 '제로' 선언 [Jeonbuk Office of Education declares ‘zero’ asbestos in schools].

Recall after Asbestos Discovery

Mar 9, 2026

Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued an alert on February 25, 2026 after a toy sold under the My Living brand name was found to be contaminated with tremolite asbestos. My Living World Worm World Kit, had been available at retail outlets and from online platforms including Amazon. According to the CCPC: “The product may present a health risk …” The supplier – Scientific Laboratory Supplies Limited (SLS Ltd) – issued a voluntary nationwide recall of the product. See: Urgent recall after asbestos found in children's toy sold across Ireland.