Tuesday, 2nd December 2008 - 10:44CET

Sale of type of playmats banned

The Market Surveillance Directorate of the Malta Standards Authority has ordered a ban on the sale of Soft Eva puzzle playmats (models DS96550 and DS96600F) because they pose a risk of choking.

The playmats, made in Hong Kong, are used by children, especially under 36 months of age. They consist of multi-coloured foam tiles which fit together to form a mat.

“The product poses a risk of choking because of the presence of small parts which form a puzzle and which fit entirely in the small parts cylinder,” the directorate said.

“The product does not comply with the Toys Directive and with the relevant European standard EN 71,” the directorate said.

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Comments

Tanja Cilia (on 4/12/08)

I wonder what will happen to the mats laid down on floors in playschools and kindergartens, bought out of school budgets. Perhaps we can just use the tiles that have no tiny bits - for instance, the 1 and 3, not 8 and B, and picture tiles without small inserts. I would worry more about that fact that, in a damp environment, or if washed and not dried properly, these tiles can develp mould at the bottom, undetectable until the smell makes it so, by which time it would already have been a health hazard.

V Farrugia (on 2/12/08)

I'm 31, I have played in the streets, played with my mother's kitchen utensils and with my father's tools, ok, I banged a finger with a hammer once too often, and my knees were always bloodied from the latest scrape, but no serious harm ever came to us. Are we mollycoddling our kids too much?!

Jo.Galea (on 2/12/08)

It seems that many of you still know nothing regarding toy safety standards.
It is not acceptable to buy a toy which is not safe and mend it with glue to make it safe.
You just cannot play with safety.
Just take a look at the following links for some info & examples of how safety standards work and for product recalls regarding toy manufacturing.
And those of you who suggested using glue, will then surely think otherwise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_safety

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/recalls/2008/01/play_mats_withdrawn_for_lead_p.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/vnr/asfroot/simplicity1.asx

P.S. Always be cautious when using chinese products.

Joe Borg (on 2/12/08)

i admit i don't have children, but i do know how unpredictable they are and i also do know that they tend to put anything in their mouth..

ok, you've used non toxic glue, but i didn't like you suggesting the use of glue as not everyone can be as prudent as you..

V Farrugia (on 2/12/08)

Joe Borg,

White PVA glue is non toxic, in fact it is used in schools, by teachers during crafts lessons. Then again, do you check children's shoes (among other things), that the glue used is non-toxic?! I don't think so yet, you still let them wear shoes, no?

Joseph Pace (on 2/12/08)

@ Joe Borg - for crying out loud, V Farrugia put glue on a MAT not on his child's sandwiches. Can you imagine how a mat can be digested by a child? my common sense tells me that children do not eat mats...mine don't at least. Are there any statistics which indicate that children are more likely to hurt themselves with mats, unless its some bizarre freak accident? My common sense also tells me that someone somewhere either needs to justify his position, or else has vested interest. I had some of these mats when mine were little and I still think that you cannot hurt yourself with them if you tried.

Tony Cassar (on 2/12/08)

@ Francis Farrugia

So that means that before "recently", there was no one to take care that such rubbish - not compliant with the relative European safety standards - does not reach the market.

And we joined the EU 4 years ago!

Joe Borg (on 2/12/08)

VFarrugia.. very bright idea to use glue - a toxic material - on an infant's toy.. luckly nothing happened to your daughter... but yeah, common sense is not that common true true..

V Farrugia (on 2/12/08)

Dear D Galea, you can just glue the small bits in place. I did that when my daughter was little, and that was 10 years ago. But of course, common sense is not so common after all.

Joseph Pace (on 2/12/08)

can someone please enlighten me as how you can choke on a mat? Can't you just remove the really small bits if there are any? If you think about it you can choke on anything, even on sweets, so do we consume everything in liquid or powder form?...I'm sorry I don't get it.

D.Galea (on 2/12/08)

And what about those parents who have bought these products already!? Sue the department!? It's common knowledge these products have been around for ages, so do these children deserve less protection then others!?

Francis Farrugia (on 2/12/08)

The Malta Standards Authority only recently has taken over the responsibility for market surveillance and is presently following a program of accessing the safety of toys present on the market considering the approach of the festive season.

mario mifsud (on 2/12/08)

I had such mats for my children because they are fun to play with and are a very good substitute for hard flooring in summer. I just removed the small parts which were dangerous. No need to ban the whole product all that was necessary was to make a mandatory notice stating the danger imposed by the small parts and an advice to remove them

Tony Cassar (on 2/12/08)

And about time that someone realised too!

These have been around since my son was born 5 years ago!!!!

Thank god that parents are watchful enough to realise that some toys are dangerous without needing to be "warned" by the authorities.

Sale of type of playmats banned

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