Soft Eva children's play mats were yesterday banned because they pose a risk of choking.

The Malta Standards Authority said it was banning the sale of Soft Eva play mats, models DS96550 and DS96600F.

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

The product poses a risk of choking because of the presence of small parts which form a puzzle and which fit entirely in a child's throat.

The product does not comply with the Toys Directive and with the relevant European standard, the regulator said.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.