The Malta Standards Authority has not received any reports of Chinese-made toxic children's jewellery that is being investigated in the US.

Various foreign media reported that a carcinogenic metal had been found in children's charm bracelets and pendants being sold throughout the US. AFP news agency reported that US department store Wal-Mart and accessories' chain Claire's had removed the Chinese-manufactured children's jewellery from their shelves.

The items were withdrawn following reports that some bracelets and pendants, found in their establishments, contained the toxic metal cadmium that has been shown to cause lung cancer.

Carmen Mifsud, a representative of Claire's Maltese franchise, said they had been advised not to remove any products from their shops since the toxic jewellery had been limited to the US.

She said their UK distributors had informed them that the UK Quality Control Department had confirmed this issue only affected products exported to the US.

"The products you receive in Malta are dispatched from the UK distribution centre which has not been affected. If there are any updates on this matter, and we believe that European stores will need to remove products from the shop floor, we will keep you informed," the UK distributors told Ms Mifsud in an e-mail.

Michael Cassar, head of the standards authority's market surveillance directorate, confirmed the authority had not received any reports of toxic jewellery found in Malta. "There were none in Malta and, as far as we can ascertain, neither in member states in Europe. We are in contact with our peers in Europe as well as the EU Commission for any such notification," Mr Cassar said.