THE ECOWASTE Coalition on Monday asked consumers to be cautious about buying toys without proper labels as the holiday season approaches.
The group issued the statement after doing “test buys” near elementary schools and public markets.
EcoWaste Coalition bought 105 toys worth P5 to P35 each from candy and toy shops, mom and pop stores, sidewalk vendors and other stores in cities such as Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Navotas, Quezon, San Juan and Valenzuela.
None of the toys had a valid certificate of product notification, meaning they were not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and were thus unsafe.
“Our monitoring shows that cheap but poorly labeled, low quality toys are offered for sale in the vicinity of schools and in public markets,” EcoWaste National Coordinator Aileen Lucero said. “Parents are advised to guide and assist their children in choosing toys that are appropriate for their age and are safe to play with.” — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave