PLAY and craft sand products sold in the Philippines should be free from asbestos, which is a carcinogen that has no safe level of exposure. Over 50 health and environmental groups urgently appealed to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take a “timely and decisive” regulatory action to ensure public safety in this area amid the arrival of the summer months.
The anti-toxics group EcoWaste Coalition on March 10 initiated the appeal for “mandatory testing, certification and labeling of asbestos-free play and craft sand products.” It noted recent recalls in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, after tests confirmed several products contained asbestos, despite being marketed as safe for children.
“These incidents underscore a critical regulatory gap: products of a similar type and supply chains may already be present in the Philippine market without routine verification of asbestos safety,” the group said. According to the World Health Organization, asbestos is one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern.
The letter, sent to the FDA on Monday, was signed by several academic, environmental, health, science and technology, labor and waste sectors including the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health-Center for Research and Innovation, Action for Nurturing Children and Environment, Arugaan, Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy, Greenpeace, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, Living Laudato Si Movement, Mother Earth Foundation and the Philippine Earth Justice Center.
“The Philippines has already established a strong policy position against asbestos in consumer products. At this critical juncture, decisive regulatory enforcement and transparency measures are needed to translate policy into effective protection, especially for children and other at-risk members of society,” the letter said.
“We stand ready to support the FDA in advancing this initiative, including through stakeholder engagement and public awareness efforts. We respectfully seek your urgent consideration of the above recommendations to ensure that no child in the Philippines is exposed to preventable risks from contaminated play products,” it added.
The FDA was urged to implement the following steps: mandatory third-party laboratory certification confirming that all play and craft sand products are asbestos-free before market authorization; clear, visible and standardized “asbestos-free” labeling on all product packaging to support informed consumer choice; and strengthened post-market surveillance and enforcement, including targeted sampling of products sold through physical stores, e-commerce platforms and social media channels.
