CAP urges asbestos checks on play, craft sand products

2026-03-14 - 04:04

Products such as mouldable sensory sands, often labelled as kinetic or ‘magic’ sand, sand art kits, and beach play sets remain popular in Malaysia, sold widely in retail shops and online market places. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA: The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the government to ensure that all play and craft sand products in the market are free of asbestos, following product recalls and removals in several countries. CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said recent product recalls and removals in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom were made after laboratory tests of play and sand craft products detected traces of asbestos, particularly tremolite. “Since sand-based play and craft products have been highlighted to contain asbestos, the authorities should test these products to ensure they are free from asbestos. “This is because young children, the primary users, are most vulnerable to its harmful effects,” he said in a statement. He said that products such as mouldable sensory sands, often labelled as kinetic or “magic” sand, sand art kits, and beach play sets remain popular in Malaysia, sold widely in retail shops and online market places. “The continued availability and use of these products in Malaysia highlights a concerning gap in local consumer safety enforcement,” he said, adding that the issue must be taken seriously. Asbestos is officially classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means it is a known cause of cancer in humans. There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos. “The health risks to children are compounded by developmental vulnerability and frequent hand-to-mouth behaviours, increasing the likelihood of ingestion or inhalation, particularly for young children,” Mohideen said. He advised those who have purchased such play sand products to stop using them immediately. “As prescribed by regulators in countries that have recalled the products, if the sand is still in its packaging, place it in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely, label it clearly and store in a secure location out of the reach of children,” he said. He added that if the sand has been used, the sites where the product was used must be cleaned with wet cloths to avoid generating dust. “Wear gloves and a mask (when handling the product). Keep children and other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the area has been cleaned,” he said.