By Chito Chavez The environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition warned that some Halloween toys may be harmful if used without adult supervision. The group expressed alarm after buying cheap Halloween toys from vendors in Divisoria, Manila most of which have not passed through quality and safety verification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “There is no assurance that all toys being sold in the market are safe for our children to play with,” lamented Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. “Some of these toys might be putting vulnerable kids in harm’s way,” he said. Dizon warned that some toys may pose chemical, choking, fire, and laceration hazards, and even blunt force trauma. “Parents should only pick safe notified or registered toys for their children and supervise them as they play to prevent any untoward incident,” Dizon noted. For this year’s Halloween celebration, the group bought 35 assorted toys, including scary headbands and masks, imitation weapons, creepy hammers, and "blood-stained" accessories like “blood saw in head,” “terrorist necklace” and “horror blood and fangs.” Notified or registered toys should bear the following labeling information: license to operate (LTO) number, age grade, cautionary statements/ warnings, instructional literature, item/ model/ stock keeping unit (SKU) number, and manufacturer’s marking, including the complete name and address of the manufacturer or distributor. None of the 35 samples provided complete labeling information as required by the FDA. EcoWaste considers the matter a serious concern because it deprives consumers the right to know. “Compliance to the labeling requirements is essential as this will equip consumers with vital information on which to make their decision to buy a product or not. In fact, toy manufacturers should also disclose the chemicals present on a product and their effects, particularly to children’s health,” Dizon said. Only eight of the samples have the License to Operate (LTO) number on their labels. In most cases, the information on LTO stickers was hardly readable. “It seems they do not want the public to be informed,” observed Dizon, saying that “a good magnifying glass is needed to enable consumer to read the extremely fine print.” While 20 samples provided various hazard warnings, the warning symbols and statements were ineffective because they were too small to be noticed, the group observed. Out of the 35 samples, the EcoWaste Coalition selected potentially hazardous toys and described the hazards such toys posed, especially to young children. A sampling: A plastic imitation weapon measuring 35 inches in length with a massive blade-like part that may cause blunt force trauma. Toy axes and swords with sharp edges that can cause abrasions and cuts. Devil headbands and light-up toys containing button batteries that a small child may swallow, causing damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Costume masks adorned with fake hair that can easily catch fire, but provide no fire hazard warning. Vampire-inspired accessories with matching “cosmetic blood” the content of which is a mystery due to zero labeling information. Accessories and toys with varying levels of lead content, including a skull headband with 1,265 parts per million (ppm) of lead, way above the allowable 90 ppm regulatory limit. As the toy shopping season peaks, EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the need for concerted action involving the government, business and consumer sectors to uphold the right of all children to quality and safe toys. It advised consumers to observe the following tips to avoid unsafe Halloween toys: 1. Carefully read the product label and refrain from buying unlabeled and unregistered toys. 2. Choose toys that are suited to a child's age, ability and behavior. 3. Watch out for toys that may cause injury or pose burn, chemical, choking, laceration, strangulation and other safety hazards. 4. Shun toys that have small parts such as button batteries and magnets that can be pulled off and get swallowed by a child. 5. Steer clear of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic toys that may contain banned phthalates and other hazardous substances such as cadmium and lead. 6. Refrain from picking toys that have a strong chemical or perfumed smell. 7. Avoid painted toys unless labeled as certified lead-safe. Avoid face paints unless guaranteed free of toxic metals and other cosmetic contaminants.