Urgent meetings to be held
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer said he was taking the matter “seriously” and acknowledged the concerns of parents and caregivers.
“I am meeting with officials today to work through this new research and what it means for the steps we are taking to keep New Zealanders safe,” Brewer said.
Since the issue was identified in November last year, he said the Government has taken a proactive approach.
“MBIE has been actively engaging with suppliers, securing recalls of affected products, and putting clear guidance in front of consumers and businesses.”
Globally, at least 16 countries have issued 135 recalls or warnings about toys and craft kits made with sand that officials suspected contained asbestos.
So far in New Zealand, Brewer said 24 recall notices have been issued. The study said 20 different brands have been recalled.
A study in Auckland confirmed “airborne asbestos fibres” could be released from samples of children’s play sand. Photo / 123RF
The minister said businesses were responsible for the safety of the products they sold.
“I expect them to act quickly when a risk is identified. Every supplier MBIE has engaged with has moved to recall affected products, which is exactly what should happen,” Brewer said.
Importing asbestos-containing products is already prohibited in New Zealand unless authorised by a permit from the Environmental Protection Authority.
“New Zealanders should be able to trust that the products they buy are safe for them and their families, and this Government will keep working to make sure that is the case,” he said.
National MP Cameron Brewer. Photo / Jamie Ensor
‘Panic and worry’ for parents
AUT research lead, Associate Professor Terri-Ann Berry, told RNZ the “awful lot of panic” worried her.
“Look, there’s no safe level of exposure to asbestos – on the positive side, being exposed does not mean that you’re necessarily going to develop an asbestos-related illness.
“It doesn’t quite work like that, but of course, finding no fibres is a much nicer place to be,” Berry said.
She told RNZ that she understood the discovery would be confronting for parents.
“We’ve gone from something that was just a potential to something that’s now realised in that we know those fibres can get into the air from play.”