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Some Toys are a Threat to Children's Health

By Sabina Babayeva | February 1, 2008

Some toys have a label "made in China," but that is often all a consumer can learn about their quality.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - More than half of the toys being sold in Azerbaijan are made in China and most of these toys pose a threat to children’s health, according to the state-run Sanitary Quarantine Inspection Office. Officials at the inspection office say it’s impossible for them to inspect all of the toys being brought into Azerbaijan that are made in China, Russia and Iran. These three countries produce most of the toys sold in this country. The officials say some of these toys arriving in Azerbaijan are banned from many other countries because they are dangerous.

Based on the resolution # 343 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, one sample of toys must be submitted to Sanitary Quarantine Inspection before being imported into the country. However, 70% of products are supplied to the market without any examination”, stresses chief of Sanitary Quarantine Inspection, Jafar Ahmadov.

According to Jafar Ahmadov, in order to submit a product for laboratory examination, a person bringing over those products must have a contract and a certificate of origin from the manufacturer. After the durability of color, hair fixation and odor of the product are checked it undergoes a toxicological examination. During the examinations it was revealed that some products contained dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, styrene and high bromation, lead and cadmium.

According to Chief Pediatrician of the Republic, Nasib Guliyev, these toxins harm the central nervous system, kidneys and liver. Toxic influence causes irritation and injury of mucous membrane.

Experts advise that consumers be cautious about toys that have no certificates of origin and quality.

The Chief of Sanitary Quarantine Inspection, Jafar Ahmadov notes that instances of intoxication from Chinese made toys haven’t been registered yet. “We have received no specific complaints in relation to Chinese made toys. Doctors confuse the signs of toxic poisoning with allergy. Chinese toys are not indicated as causes of illness. You need to be an expert to determine, for instance, that lead caused toxic poisoning. In toxicology departments they usually diagnose “poisoning” or “allergy” and then the patient goes home.”

The chairman of the Free Consumer Association, Eyyub Huseynov says that toys imported from abroad must undergo an examination at the customs house before entering the country. “Products which have no certificates must not pass the border,” he said. However, Ahmadov, with the inspection office, said that toys from China, Russia and Iran often don’t have certificates and they still get into the country.

Our efforts to ask the State Customs Committee about controls over the importation of toys manufactured in China and other countries, proved futile. In repeated attempts to contact the Customs Committee, we could not reach Natig Akhundov, the head of the press service, nor any other officials willing to discuss the matter.

The majority of toys in the half dozen stores we visited in the Yasamal district of Baku had labels indicating they were manufactured in China.

58 years old Shukufa Aliyeva says that she is wary of touching Chinese made products. “I buy only Russian made toys for my grandchildren” she says.

Another Baku resident, Hijran Zeynalova buys Chinese made products even though she knows they are harmful. “I know about the harm. But what can I do, I don’t have the funds to buy a more expensive one, therefore I buy a cheaper toy. The child wants a toy, you have to buy it.”

This smiley clown could become either the best friend or a danger for your child.

Baku resident, Akif Mammadov says he doesn’t know what to pay attention to while buying a toy for his child.

Jafar Ahmadov, chief of Sanitary Quarantine Inspection says that for the time being a way out of the situation would be to pay attention to packaging, name of the manufacturer, manufacturing country and most importantly ask for the hygienic certificate.

However, not every store presents a hygienic certificate. “I am a warranty card and a certificate” – this is how a salesperson answered our request to present a hygienic certificate at his shop located next to Inshaatchilar subway station”. “Those who say that there is a need for paper are mistaken. I am both a certificate and a salesperson,” he added.

A salesperson at a different shop recommended the following for those who want to buy toys. “Those who are afraid of risk of intoxication shouldn’t buy toys.” “You live in Azerbaijan, why you behave unusually?! These toys are harmful for children not for you, why are you concerned?” this is how he responded when we asked him about a certificate.

The situation was slightly different at a shop located inside the Elmlar Akademiyasi subway station. When we asked for a certificate from a salesperson he showed us a certificate of origin of a Russian made toy. However, when we made an inquiry about a hygienic certificate, he said that his toys did not need any warranty and all of them were good.

According to the information given by the State Oversight Service over Consumer Markets under the Ministry of Economic Development, irregularities in the sale of toys from China were observed during monitoring conducted at 29 trading points in late 2007. The irregularities had to with invoices, attaching documents and prices and consumer specifications. Abbas Aýiyevç the spokesperson at the Ministry of Economic Development said the shops where the irregularities were observed were fined and the toys were confiscated and destroyed. He said the shop owners were warned that documentation must include origin information, potential risks to children, user guides and the product must contain a label in the Azerbaijani language stating that it meets all safety standards.

Some Toys are a Threat to Children's Health

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