The Department of Health’s newly formed Toy Recall Task Force -set up by order of Governor Togiola Tulafono - has taken a step towards preventing unnecessary injuries and even death by printing photographs of the toys affected by the August 14 world wide Mattel/Fisher Price toy recall in the Samoa News.
Pictures of the recalled toys were featured in the September 7 & 10 editions of the Samoa News.
Task Force chairman Dr. Ivan Tuliau explained that the move was necessary because “local residents need a visual understanding of the items that need to be removed from their homes, for the sake of the young children.”
According to a DOH statement, “The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends to immediately remove these affected toys from children to prevent any medical ailments associated with the impermissible levels of lead content in the paints used with these products made in China, as well as toys affected by part two of the recall which is related to small magnets that can easily dislodged from the toys and swallowed by children, which can lead to medical problems necessitating surgical intervention.”
Since the initial recall was announced last year, one child has died and 19 have required surgical procedures in the United States after swallowing magnets off some toys listed in the recall.
Tuliau said that a third recall was announced Tuesday, Sept. 4, adding more toys to the list of affected toys with high lead content in the paints used in future developments regarding manufactured goods “Made in China” and to keep the public updated as they unfold.
The affected toys include popular Nickelodeon and Sesame Street characters like Dora the Explorer, Diego, Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster.
Toys being recalled for containing small ingestable magnets include Batman, Polly Pocket, Barbie, and Doggie Daycare.
In addition to raising awareness by circulating photos of the affected toys, the Task Force will also be holding future meetings where members and/or organizations from the private and business communities are invited to share their comments and concerns with the Task Force members.
“This is a problem with many various issues affecting all levels of government and levels of the public as well,” Tuliau wrote in a statement. “The DOH Task Force can use all the help it can get to face this worldwide dilemma for the protection of our children and community as a whole.”
Copies of the photographs will also be distributed to different local vendors, who will be given a deadline of when the listed toys are to be removed from their inventory. The Task Force members cannot remove the toys themselves as the current recall is voluntary, not mandatory.
Some of the toys affected by the recall have been located in the territory. Recalled toys can be sent back to the manufacturer in exchange for a monetary voucher that can range anywhere from $1 to $76, depending on the item.
Tuliau said the Task Force will continue to go full speed ahead to do what has to be done to promote awareness and prevent unnecessary injuries to the little ones.
According to the Governor, the Task Force is responsible for “collecting and examining samples of imports arriving directly into the territory from China, to determine the safety risks that such products will pose in the local community.”
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