13/AUG/2015

About 22,259,374 million products recalled are those which involve infants and children.
 
The Malaysian Association of Standards Users subscribes to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission alerts. We compiled products recalled from the market from 13th September 2007 till 28th November 2008.

About 22,259,374 million products recalled are those which involve infants and children. There were 7,007,869 million products recalled which are used by consumers in general. The total number of products recalled is 29,267,243 million. . The products recalled were manufactured in 21 different countries. Most of the products recalled were manufactured in China, followed by the United States and there was one product manufactured in Malaysia.

Among the children product recalled there were 168 reports of injuries and 10 deaths. As for general consumer products there were 148 injuries and 1 death.

Standards Users and the Department of Standards Malaysia have pursued the implementation of the toy safety regulation by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs since 2002. We hear that regulation will be implemented by March 2009. Albeit this is an achievement in terms of child safety in Malaysia, we must take note that there are still many children products which do not carry marks to indicate that they are safe. These products include cribs, baby car seats, baby harness, prams and walkers.

Lack of data on the injuries or hospitalization due to the products mentioned above and the cause of injuries (negligence or unsafe products), thus can not be verified. The products mentioned above are also available at day care centers and nurseries. We must ensure that day care centres and nurseries or kindergardens have a safe environment for children.

We hope that the Ministry of Domestic Trade does not sit on implementing one regulation too long when there are still many products out there which may pose danger to young consumers in Malaysia.

We urge consumers / parents and day care center owners / managers to report any injuries caused by the use of children products to us (or the National Consumer Complaints Centre) in order for us to justify the need for new safety standards or mandatory standards to improve protection of young consumers.

Datuk Marimuthu Nadason
President