Warnings have been issued over a fidget advent calendar that is alleged to contains high levels of a dangerous chemical.
The advent calendars are being sold on Facebook Marketplace here in Milton Keynes.
The calendars, which were first found being sold in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, do not identify the manufacturer or who imported it.
Trading standards say that testing of the toys inside the advent calendar showed excessive amounts of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a chemical used during the manufacturing process to soften plastic.
This chemical can harm the health of children, causing possible damage to their reproductive system.
Our Trading Standards team is advising parents not to give a fidget toy advent calendar to children because of safety concerns over the toys inside. Tests show they contain high levels of a chemical which can harm children's health. https://t.co/iuJCv5O9NG pic.twitter.com/EZRq2gmWcZ
— NorthLanCouncil (@nlcpeople) November 25, 2021
Councillor Michael McPake, North Lanarkshire Council’s Environment and Transportation Committee convener said: “The lack of manufacturer and importer details on this calendar raised concern with our trading standards team, and testing of the product highlighted significant safety concerns.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our officers, we are taking action to remove these calendars from sale and I would ask the public to share this information with anyone who might have bought one of these calendars."
Parents are being told to check that toy products are CE or UKCA marked AND have an address of the UK importer or manufacturer.
The UK address holder has legal responsibility for the safety of the product.
