OPSS Guidance on Assurance of Asbestos-Free Sand Containing Toys

OPSS have updated businesses’ following their investigations, concluding that final product testing is not sufficient to confirm products are asbestos free – read the letter regarding retail sent to the BRC here, and the letter regarding online marketplaces here.

Read the full guidance from OPSS here. 

Key Points for Retail:

• Responsibility for product safety rests with the business placing the product on the market. No product should be placed on the market if its safety cannot be assured. 
• Businesses should not supply any sand-containing toys where it cannot be assured that the products are asbestos-free. 
• Product Testing: Testing is still seen as an important step but due to the nature of asbestos contamination and limitations for sampling mean testing alone cannot provide assurance products are asbestos-free.
• Supply Chain Assurance: The risk of asbestos contamination must be controlled throughout the product supply chain. This may include: obtaining assurance from suppliers, understanding origin of raw materials, maintaining quality controls during manufacturing and processing and using product testing as part of broader assurance approach. OPSS have also suggested use of PAS 7050. 
• Evidence: Businesses should obtain appropriate documentation demonstrating steps to assure themselves that products are asbestos-free throughout the supply chain with presentation of technical documentation to regulators on request.
• Market Surveillance: OPSS will continue market surveillance and compliance activity to assess whether businesses are meeting their legal obligations.