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Your child may perhaps have to bid adieu to its favourite 'Made in China' toy. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Thursday conceded before the Bombay high court (HC) that the toys imported from China contained toxic material like lead and cadmium that can be hazardous to children's health.
The board, however, said it was up to the central government or the board of standards to take necessary action against the import of these toys.
A PIL filed by Consumer Welfare Association had raised the issue and urged the court to direct action to stop the sale of these toys. Counsel for the petitioner Rajeev Chavan submitted a report of investigation carried out by Toxic Links, an NGO in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai in August 2006, which said India has nearly 130 million children under six who are the prime users of toys.
Chief justice (CJ) Swantanter Kumar was, however, peeved by the MPSC passing the buck and "shirking responsibility". He questioned the MPCB counsel TM Jethani whether any industry in the state could function without the MPCB's consent. "Don't the children in Maharashtra deserve your sympathy," CJ Kumar asked.
Jethani told the court that nine samples of Chinese-make toys were tested by the MPCB in November 2007. As per the MBCP's test report, lead content of 0.1 mg/kg to 2.33 mg/kg were found in all of them. CJ Kumar said that taking into account the magnitude of the contentions made in the PIL, the authorities need to "wake up" to the cause of the health and safety of millions of children.
Chavan said the customs department had the power to stop the import of such toys. The court has directed additional solicitor general Rajendra Raghuvanshi to personally look into the matter and file an affidavit within two weeks.
