Another recall due to high levels of lead
Kids' pencils made in China recalled due to high lead levels in coatingOTTAWA (CP) – Another children's product made in China has been added to the growing list of recalls over concerns about lead, making it the fourth such recall in less than one month. Health Canada has recalled Favor Set children's pencils because the coating contains high amounts of lead, just two days after another children's product was recalled due to similar concerns. Amscan Canada is voluntarily recalling 140,000 units of all 16 models of the pencils. The company and Health Canada advise that Favor Set pencils purchased since January should immediately be taken away from children. There is no risk of lead exposure from holding a pencil with a coating that contains lead, only from sucking or chewing on a pencil. Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries from use of these pencils. Several other children's toys made in China have been recalled recently because of high amounts of lead – including 27,000 crayon and paint sets recalled by Toys “R” Us Inc. just two days ago. Imaginarium Wooden Coloring Cases were recalled because the packaging of the wooden box contains lead, as does some of the watercolour paint. On Aug. 17, Toys “R” Us said it was removing all vinyl baby bibs from its Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores as a precaution, after two bibs made in China for one supplier showed lead levels that exceeded the company's standards. Just three days earlier, on Aug. 14, toy giant Mattel recalled 32,800 “Sarge” character die-cast vehicles from the “CARS” line in Canada, sold from May to August 2007, because of excessive amounts of lead in the paint. Under the Hazardous Products Act, pencils with more than 600 mg/kg of lead in the applied coating are prohibited from being sold, imported or advertised in Canada. Health Canada is developing a “lead risk reduction strategy” to control lead levels in consumer products to which children may be exposed. It proposes to regulate, under the Hazardous Products Act, the lead content of such products. The Favor Set pencil models sold since January 2007 included in this recall are: -Prehistoric Party Favor Set -Keep on Truckin Favor Set -Championship Baseball Favor Set -Championship Soccer Favor Set -Championship Basketball Favor Set -Championship Football Favor Set -Camouflage Favor Set -Pirate Party Favor Set -Hearts & Flowers Favor Set -Unicorn Magic Favor Set -Frogs & Lizards Favor Set -Princess Favor Set -Shimmering Butterfly Favor Set -Underwater Friends Favor Set -Safari Party Favor Set -Glitzy Girl Favor Set |