PRESS RELEASE BY THE MALTA COMPETITION AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS AUTHORITY

As part of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA)'s ongoing market surveillance activities to monitor the safety of products available on the Maltese market, the Authority would like to inform the public about the dangers associated with a Pufferz Puffer figure sand toy, with the following details.

Brand – Toi-Toys

Name – Pufferz Puffer figure sand toy – stretchable 33 cm 264 g, 6 ass

Type/number of model – 35886Z

Barcode – 8714627012316

This product is being recalled from the market due to the presence of asbestos in the sand inside the toy, which could be exposed to children if the toy ruptures. Exposure to asbestos is associated with significant long-term respiratory illnesses, and even minimal exposure may pose health risks. As a result, the Technical Regulations Division (TRD) of the MCCAA has taken the appropriate procedures to ensure that this product is removed from the local market with immediate effect.

Consumers who have bought the above-mentioned product should refrain from using it and, where possible, return it to the retailer from where it was purchased. Retailers are obliged to redress consumers.

Consumers are always reminded to check the Safety Gate platform before purchasing products, in order to verify whether a product they are about to purchase has been listed as dangerous: https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport.

For queries relating to the product being recalled kindly get in touch with the Market Surveillance Directorate on marketsurveillance@mccaa.org.mt.

For queries relating to the remedies available to consumers who have purchased the recalled product, kindly get in touch with the Office for Consumer Affairs on consumer.rights@mccaa.org.mt.