DOH: Buy only ‘safe’ toys

MANILA, Philippines — People should buy only toys considered “safe” to be given as Christmas presents to children, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

The DOH came out with criteria for buying toys that would not bring harm to recipients.

“First, it should be suitable to the physical and mental capacity as well as social development of the child receiving the gift,” the DOH said in a social media post.

The toy should be durable and toxic-free, the DOH added.

“It should also have a certificate of conformity, or it should have been registered with the Food and Drug Administration,” the DOH said.

Environnmental groups share the DOH’s warning that toys may contain toxic substances such as lead and phthalates that are harmful to children.

While lead is a naturally occuring element, it can be toxic to humans and animals, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Phthalates, often called plasticizers, can leach out from materials that contain them and be absorbed by the body.