Toys coming to Kosovo from China endanger children's health

Last year Kosovo has imported about 2 million pounds of toys, or about 8m euros. According to Customs data, this figure is approximately the same each year. So in the last 10 years, Kosovo has imported about 80m euros, or 20 million pounds of toys, which have mainly been imported from China.

Over the years, the state continues to have no control over their quality. Officials of the Ministry of Commerce confirm this.

Drita Zogaj, a physician at the National Institute of Public Health, says the situation is alarming.

The moment no single toy is controlled, and they are constantly in contact with children, knowing the composition of toys, knowing how to separate toys, at least because they are able to damage children's health, primarily in some ways”, Zogaj said on public television.

Zogaj points out that there are certain toys that, if not produced by standards, cause hearing, development in children and other diseases.

“We have noisy toys, most of those noisy toys children play with, have over 80 decibels the noise that could be damaged. These plastic toys usually consist of polyvinir chloride, is a plastic substance that is added to fitlates so that this plastic can be tamed becomes a little more flexible in order to form different toys. Fitalates, if used in greater amount, are harmful. Fitalets according to research include hormones, so the main effect is hormonal filtration, which means that there may be increased and developing consequences, there may be other consequences for the reproductive system, both girls and boys, but it can also lead to” cancer, Zogaj noted.

The danger is even greater in how much toys in the country, second - handed and even more dangerous, can be bought.

The only control given to toys that children from the first few months of their life have been in touch with, is done by Customs at the border, and only in the reform papers.
“There is no other obligation than to look at the cards of the reform and whether it agrees with the declaration that was made in the unique customs document, while testing toys as in a chemical way, as in physical terms this is not the competence of Customs”, Customs spokesperson told the Adriatic Stavileci.

Trade Minister Bajram Hasani acknowledges there is no control of toys. He also suspects their quality. He emphasises that these days have begun an action to control their quality, but samples will be taken only in Dogan, not at retail stations, which can take another 2 months.

This is an initiative that was not taken so far. We have defined, principledly 20 samples, the goal is to stop in Dogan because it is easier to control”, Hasani said.

The minister says they have decided to take 20 samples of different types of toys to send abroad for analysis.

We have many doubts, it's not by chance taken, unfortunately that we don't have labs in these neighboring countries, maybe it can take time for analysis, but we've taken all the important measures to remove the suspicion, and I was saying I'd like that this isn't going to happen that we're thinking we're having information but I'm pretty sure these sisters have to negatively come back to us, he stressed.

The lack of laboratory for analysis in the country does not stand, according to doctor Drita Zogaj. The National Institute of Public Health, she says, can run these tests for many metals found in toys but says there is no competence.

“not just of toys, but of all plastic devices. Fitalas are both ingredients of medical equipment and various foods ambalas, meaning all of these are possible to be worked in the Institute, but the delegations of competencies are missing”, Zogaj claimed.

Concern about the quality of toys adds to the fact that several years ago, Kosovo Customs has sent some samples for analysis to Italy and out of standards.

We have been working with Italian Customs a few years ago, where we sent some samples and tested them in their labs that they are very specific samples that should be the issue of children's toys. At the time, a portion of them have resulted negative, meaning they have not met the conditions of entering the Kosovo market”, observed Bahri Berisha, director of Customs.

Dr. Zogaj says that any suspicion that children are playing cancer toys can stay. It appeals to buy toys that have labels that, if not false, confirm their quality.

There is actually a standard on which to use toys, and that is the international standard S. SE N7, and it has a CE sign. Let it be information to buy toys with this sign if they have it, which guarantees that toys have gone through an arrangement to contain”, she appealed.

Public Health Institute doctor points out that if the focus should be on the future of the country, then it is a priority to control the quality of toys they play before it is too late to deal with serious consequences.