News Archive

On February 24, 2026 Product Safety New Zealand issued a recall for packets of Rangoli Colour [identifier number 645759210685] which had been sold at DH Supermarket Flatbush and DH Supermarket Papatoetoe in South Auckland from October 15 until December 12, 2025. The material had been supplied by Farm Fresh Produce Limited. According to the official website, the government recall was taken due to suspected asbestos contamination. Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form which uses brightly colored sand-like powder, such as the material recalled, to create intricate Hindu patterns. See: Rangoli Colour – sold at DH Supermarkets.

Asbestos Contamination in Supply Chain

Mar 4, 2026

A February 21, 2026 article on a Chinese news portal detailed the current turmoil in The Netherlands caused by discoveries of the sale of asbestos-contaminated children’s products from multiple retailers. The article featured news of the recall of own-brand products as well as pictures of recalled items sold by the iconic Dutch department store HEMA. However, the author omitted any mention of the fact that the recalled goods had been made in China. See:【荷兰】现石棉，越来越多荷兰商店召回儿童沙 [[Netherlands] Asbestos discovered, more and more Dutch stores recall children's sand].

Asbestos Hazard to Retail Staff

Mar 4, 2026

As more and more children’s products were recalled in the Netherlands due to asbestos contamination, experts raised the alarm over the hazard posed by returning potentially toxic material to retail outlets. Trade union official Daniëlle Wiek pointed out: “It is not acceptable that companies that have sold asbestos-containing play sand now off-load the problem to their employees by having them accept return products without specific instructions or protection… Shop employees are not trained to deal with asbestos. That is specialist work.” See: Zorgen over terugroepacties van speelzand: ‘Behandel het als asbesthoudend afval’ [Concerns about recalls of play sand: ‘Treat it as asbestos-containing waste’].

More Asbestos Recalls

Mar 4, 2026

The lengthy article in the February 23, 2026 issue of the Sun newspaper detailed the latest children’s product – The Kids Create Sand Art Kit – recalled in the UK due to asbestos contamination and provided an extensive list of other toys withdrawn from sale by the Office for Product and Safety Standards. Customers who had purchased recalled items were advised to package them in heavy-duty bags and return them “to the place of purchase for redress.” See: ASBESTOS ALERT. More toys containing cancer-causing asbestos are recalled in UK as parents urged to chuck them away ‘in heavy-duty bag.’

New Recalls of Toxic Toys

Mar 4, 2026

Awareness of asbestos contamination of children’s toys grew in Italy last month with the article cited below dated February 22 reporting that several products had been withdrawn from the market because they contained traces of asbestos. Amongst the toxic toys named were Stretch Squad characters and the 4-piece Stretch Squad characters set produced by HTI. They had been sold from April 22, 2024 until February 13, 2026 at multiple outlets. See: Amianto nei giochi per bambini in Italia: quali sono quelli ritirati dal mercato e in quali negozi si trovano [Asbestos in children's toys in Italy: which ones have been withdrawn from the market and in which stores can they be found].

Updated Data: Asbestos Compensation

Mar 4, 2026

According to an announcement on February 20, 2026 by the Central Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, South Korea, the right to government benefits for asbestos exposures had been recognized in 21 new cases, bringing the total number of successful compensation claims to 8,758 under provisions of the Asbestos Damage Relief Act (2011). In addition, the “damage suffered by four deceased individuals who had not been recognized as victims while alive, based on applications submitted by their bereaved families” was recognized. See: 21 More Asbestos Victims Recognized...Total Now 8,758.

Post-Disaster Asbestos Alert

Mar 2, 2026

The commentary cited below – uploaded on February 22, 2026 – was written by Dr. Aseni Wickramatillake, Director of Sri Lanka’s Centre for Occupational Safety and Health. The author highlighted public health issues involved in reconstruction work in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in December 2025. Among the problems mentioned was the use of asbestos-containing building products in the repair and/or construction of school buildings. “Schools are,” she wrote “spaces of prolonged, daily exposure making the continued presence of asbestos roofing especially troubling from both a health and ethical standpoint.” See: Rebuilding schools, repeating risks: Why Sri Lanka must act now on asbestos.

First Play Sand Recall

Mar 2, 2026

The first national voluntary recall for a children’s play sand product contaminated with asbestos was issued on February 19, 2026 by the Kodansha publishing company. The book recalled was: “Ukiyo-e: A Big Hit! Let's Make It with Sand! Ukiyo-e Art Creative Set” (ISBN: 9784065374474). Even though testing by four companies confirmed the playset’s contents were within legal standards, the company offered full refunds for returns. See: アスベスト検出「浮世絵アート」砂絵セット、講談社が希望者に返金・回収発表　分析4社で「基準内」含有確認 [Kodansha announces refunds and recalls for asbestos-detected "Ukiyo-e Art" sand painting sets; analysis by four companies confirms content is within standards].

Blanket Recall by Dutch Retailer

Mar 2, 2026

On February 19, 2026 the iconic Dutch department store HEMA recalled all play and craft sand products because they may contain asbestos, after testing had found contamination “in at least one tube of products.” Although no recalls were issued by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority pending test results, multiple businesses recalled suspect items, including toys sold under the brand names: Action and Top1Toys. Dutch trade unionist Daniëlle Wiek warned of the hazard recalls posed to shop workers: “Shop employees aren’t trained to handle asbestos. That's specialized work.” See: HEMA recalls all play sand products due to asbestos contamination.

Swiss Asbestos Alert

Mar 2, 2026

The Swiss Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO), responsible for children's toys, is closely monitoring the news of asbestos contamination of children’s products sold in Belgium and the Netherlands. The FSVO is “in close contact with the Swiss Toy Manufacturers Association” and both bodies sent samples of suspect toys to laboratories for analysis. Official advice is to keep the suspect products out of the reach of children and immediately dispose of “products purchased from foreign online platforms.” See: Des sables magiques livrés en Suisses contiennent de l'amiante [Magic sands sold in Switzerland contain asbestos].

Guidance for Homeowners and Parents

Mar 2, 2026

An informative text uploaded on February 20, 2026 by minerologist Gunnar Ries explained to German readers the context and scope of the 2026 asbestos scandals sweeping Europe. The author detailed discoveries made in other jurisdictions which confirmed the presence of tremolite or chrysotile asbestos in some samples of children’s colored play sand; all types of asbestos are carcinogenic. Advice given included information on websites to monitor and procedures to follow should a contaminated play set or other suspicious products be present in a household. See: Asbest in Spielsand [Asbestos in play sand].

New MoD Asbestos Resource

Mar 2, 2026

The Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence (MoD) opened an asbestos help desk to provide a central resource for current and former employees as well as third parties such as sub-contractors and cleaners with queries about occupational MoD asbestos exposures and potential illnesses resulting from them. According to Chief Personnel Officer Barbara de Greeff: “…personnel with concerns following the discovery of asbestos in several workshops within the Royal Netherlands Army” such as those in Leusden, Almelo and Oudemolen can secure updates on government investigations and possible benefits by phone or email. See: Defensie opent Loket Asbest [Defense opens Asbestos Desk].

Recall of Toxic Toy

Feb 26, 2026

It was reported last week that two Dutch retail chains – Top1Toys and Marskramer – had recalled “Creafun Sand Painting Farm,” playsets after a media investigation discovered that material contained in the toys was contaminated with tremolite asbestos. The toy remains on sale from other retail and online outlets. The NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) is conducting its own investigation and, as yet, has not taken any steps to address the situation. See: Top1Toys roept asbestspeelgoed terug, bijna twee weken na vondst door AD [Top1Toys recalls asbestos toys, almost two weeks after discovery by AD].

Asbestos in Hello Kitty Craft Sets

Feb 26, 2026

A qualitative analysis on a craft sand product – Silverback’s “Easy! Fun! Sand Art Set Hello Kitty” (ISBN: 9784861489327) – by an independent laboratory proved positive for tremolite asbestos even though the company had previously said the product was asbestos-free. The Japanese company marketing this product did not reply to questions about the contamination. See: 事業者「安全」宣言のハローキティ「砂絵セット」からアスベスト検出　使用・販売停止と自主回収を [Asbestos detected in Hello Kitty sand art set despite manufacturer's declaration of safety; halt use and sales, and voluntary recall required].

Government Recall of Toxic Toys

Feb 26, 2026

The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards issued a formal recall for toys suspected of containing asbestos on February 17, 2026. The toys listed included stretchable action figures sold under the brand name: Stretcherz Slammerz. They were recalled as they presented “a risk to health as the sand included in the set may be contaminated with a quantity of asbestos.” The product was made by HTI Toys and distributed by ASDA, the UK’s third largest supermarket chain. According to a February 18 update: The manufacturer “is now undertaking a recall.” See: Product Recall: HTI Toys Stretcherz Toys (2602-0156).

New Remediation Funds

Feb 26, 2026

It was announced last week that the territory at the epicenter of Italy’s asbestos epidemic – Alessandria Province – had been allocated the sum of €2.5 million (US$2.9m) by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security to pay for asbestos remediation work in the city of Casale Monferrato and 47 municipalities. According to comments by regional and federal authorities, the financial support was a manifestation of their governments’ “commitment to public health and environmental safety.” See: Nuove risorse per le bonifiche dell’amianto nel SIN di Casale Monferrato: “Traguardo storico sempre più vicino” [New resources for asbestos remediation in the Casale Monferrato SIN: “Historic milestone getting closer and closer”].

Asbestos on the Beach

Feb 26, 2026

Despite tonnes of asbestos waste material having been removed from beaches outside the town of Bluff, in New Zealand’s Southland region, more work is needed. According to a report presented in January 2026 by Rhiannon Suter, council manager for the Bluff Community Board: “‘Significant’ amounts of asbestos needed to be removed and up to 30-50 years of work was forecast.” The toxic material comes from a nearby historic landfill. While some of the landfill is protect by a seawall, other parts aren’t: “long-term modelling on erosion risk relating to climate change and potential sea level rise shows that additional work and further investment may be required…” See: The Bluff beach battling asbestos.

Asbestos Class Action

Feb 23, 2026

On February 17, the Paris Labor Court examined the files of dozens of metro drivers and maintenance workers who had been asking their employer – the RATP, a French state-owned enterprise that operates public transport systems primarily in Paris – for certificates of exposure to asbestos dust for four years. The affected workers also claimed compensation for asbestos anxiety caused by RATP’s delays. Previous inspections revealed that asbestos material had been found in the trains’ driving consoles and around the doors of the drivers’ cabs. See: Amiante: des conducteurs de métro attaquent la RATP en justice [Asbestos: metro drivers take RATP to court].

Asbestos Shutdown in Montreal

Feb 23, 2026

On Feb 13, 2026 it was reported that Quebec’s CNESST – the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail [Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work] – had ordered that the Lehmann research wing at Montreal’s Douglas Hospital be shut. The closure resulted from a burst pipe which had flooded four laboratories on January 27 and released asbestos fibers. Millions of dollars’ worth of equipment and research material had been destroyed. The building was closed under Article 186 of Quebec’s occupational health and safety law. See: CNESST orders shutdown of Douglas Hospital lab over asbestos risk after January flooding.

Mesothelioma in Rimini

Feb 23, 2026

According to data from a recently published report, 170 people had died in the Italian Province of Rimini from mesothelioma between 1996 and 2025. The majority of the deceased had been exposed to asbestos at their workplaces; the worst affected industrial sectors were: construction (13.8% cases), railway maintenance (9.8%) and metalworkers (8.9%). Although the mesothelioma mortality incidence in Rimini was the lowest in the Emilia-Romagna Region, the number of cases remained significant. See: Mesotelioma, 170 casi nel Riminese dal 1996: l’amianto continua a colpire [Mesothelioma, 170 cases in the Rimini area since 1996: asbestos continues to strike].

Asbestos in Schools

Feb 23, 2026

On February 13, 2026, a UK Teachers’ Union – NASUWT – denounced the government’s continued failure to safeguard children and staff from asbestos contained in crumbling school buildings. According to the union, current plans call for the rebuilding of just 1% of the country’s 22,500 schools, most of which contain deteriorating asbestos material. Calling for a greater sense of urgency, NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “Every year that passes without a more ambitious programme increases the risks and prolongs uncertainty for the workforce and school communities. A long-term, properly funded plan for phased asbestos removal and rebuilding is essential…” See: Estates strategy leaves pupils and staff in aging, asbestos-ridden buildings.

Taking Action on Toxic Play Sand

Feb 23, 2026

Following a Dutch media investigation into the prevalence of asbestos in play sand products sold in the Netherlands, Belgium’s Federal Public Service Economy announced it would launch an official government enquiry into retail and online sales of colored, kinetic, magnetic or craft sand in Belgium. Samples of suspect products were submitted to specialized laboratories for testing. As these products are classified as toys, they are subject to strict safety regulations which stipulate that manufacturers are responsible for marketing products that comply with regulatory guidelines. See: Controles op de mogelijke aanwezigheid van asbest in speelzand [Checks for the possible presence of asbestos in play sand].

Corporate Actors & their Asbestos Stratagies

Feb 23, 2026

When it comes to the global epidemic of asbestos-related diseases, there is more than enough blame to go around. The article cited below focused on key US legal entities which continue in the tradition or erstwhile asbestos profiteers to use all the tricks at their disposal to marginalize the injured and off-load the consequences of corporate malfeasance onto taxpayers. The author of the piece below, Hayden Blackford, did a stunning job in following multiple threads of the ongoing Libby, Montana asbestos scandal back to companies, law firms and insurers all of whom played their part in the attack on the life-saving medical resource which was the CARD clinic. See: Behind Closed Doors. Asbestos Victims vs a Corporate Giant: Legal Pressure, Delayed Payouts, and a Closed Clinic.

Calls for Asbestos Phase-Out

Feb 19, 2026

Although building regulations in Bhutan adopted in 2023 prohibited the use of asbestos-containing construction materials, these products are still being imported. Imports of asbestos material reached a 6-year peak in 2022 at 24,083 units before falling to 3,586 in 2025. Having acknowledged the global consensus regarding the carcinogenicity of human asbestos exposures, Bhutan surgeon Professor J.D. Wangchuck said: “Even [exposure to] small amounts can be harmful, but the risk increases with prolonged and higher exposure. Health professionals are calling for asbestos use to be phased out due to the health hazards. See: Bhutan still imports cancer-linked asbestos despite global bans.

Questions in Parliament

Feb 19, 2026

On February 13, 2026 written questions were submitted to the State Secretary for Infrastructure & Water Management, the Minister of Social Affairs & Employment and the State Secretary for Health, Welfare & Sport about the hazard posed by asbestos contamination found in children’s play sand. Parliamentarians wanted to know why no recalls had been issued by the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and what measures would be implemented to deal with the growing scandal. See: De berichten ‘Laboratoria vinden nog veel meer asbest in speelgoed, ook in “magisch” speelzand’ en ‘Asbest in speelzand voor kinderen: “Dit is echt heel ernstig”’ [Reports: “Laboratories find even more asbestos in toys, including in ‘magic’ play sand” and “Asbestos in children's play sand: ‘This is really very serious’”].