New Zealand 2: UK 0
On November 12, 2026, Consumer NZ – “an independent, non-profit consumer advocacy organisation in New Zealand” – issued an advisory warning New Zealanders to “avoid filling Christmas stockings with any toys that include play sand…”1
According to Consumer NZ, asbestos had been found in an educational product for children: “Plant & Grow Woodland Forest.” Despite labelling which stated that the product was “non-toxic” and “safe for children,” an Auckland-based laboratory Aerem and a US-based company Eurofins had both detected the presence of tremolite asbestos, a Group 1 carcinogen.2 The manufacturer, Faber-Castell has now initiated a recall. At this time, it remains unclear whether this recall is for New Zealand only or for all worldwide sales; clarification has been sought this morning by an email to the company’s head office.
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A cursory look on the internet on November 11, 2026 found that this product was available online from multiple sellers in North America, Europe and the Middle East. On November 12, 2026, it could be purchased in the UK from US sellers on e-bay.
The precautionary approach adopted in New Zealand over the potential hazard posed by the use of toxic sand products was clearly illustrated earlier this year (2026) by recalls of asbestos-contaminated rangoli powders, a traditional ingredient for Diwali and other festivities in Asian countries and throughout the diaspora.3
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| Pavitron Rangoli Powder Pack & Rangoli Colour 200g (red, white and yellow – sold at various retailers. Recalled 24 June 2026. |
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| Rangoli Assorted 10 pk – sold at various retailers. Recalled 10 June 2026. |
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| Rangoli Colour – sold at DH Supermarkets. Recalled 24 February 2026. |
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| Rangoli Powder – Pack of 6 and Pack of 10, sold at Big Bazaar. Recalled 29 January 2026. |
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| Rangoli decorative powder (Ascention sand) – sold online at Silkrute. Recalled 6 May 2026. |
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New Zealand rangoli recalls in 2026 These images and descriptions are from the website of the New Zealand Product Safety Agency (see: Footnote 3). |
Rangoli products were not recalled in the UK and in October, 2026 were widely available in the run-up to Diwali which was celebrated from November 6-11, 2026. A box of 12 colors of rangoli powder, purchased at an East London supermarket in October, 2026, was sent to South Korea for testing. According to the report issued by the Asian Citizens’ Center for Environment and Health, a majority of the selected UK samples tested positive for tremolite asbestos.4
 Rangoli powder bought in London and analyzed in Seoul, South Korea. Picture courtesy of the Asian Citizens’ Center for Environmental Health (Eco-Health). |
In December 2025, we warned that the health of UK children was being endangered by inexplicable delays in acting on the hazard posed by asbestos-contaminated sand products.5 Are things different eleven months later? In June 2026, the UK Government affirmed that “there is a zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in consumer products…” And yet, the Plant & Grow Woodland Forest kit and rangoli powder remain available in the UK from online and high street retailers. While officials in Westminster “monitor the situation,” once again, parents remain ill-prepared to ensure that their children’s Christmas gifts will be safe for use.6
November 12, 2026
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1 Avoid filling Christmas stockings with toys that include play sand, Consumer NZ warns. November 12, 2026.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/2554354/avoid-filling-christmas-stockings-with-toys-that-include-play-sand-consumer-nz-warns
2 According to one of the analysts involved in the laboratory investigations: “Aerem’s initial testing, followed by independent Eurofins analysis, identified tremolite asbestos in samples of the kit’s orange sand.”
3 Website of New Zealand Product Safety Agency. Recalled Products: Rangoli. Accessed November 10, 2026.
https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/recalls?q=rangoli&category=25&sort=&from=&to=&exclude=
4 Joint Press Release. Safe Festivals: Beware Asbestos Exposure. November 5, 2026.
https://ibasecretariat.org/press-release-safe-festivals-beware-asbestos-exposure.pdf
The Asian Citizen’s Center for Environment and Health. 석면랭골리 조사보고서 [Investigation Report on Asbestos in Rangoli. Report 516. November 5, 2026.
https://www.eco-health.org/bbs/board.php?bo_table=sub02_02&wr_id=1404 5
5 Kazan-Allen, L. Asbestos Complacency in Westminster. December 20, 2025.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-asbestos-complacency-in-westminster.php
6 Joint Statement on Asbestos in Consumer Products. June 19, 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-asbestos-in-consumer-products
