Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics raises the alarm over the selling of dangerous toys being sold in the market. The group has purchased toy-like weapons, including pellet minigun, a balisong-like knife, and samurai sword.
“Toys-like weapons are dangerous and hazardous to kid’s health and safety, they should not be in the market to prevent injury and potential behavioral changes among children,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner, BAN Toxics.
In 2013, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada filed Senate Bill No. 982 which prohibits the manufacture and sale of imitation firearms also known as the “Anti Look-Alike and Imitation Firearms Act.”
According to the bill, it shall be unlawful for any person to produce, manufacture, sale, use, ship, transport, give or receive any toy look-alike or imitation firearm unless such firearm contains, or has affixed to it, a marking approved by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The group further noticed that most of the weapon toys are being sold without proper labeling and market authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, in violation of Republic Act 10620 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013.
“We strongly urge regulatory agencies and local government units to confiscate all dangerous toys such as toy-alike weapons to prevent injury among children and conduct awareness efforts to promote safe toys for kids in the country,” the group emphasized.
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