ILOILO – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6 will confiscate popular but unauthorized lato-lato toys in the market once the guidelines are out.
“We are still awaiting guidelines from the head office, DTI Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau, or Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau,” according to DTI-6 officer-in-charge Ermelinda Pollentes.
Lato-lato, also known as “clackers”, “clankers” or “ker-bangers”, are made up of two plastic spheres suspended on a single string which makes a loud clacking sound when swung up and down.
Popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the toy is enjoying a resurgence in popularity in Indonesia and the Philippines.
DTI undersecretary Ruth Castelo pressed for a halt in the sale of lato-lato toys, which are yet to secure proper documentation from concerned government agencies such as a Certificate of Product Notification (CPN) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Hindi siya dapat nabebenta, hindi siya dapat nakikita. And I’m sure the FDA is also moving on this. Nag-i-enforce din sila na alisin sa market ‘yung produkto dahil wala ngang CPN. Tutulungan lang natin sila,” said Castelo.
Last week, the FDA issued advisory 2023-1299 that cautioned the public from purchasing and using “unnotified” lato-lato toys sold to the public — a product that they say could lead to potential hazards due to a lack of proper authorization from experts.
But according to Pollentes, “While we acknowledge the public’s concerns, we kindly request your patience as we await the necessary guidelines. Rest assured that once we receive them, we will promptly disseminate the information to the public and implement the required measures to monitor the production and sale of lato-lato toys effectively.”
Pollentes called for the cooperation of all stakeholders, including manufacturers, retailers and the general public, to remain vigilant and report any potential issues related to lato-lato toys to the appropriate authorities.
According to the FDA, “The manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any health product without the proper authorization from the FDA is prohibited.
In a statement signed on June 13, it added: “Since the abovementioned unnotified toy and childcare article product has not gone through the notification process of the FDA, the agency cannot assure their quality and safety. The use of such violative product may pose health risks to consumers.”
Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be a part of a toy, including but not limited to:
* endocrine disruption
* reproductive effects
* development effects
The public is also warned of possible injuries, choking or suffocation arising from its small or broken parts.
“In light of the foregoing, the public is advised not to purchase the aforementioned violative toy and childcare article product,” the FDA added.
“All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute violative toy and childcare article product until they have fully complied with the rules and regulations of the FDA.”
Since the popular toy has yet to be given a CPN, she said there is no certainty that the materials used in manufacturing the product are safe.
“‘Yung material na ginagamit doon sa laruan na iyon, hindi naman na-test ng FDA. So ‘yung chemical compounds that are included in the plastic formulation na gamit hindi natin alam kung may hazardous substances siya like lead content,” explained Pollentes.
For her part, Castelo said, “Kailangan talagang dumaan muna sa mas masusing pagsusuri ng FDA.”
In the meantime, said DTI-Iloilo director Ma. Dinda R. Tamayo, DTI cannot take action or measures since there are no guidelines yet on how to regulate lato-lato or which brands will be monitored and confiscated. (With reports from Philstar.com and GMA Network)/PN
