KPDN have gazetted the following regulations:-
These regulations were enforced on 1 August 2010.
The main objective of these regulations come into force is to ensure that the toys supplied in Malaysian market is safe and to minimize potential hazards associated with toys resulting from their use in their intended play modes (normal use) as well as unintended play modes (reasonably foreseeable abuse). Children's are categorized as vulnerable group and they may be exposed to the usage of toys that are unsafe and could cause harm to them. KPDN plays a major in ensuring these vulnerable groups are well protected.
Based to the toy safety standards, Malaysian Standard (MS), toys means any goods designed or intended for use in play by children less than fourteen years of age.
Normally it will be the child who chooses whichever toys to his / her liking. However, it will be the parents' responsibility to ensure the toys that are purchased for their children are suitable for their age and safe to be played with.
The industry may go to SIRIM QAS International (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SIRIM QAS) to send their toys tested. However, the Ministry accepts any complete test report on toy safety standards issued by an accredited laboratory which is accredited by a competent agency and is a signatory to the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA).
Malaysia has started implementing the regulations with the capacity of only one toy testing laboratory, SIRIM QAS. Currently, the number of testing laboratories has increased to four throughout Malaysia which includes SGS Laboratory Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., My CO2 Sdn. Bhd., NM Laboratory Sdn. Bhd. and a firewalled third party laboratory by Mattel (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. With the increment, this sector has opened up opportunity for employment and develops new areas for standard conformance.
During the initial implementation period, the Ministry has identified 78 major toy industry players (which include local manufactures, importers, and distributors) that were required to register their business activities with the Ministry. However, as of 24 December 2010, a total of 510 companies / businesses have registered with the Ministry.
The MC mark is an abbreviation for Malaysian Conformity Mark. This conformity mark, MC is an indicator that a particular toy supplied or sold in Malaysia has conformed to the safety standards prescribed by KPDN and is safe for consumers. The toys must be marked or affixed with the conformity mark, together with the registration number determined by KPDN either on the product or packaging. The toys also must be marked and affixed with the name and address of either manufacturer, importer, distributor or any persons who conducts repackaging activities and some toys must be accompanied by warnings and information on precautions where necessary. The confomity mark, together with other requirements as determined by KPDN must be marked or affixed in a visible, intelligible and indelible manner on their toys. It is an offence under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 [Act 599] if the conformity mark, is marked or affixed to goods other than those allowed under the Act 599.
Actions that can be taken under Section 23 Act 599 are as the following:
Industries are subjected to compounds and penalties as follows:
Awareness campaign has been carried out throughout Malaysia from the year 2008 and it was intensified in the year 2010 whereby huge media coverage was received on the implementation of toy safety standard regulations. Through the media coverage, most stakeholders were aware of the toy safety standards regulations and many of them came forward to seek for clarification and assistance in order to comply with the regulations' requirements. It is also a major achievement to Malaysia as it is the first implementation of self regulatory for consumer product under the Act 599. This approach does not require industry to hold license or undergo any approval permit procedures.
Self protection is important and parents must be responsible whereby they must be aware of the issues related toys safety and make sure the toys are bought taking into account the hazard or risks accossiated with the toys. Toys also must be suitable for a child's age.
Chemicals such as heavy metals founds in paints, coatings on the surface of toys contain lead which very toxic and can cause cancer and hinders brain development in small children. A child below 3 years old has the tendency to insert toys to their mouth and this can cause migration of heavy metal elements if the toys do not comply with the toy safety standards.
Further, small object such as small toys or component including soft toys' eyes, foam or knobs that breaks off or removed from toys can intend a choking hazard, ingestion or inhalation problem to children. Therefore parents must choose the suitable toys wisely.