The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards has withdrawn from sale a number of products with implications for health and safety of consumers.
The withdrawal affects a batch of toys, baby powder and small electrical appliances.
The following products, Rubee Baby Powder, Xiulong Electrical LED Torch and Ferhat Balls were withdrawn under the Compulsory Standards Compliance programme. The concerns for health and safety are related to possible skin irritations due to non-compliance in product labeling, choking and strangulation hazards for small children as well as electrical shocks from exposed wiring.
The SLBS is maintaining a rigorous market surveillance process to ensure products which have the potential to cause harm to consumers are intercepted well before they become available as well as aggressive monitoring at the point of sale.
The SLBS is imploring the public to read the labels of products when making buying decisions. The SLBS is particularly concerned about toys, where labels clearly indicate that the toy may pose a choking hazard and is not suitable for use by young children.
Head of the Compliance Department Mr. Hubert Raynolds says the SLBS will do its part, but the greatest burden still lies with the consumer who makes the purchasing decision. Consumers are urged to make decisions not only based on the price but also consider the implications for health and safety.
The SLBS has gone a step further and has posted for public information the list of products affected by the withdrawal to its website, www.slbs.org.lc and to its Face book page, www.facebook.com/slbsslu.
For further information call Vernet Fontenelle, Head of Information at (758) 453-0049 or email v.fontenelle@slbs.org
