Recall expanded: samples of Kmart Magic Sand products found to contain asbestos

Independent testing commissioned by the Faculty of Asbestos Management of Australia and New Zealand (FAMANZ) has identified four additional coloured sand products sold by Kmart NZ that tested positive for tremolite asbestos - the 14-piece Sandcastle Building Set and the Blue, Green and Pink Magic Sand sets.

“We appreciate that the presence of asbestos in products that are used by children will be concerning to parents and caregivers. We urge families who have purchased these products to stop using them immediately, secure them safely, and contact your local council for advice on where and how to dispose of the contaminated material safely,” says Ian Caplin, MBIE Product Safety Spokesperson.

“If you are a workplace, where you may have higher volumes of these products or more people may have come in contact with the products, you should contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist for immediate advice and support on your specific situation. A list of these is available on the Worksafe website.”

“This is consistent with the advice provided following a similar product recall issued on Wednesday 12 November,” says Mr Caplin.

“We appreciate the urgency with which Kmart has acted and issued the recall.  It’s great to see the supplier taking quick action around children’s safety issues.”

“Proactive testing of a range of similar products is underway, so at this point we cannot say for certain if these are the only products that are contaminated,” says Mr Caplin.

“Asbestos is a serious health hazard and we are working with the Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Education and WorkSafe to provide guidance for consumers and workplaces that may have purchased these products.

“The health risk is all about exposure over time but if households take a few simple steps to dispose of the product properly, you will be minimising the risk,” says Mr Caplin.

“If you or your child have used the product, there is no need for urgent medical attention. Discuss any health concerns with your GP, healthcare provider or Healthline 0800 611 116.”

Products identified

• EC Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) – previously recalled
• Creatistics Coloured Sand (1kg) – previously recalled
• Four magic sand products sold at Kmart NZ:
  • 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set (Batch no: 42975724)
  • Blue Magic Sand (Batch no: 42304364)
  • Green Magic Sand (Batch no: 432919650)
  • Pink Magic Sand (Batch no: 42304371)

Testing was undertaken by Accurate Consulting. Full certificates are available on request.

Immediate advice for consumers

• Stop using the product immediately.
• Do not let children touch or play with the sand.
• Place the sand in a sealed container, then double-bag in thick plastic, seal with tape, and clearly label as “Asbestos-Contaminated Material.”
• Do not dispose of in household rubbish or vacuum it up. Contact your local council for advice on where and how to dispose of the contaminated material safely.
• Refer to the clean-up and disposal instructions in the Health NZ webpage here: Asbestos in sand(external link)
• Once secure, we encourage people to contact your retailer for a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
• For further advice call the MBIE Consumer line 0508 426 678.

Immediate advice for workplaces

• If the sand is in a sealed container, move it to a secure location away from people.
• If the sand is currently being used in your workplace, please instruct everyone to leave the area, block it off and make sure it is not accessible. Do not vacuum or sweep floors where there is sand, or attempt to clean it up.
• Contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist for immediate advice and support on your specific situation. Details of Class A licensed removalists are available in the Asbestos Removal Licence Holders Register: Asbestos removal licence holders - Online services(external link). Do not return to the affected area until the extent of contamination is established, and after the area is remediated by an expert.
• If individuals are currently using the sand, they should put it down and relocate to a sand-free, well-ventilated area.  
• If you are an educational facility and have identified that the sand has been used at your site, please notify the Ministry of Education.
• All clothing worn during exposure must be disposed of as asbestos waste as part of personal decontamination.

Health risks

• Asbestos is a proven substance that can increase your risk of developing cancer (carcinogen). All forms of asbestos can cause cancer.
• The main way people are exposed to asbestos is by breathing in air that contains asbestos fibres.
• Asbestos causes cancer in a dose-dependent manner. You have a greater risk of developing an asbestos-related disease depending on:
  • how much exposure to asbestos you had,
  • the length of time you were exposed to asbestos.
• There has been no 'safe' lower limit of exposure identified with certainty. All exposure is thought to add to the overall risk of disease development. But the risk from a single, low-level exposure is considered to be extremely low.
• For health advice, contact Healthline 0800 611 116 or visit info.health.nz.

Further Information

• Recall details are available on the Product Safety New Zealand website(external link).
• MBIE is working with WorkSafe, Ministry of Education, Te Whatu Ora, and retailers to confirm the scope and coordinate next steps.

For further advice call the MBIE Consumer MBIE Consumer line 0508 426 678