Regulation on 'cancerous' loom band a grey area in Malaysia

In Malaysia, however, the regulation on the loom band remains to be in the ‘grey area’, according to the Malaysian Association of Standards Users.

This is because the product, where different coloured bands are woven together to create bracelets, has not been categorised under the toy category.

“We have the Safety Standard Regulations for Children’s Toys 2010 under the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism. However, the problem with regulating loom band in Malaysia is they have to be classified as toys before the authorities can do anything about it,” said the association’s CEO Ratna Devi Nadarajan.

“If the product falls under the toy category, action can be taken. But it is still a gray area as the loom band is an accessory and is not intended to be put in the mouth,” she added.

On Sunday, Britain’s largest independent toy retailer The Entertainer had the charms removed in 92 stores nationwide after the BBC Midlands Today program showed the charms contained as much as 40 percent phthalates, the report said.

Phthalates, which have the ability to disrupt hormones, is mainly used to increase flexibility and enhance various other features of plastics.

However, the European Union mandates that products constitute no more than 0.1 percent of the chemical concentration.

‘The risk comes with young children who may ingest it. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, authorities can outright impose a ban as they have banned products containing certain amount of phthalates. Malaysia hasn’t taken much action,’’ said Ratna.

“The manifestation of cancer and endocrine disruption from being exposed to such chemicals will only manifest later after a long period. It also depends of health status of person that is exposed,” she warned, adding that the loom band is still available in supermarkets in the country.

“Without any regulation, the authorities can’t do a recall of the product.”

Ratna, who is also the vice-president of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA), said the federation had so far received only two enquiries from the public on the safety and regulation of loom band.

She added that FOMCA has communicated with the Ministry of Health to control the use of phthalates in child articles and to ban products which are harmful.

loom band

The loom band was invented three years ago by Malaysian born Ng Cheong Choon, 45, who is based in Detroit, United States.

Since then, his company, Rainbow Looms, has sold more than four million kits worldwide.

Each kit contains a pegboard, loom hook, crochet hook and bands in assorted colours.

The toy- cum-accessory has also been spotted on the arms of celebrities like David Beckham, Miley Cirus, One Direction’s Harry Styles and even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, that drove sales through the roof.

1. Founder: Cheong Choon Ng, a Malaysian now based in Detroit, United States

2. Company’s Name: Rainbow Loom

3. Founded in 2011

4. The Rainbow Loom kit includes a pegboard, a rainbow loom hook, 24 special C-shaped clips[2] and 600 small rubber bands in assorted colors.

5. It has sold over 4 million units since it started

6.Ng started a website and filmed instructional videos featuring his daughters and niece.

7. Learning Express Toys, a toy retailer headquartered in Massachusetts, was the first store to order from Rainbow Loom

8. Each kit is priced at $15 (approximately RM50) to $17 (approximately RM55)

9.The Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing a Rainbow Loom during her tour of New Zealand in 2014. Others celebrities seen wearing the Rainbow Loom: Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, dan David Beckham.