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On February 26, 2026, France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) issued an alert regarding the presence of asbestos in certain children's toys containing sand. The agency has instructed professionals, including retailers and importers, to immediately suspend the marketing and sale of all sand-based toys as a precautionary measure. Sales may only resume after the products have been verified to be free of asbestos.
The regulatory action follows an initial notification from Australian authorities in November 2025, which identified asbestos in 32 different sand-based toy products across five brands. Subsequent investigations by several European authorities confirmed that toys placed on the European market were also affected. The DGCCRF believes the contamination is likely unintentional and due to the natural presence of asbestos in certain rock or sand deposits used as raw materials for the toys. Since February 2026, several specific product recalls for toys confirmed to contain asbestos have been initiated in France.
The existing legal framework in both France and the European Union strictly prohibits the use of asbestos. Under EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Annex XVII, entry 6, the manufacturing, placing on the market, and use of asbestos fibers, as well as articles and mixtures containing intentionally added asbestos, are banned. At the national level, French Decree No. 96-1133 also specifically forbids the manufacture, import, and sale of all types of asbestos fibers and any products containing them.
To protect young children, the DGCCRF has informed professionals of the need to suspend the marketing of sand-based toy, such as modeling sand (often called "magic sand"), creative colored sand kits, and drawing sand. Professionals have conducted tests on other toys, some of which revealed the presence of asbestos. Retailers who sold the affected products initiated consumer recalls in February 2026. Stakeholders are advised to regularly consult France's official product recall website(rappel.conso.gouv.fr), for the latest list of recalled products.
