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Sand Recall: Product Safety 'Entering a Completely Different Landscape'
More than 300 schools nationwide reported asbestos-contaminated kinetic sand, leading to recalls and closures for safety assessments, with 74 schools closed so far, officials said.
- Testing found tremolite asbestos in imported colourful "kinetic" play sand, prompting recalls as more than 300 sites contacted the SA Department of Education, which began licensed asbestos removal.
- Despite a 2003 asbestos import ban, Consumer NZ and ACCC say rapid growth of e-commerce retailers such as Temu and Shine made policing product safety harder, leading to recalls after marketplace flags.
- Yesterday, 74 schools were closed for assessment and cleaning, and Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds said, `We have decided to err on the side of caution, and to engage an asbestos removalist, because they have the expertise and the insight`.
- The ACCC advised households and schools to stop using the sand, seal it in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double-tape it, while the Education Department will coordinate specialist removal and manage reopenings case-by-case.
- Industry voices warned testing before cleanup is critical as full decontamination can cost tens of thousands, retailers bear responsibility, licensed testing laboratories face backlog, and Consumer NZ urges global safety registers with disputes tribunal cap of about $30,000.
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When will Tasmanian schools affected by the coloured sand recall reopen?
Thirteen public schools will remain closed on Thursday, and another 22 will remain partially closed. Several non-government schools are also closed or partially closed as education authorities respond to the recall of coloured sand products found to contain traces of asbestos.
·Australia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 29%
R 28%
Factuality
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