Australian and NZ safety assurances about asbestos in play sand were based on supplier’s own assessment

Assurances provided by Australian and New Zealand authorities regarding the safety of play sand contaminated with asbestos were based solely on assessments conducted by the supplier, the Guardian can reveal. Crucially, these supplier-provided evaluations were not subjected to independent verification, despite earlier claims suggesting otherwise.

This reliance on unverified supplier data led to widespread public messaging that downplayed the risks. Schools, retailers, and government agencies informed parents that asbestos-contaminated play sand posed a low risk to children's health. This messaging was disseminated even after a range of children's sand products were recalled in November 2025 due to asbestos detection, followed by over 20 similar recalls across various brands and stores.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has since updated some of its recall notices. These revised notices now state that the affected products 'may cause risk to health,' a significant shift from previous assurances and a tacit acknowledgment of the potential dangers previously understated.