KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is set to develop a standard for disposable diapers and other baby products in the near future.
Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh confirmed that the current safety standards for baby diapers involve multiple bodies, including Sirim, the Medical Device Authority, and 13 other agencies. However, she acknowledged that these existing standards have “many overlaps and gaps.”
Fuziah was responding to a question from Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) during the Minister’s Question and Answer session on Wednesday, February 26. Mumtaz raised concerns about the use of hazardous chemicals in baby diapers and the need for stricter safety measures for baby products.
In her reply, Fuziah revealed that the ministry would begin consulting with various agencies, including the Health Ministry and the Chemistry Department, to establish safety standards for all baby products, particularly disposable diapers.
She also highlighted that the ministry has already implemented standards for baby toys, especially focusing on the paint used, as some paints can be toxic. “Children may chew on toys, exposing them to harmful substances,” Fuziah explained, adding that such items would be labeled as unsafe.
Since 2015, the ministry has received only four complaints related to disposable diapers, which involved counterfeit products, expired goods, and cases where the diapers caused rashes.
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