The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a joint statement on 19 June 2026 on asbestos contamination in sand-containing consumer products1. The statement says a number of products are subject to recall because they have been found to contain small amounts of asbestos, and that recalled products include craft kits, science kits, toys containing sand and decorative doorstops1.
The statement says no play pit sand is currently subject to a recall1. It describes "an increasing awareness and public concern about potential asbestos contamination in sand-containing consumer products"1. Asbestos use or importation has been banned since 1999, and the statement says consumer products found to contain asbestos must be recalled1. OPSS is requiring industry to remove any consumer products containing asbestos from sale and to recall them from consumers, an approach the statement describes as reflecting a zero-tolerance approach and says "It is not an indication of the level of risk to any consumers"1.
On health, the statement says the presence of asbestos in a consumer product does not always mean there is an immediate danger to health, and that the risk depends on how the product is used and the amount and duration of any exposure1. It says asbestos materials which have not been broken or disturbed are unlikely to cause harmful effects to health, but that if asbestos is disturbed the fibres can be released into the air and, if breathed in, could possibly harm health depending on the amount and duration of exposure over time1. The risks to health are expected to be low for these recalled products during normal use, even with occasional short-term exposures and when following the disposal instructions1.
"To reduce any potential risks to health, it is important to stop any use or access to the affected products and follow the clean-up and recall advice"
The statement sets out the roles of the three bodies: OPSS as the UK's product regulator with responsibility for the product safety framework, UKHSA as the executive agency responsible for protecting people from health threats, and HSE as Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety1. It says businesses must monitor products for safety risks once they are on the market and must act quickly to reduce or mitigate any issues1.
Why it matters for households
The statement covers households that own or have come into contact with products subject to an asbestos-related recall, and those with concerns about similar products they have bought1. The recalled categories named are craft kits, science kits, toys containing sand and decorative doorstops; play pit sand is not currently subject to a recall1. The authorities say it is important to stop any use of or access to affected products and to follow the clean-up and recall advice1. They say the risks to health are expected to be low for these recalled products during normal use, including occasional short-term exposures, when disposal instructions are followed1. The statement says the government will continue to monitor the situation, ensure businesses take the appropriate action, and update advice to the public as and when appropriate1. General information on UKHSA alerts and outbreak advice is set out in the guide to the UK Health Security Agency, within the wider health emergencies section.
What happens next
The statement says the government will continue to monitor the situation and will update advice to the public as and when appropriate1. No further dated steps are given in the statement. The number of products recalled, the retailers involved and the dates of individual recalls have not been reported in the statement1.
