Thailand's Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has seized nearly 20,000 substandard squishy toys from shops in Bangkok's Sampheng market, one of the city's best-known wholesale districts, with the seized goods worth more than 1 million baht.
Officials said the 19,665 toys were mostly made from polyurethane and low-grade foam, which may carry residues of volatile organic compounds and phthalates — substances linked to cancer risk and endocrine disruption, posing a particular concern for children's health.
Squishy toys have grown popular with children and teenagers across Thailand and the wider region in recent years; the Office of the Consumer Protection Board and TISI had previously issued warnings about chemical contamination risks in similar products, and the Sampheng raid marks another enforcement action this year targeting the category.
Under Thai regulations, sellers of products without the required TIS mark face up to six months in prison, a fine of up to 500,000 baht, or both; unauthorized importers face up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 2 million baht, or both.
Thailand's Industry Minister, Supamas, has ordered a full investigation into the distribution channels for similar substandard products, instructing relevant agencies to step up spot checks on goods already in the market to keep non-compliant toys from continuing to circulate.
Consumer advocacy groups have welcomed the enforcement action as a step toward protecting children's health, and are urging parents to check for the TIS mark and avoid toys with unclear origins or incomplete packaging information when buying this category of product.