The ACCC has published multiple recall notices for the products sold throughout Australia between 2020 and 2025. Consumer and Business Services’ product safety regulators have been working with retailers to prevent sales in SA.

The recall was issued by supplier Educational Colours for colourful children’s sand products sold at more than 80 retailers, including Officeworks, Woolworths and a range of educational and art supply stores.

The imported sand is brightly coloured and designed for children to play with and for educational purposes and, as set out in the recall, is labelled as Kadink Sand (1.3kg), Educational Colours - Rainbow Sand (1.3kg), Kadink Decorative sand (10g) 6 pack and Creatistics - Coloured Sand (1kg).

What to do if you have the recalled product:

• Stop using the products immediately.
• If the sand is loose, (ie not in its original packaging) remove people from the area and contact a licensed asbestos removalist to remove the sand.
• If the sand is still in its packaging, place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely and isolate so it is not accessible to others before contacting a licensed asbestos removalist to remove the sand.
• Do not dispose of the product in general waste. Information on the disposal of asbestos waste, including disposal facilities in your state or territory can be found on The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency website.
• Contact recalls@educationalvantage.com for guidance around disposal and seeking a full refund.

The products were recalled because they may contain tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, which was detected in some samples after laboratory testing. Asbestos is a prohibited substance in Australia.

A ban and import prohibition for asbestos in Australia has been in place since 2003.

The ACCC will continue to monitor developments in relation to the products and provide updates as new information emerges.

Importantly, respiratory asbestos has not been detected in any of the tested samples. The release of respiratory asbestos fibres from the sand is unlikely to occur in its current state, unless the sand is processed by mechanical means such as crushing or pulverising.

While the risk that any asbestos found is likely to be airborne or fine enough for inhalation is low, this may still pose a risk.

SafeWork SA administers laws associated with asbestos in South Australia.

Information on asbestos can be found on the South Australian Government asbestos website www.asbestos.sa.gov.au which provides practical information about asbestos.

Further links

• The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency website
• Asbestos.sa.gov.au
• ACCC media release