A S Shinde, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, has stated in his affidavit that the study by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to assess toxicity of chemicals in toys will take longer. He also said that the enforceability of imposition of standards on domestic toy manufacturers is also being examined in consultation with various ministries.

Shinde has also informed that a committee has been constituted comprising of Y K Gupta, Head of Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, P K Nag, Director of National Institute of Occupational Health, B Sesikaran, Director of National Institute of Nutrition, Ashwini Kumar, Acting Director of Indian Toxicology Research Centre and representative of Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards.

The committee will also have two expert members — C M Chako, Deputy Director and Head, Toxicology Sriram Institute of Industrial Research and retired chemist N P Agnihotri.

According to Shinde the committee would be monitoring the progress of the study being designed by National Institute of Nutrition and National Institute of Occupational Health. “The committee would also conduct studies to assess the harmful levels of certain chemicals used in manufacture of toys,” the affidavit states.

Shinde said that enforcement of any standard would face administrative hazards on account of the fact that there are a very large number of domestic toy manufacturers.

“It is clear that no standards can be imposed on imported toys alone and the same have to be imposed on the domestic industry,” Shinde said.

“After the law ministry gives its opinion, time would be required to give notice to the other countries under our international obligations. Similarly time would also be required for the domestic industry to make corrections,” affidavit says.

Additional Solicitor General Rajendra Raghuvanshi told the court that the import of such toys has been banned and sought for disposal of the petition.

However, petitioner Consumer Welfare Association’s lawyer Rajiv Chavan pointed out the lakhs of toys that are already in the market. Chavan submitted that there should be a time bound programme to implement standards set by the authorities.