A children's craft kit sold in New Zealand has been recalled after asbestos was found in the sand inside it.
Product Safety New Zealand published the recall of the Creativity for Kids by Faber-Castell Plant & Grow – Woodland Forest kit on 12 November. The supplier, A.W. Faber-Castell New Zealand, said trace amounts of asbestos had been found in the orange sand in the kit.
The same week, Consumer NZ told shoppers to avoid any products with coloured play sand when buying Christmas presents.
How do I know if I have the recalled kit?
The kit is a DIY terrarium for children. Consumer NZ said it contains two sealed bags of loose sand, one blue and one orange, and is labelled "Non-Toxic" and "Safe for Children".
Product Safety NZ says to check the base of the back of the box for:
- Product code: 35-6363
- Barcode: 0092633318089
The recall notice lists more than 20 sellers, with sales from May 2024 to October 2026. They include Paper Plus, Mighty Ape, ToyWorld Manukau, Mitre 10 Martinborough, Palmers Plimmerton, The French Art Shop and Wellington Zoo Trust. Consumer NZ said the kit had also been available through Spotlight and online retailers, and that The Warehouse sold it in November 2025.
A kit bought as a present and not yet given is covered too.
What should I do with it?
Product Safety NZ says:
- Stop using it immediately.
- Email sales.nz10@faber-castell.com with proof of purchase, such as a receipt or a photo of the product, to get a refund.
- Follow Health New Zealand's advice on containing and disposing of it.
Health NZ's advice for households is to leave the product in its original container if you can, put it in a thick plastic bag and tape it shut, then put that inside a second thick bag, tape it and label it "Asbestos-Contaminated Material". Do not put it in your household rubbish. Contact your local council about where to take it, and do not drop it at a council facility unless the council tells you to. Until then, store it out of reach of children, ideally in a garage or shed.
If the sand has spilled, Health NZ says to wear a P2 or N95 mask and disposable gloves, lightly wet the sand so it does not raise dust, wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and bag everything, including the cloths and gloves. Do not vacuum it, because that can spread fibres.
My child has played with it. Do they need to see a doctor?
No urgent medical attention is needed, according to Health NZ. Asbestos does not cause immediate health problems; related illnesses develop over many years, and risk depends on the type and amount of asbestos and how long someone was exposed. Health NZ says there is no safe level, so the aim is to avoid any further exposure, but for most households the amounts involved will be small.
If you are worried, call Healthline free on 0800 611 116. Staff can tell you whether your child or anyone else in the family should see a health professional.
Why is Consumer NZ warning about all play sand?
New rules are coming, but not before Christmas. From 1 February 2027, certain consumer sand products, including toys and craft products with sand that children can reach, must be tested by an accredited lab and shown to be asbestos-free before they can be sold. We covered the new testing rule when it was announced last month.
Until then, Consumer NZ says shoppers cannot assume a sand product is safe just because a legitimate New Zealand shop sells it. The Commerce Commission said that as of October, 23 sand products had been recalled since November 2025, affecting around 46,000 items.
Ben Alford, director of Auckland laboratory Aerem, which first detected the asbestos, told Consumer NZ that testing only shows what is in the portion tested and cannot guarantee every bag or batch is clean. He is calling for a blanket ban on coloured play sand.
Consumer NZ also said Faber-Castell had earlier told a concerned parent its products had been "thoroughly tested" and did not contain asbestos. Faber-Castell told Consumer NZ it worked with retailers to remove the product once it learned it did not comply with New Zealand rules.
Does this affect rangoli colours?
Product Safety NZ's list of products covered by the new testing rule includes rangoli products that contain sand, along with tubs of coloured sand, craft sand and stretchy sensory toys with sand inside. Rangoli powders made without sand are not mentioned. If a rangoli kit at home lists sand as an ingredient, check it against the Product Safety NZ recall list.
The rule does not cover natural sand used to fill sandpits and playgrounds.
