KEY POINTS:
Toy stores are pulling a line of popular Chinese-made building sets from the shelves amid fears loose magnets dislodged from the toys could be potentially fatal.
American toy distributor Mega Brands Inc announced the worldwide recall of 1.1 million Magtastik and Magnetix Jr because of fears children might swallow or inhale magnets that become loose.
Mega Brand's website said small parts of the buildable magnetic animals, vehicles and sets could detach and if more than one magnet was swallowed these could attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages.
At least 20 products from the Magtastik and Magnetix Jr range, for children 3 years and over, have since been recalled.
The recall also includes all products from the Magnetix range, for children 6 and over and about 1.3 million MagnaMan magnetic action figures for 8-year-olds.
The New Zealand distributor, Vaughan Harvey of Harvey Wholesale, told the Herald he was unable to comment on the situation pending a statement from Mega Brand's lawyers in Australia.
But calls to Mega Brand's Australian branch in Melbourne were referred to the company's communications director Harold Chizick, who lives in Montreal, Canada.
However, a source told the Herald the number of affected toys in New Zealand stores was "minimal" and most of the recalled items "are in toystores in the [United] States".
The Herald understands The Warehouse started pulling at least three of the Magnetix line off its shelves yesterday.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs said it had not had any reports of children swallowing magnets from these toys.
