Sand play products now ‘high risk’ and need to be tested before coming into Australia, border force says

Suppliers would not have previously been obliged to test the products at any point in the supply chain, ABF confirmed

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Coloured sand products which have been contaminated with asbestos and used widely in Australian schools were not required to undergo any testing for the hazardous material before they were imported, border officials have confirmed.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) on Tuesday said it would now consider sand products designed for children’s sensory play to be high risk, meaning they will require proof they are asbestos-free before they are allowed into the country.