Turkey consumer leaders warn of toxic school stationery

Consumer advocacy leaders in Turkey are issuing warnings to parents regarding the safety of school stationery supplies ahead of the new academic year.

Mahmut Şahin, President of the Consumers Union, advises parents to look for TSE and CE certification marks to ensure quality and safety. He warns against products containing toxic heavy metals like lead or arsenic in pencils, phthalates in erasers, azo dyes in bags and clothing, and nickel in metal items. He also recommends checking for ‘BPA free’ labels on products and water bottles to avoid carcinogens.

Taha Keresteci, President of the All Stationers Association (TÜKİD), warns against purchasing from discount markets or ‘one million’ shops where product origins are often unknown. He notes that reliable stationery retailers maintain a product safety rate of over 99 percent. Keresteci advises consumers to verify the brand and the identity of the importer or manufacturer on the packaging, noting that products lacking this information may be counterfeit or smuggled.