Erbil crackdown follows child’s chemical burns from ‘lip gloss’ found in toy box

ERBIL — Local health and commercial surveillance teams in Erbil have launched a wide-ranging operation to track down and seize a harmful children’s toy box containing toxic lip gloss, after a five-year-old girl suffered severe chemical burns from the product.

Dr. Ismail Barzinji, director of health surveillance in Erbil, told 964media, “After learning about the case, we investigated and located the wholesale supplier distributing the toy to local shops.” The teams identified the supplier in the Sheikh Allah Market.

Officials confiscated 480 units of the toy, labeled “Mahir” and featuring “Tom and Jerry” characters on the packaging. “Some shops, after hearing about the incident, had already removed the product, but we will continue our operations to ensure that every unit is taken off the market to prevent further harm,” Barznji said.

The seized toys, discovered in storage alongside other goods, lack expiration dates or safety certifications. Ako Ismail, a commercial and health surveillance inspector, told 964media, “We seized an entire box of these toys and are conducting further investigations to identify other locations selling them and trace the original source.”

“We’ve discovered where the toys are being produced, but we cannot disclose the name of the manufacturer at this time,” Barznji confirmed, noting that the product’s origin has already been established.

According to Ismail, the distributor sold up to five boxes per day. “The warehouse will be closed immediately, and appropriate legal measures will be taken in line with the Ministry of Trade’s regulations,” he said.