Cute jewellery and accessories from bargain stores may seem like a good idea for play time, loot bags and stocking stuffers, but the disturbing truth is that some of these products contain cadmium—a heavy metal that is toxic to children if ingested (licked, swallowed, etc.). The good news? Canada’s Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, announced today that the government will be cracking down on cadmium in children’s products.

According to a report from CBC News:

The government has regulations on the amount of lead that can be used in products, but there were no limits, in the form of guidelines or regulations, on cadmium.

“Our goal is to reduce the level of cadmium in children’s jewelry to a level that is protective of health, so that parents and child care providers can feel confident about the jewelry products that their children wear,” Aglukkaq said when she made the announcement at a daycare in Ottawa.

Health Canada isn’t moving yet to bring in regulations, but the guideline it is proposing suggests a total cadmium concentration in children’s jewelry of 130 parts per million, or 0.013 per cent of its weight.

“Parents want the products they buy for their children to be safe,” said Pamela Fuselli, executive director at Safe Kids Canada, in a news release. “Young children explore their world through touch and taste, so guidelines like this ensure products children use often will be safer.”

For safety tips concerning children’s jewellery, visit the Healthy Canadians website.

Are you concerned about the level of cadmium in your child’s jewellery? Have you avoided buying play jewellery and other accessories for your kids for this reason?