June 2026 Status: Urgent Safety Mandate
At Gumtree, the safety of our community is our absolute priority. In alignment with the official enforcement guidance from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), we are notifying all users of an immediate restriction on specific consumer products containing sand that have been found to be contaminated with asbestos.
The Risks of Asbestos in Consumer Products
The UK government maintains a strict zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in consumer products. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. While asbestos bound within an intact product poses less immediate harm, any loose sand or disturbed material can release airborne asbestos fibres. If these microscopic fibres are breathed in, they can cause severe, long-term respiratory diseases and health complications.
As a result, a comprehensive product recall has been issued across the UK, and these products must be completely removed from circulation.
Gumtree’s Immediate Actions
To protect our buyers and sellers, Gumtree has implemented a blanket ban on the listing, sale, trade, or exchange of these affected items with immediate effect. Our safety and moderation teams are actively scanning the platform to remove any matching listings. Any user attempting to list these items will face listing cancellation and potential account restrictions.
Comprehensive List of Affected Banned Products
If you own, see, or are considering listing any of the following items, please check the brand, product title, and unique identifiers (barcodes/product codes) carefully. None of the following items are permitted on Gumtree:
1. Kids Toys & Kids Crafts
- Addo Play:
- Out To Impress Sand Art Creations (Identifier: 563867)
- Out to Impress Creative Candles Kit (Identifier: 6859261000)
- Paw Patrol Sand Art
- Paw Patrol Bumper Craft Collection
- Colour Day: Sand Art Activity Kit
- Colour Forge: Basing Sand (Identifier: 6873931000)
- Craft Time: Sand Art Bracelets (Identifier: 47805)
- Crayola: * Touchy Feely Craft Box (Barcode: 5061047350522)
- Discovery Craft Box (Barcode: 5061047355015)
- Galt: Nature Craft Kit (Barcode: 5011979623997, Identifier: 1005476)
- Grafix: Make Your Own Sand Bottle (Barcode: 5015934717660)
- HGL: * Stretchy Sand Monster Truck/Car Toys (Barcode: 5021813218894)
- Stretchy Pig (Barcode: 5021813217954)
- Hobbycraft: * Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft (Identifiers: 6686021000, 6505261000, 6099201000, 6597221000 & 6606171000)
- Hobbycraft Easter Bumper Craft Kit (Identifier: 6835991000)
- Hobbycraft Sand and Pom Pom Art Kit (Identifier: 6669851000)
- Home Bargains: Stretchy Gorilla (Identifiers: 10891865 [small], 1087783 [XL])
- Hunter Price: Squishy Sausage Dogs and Squishy Pugs
- Kids Create: Kids Create Sand Art Kit (Barcode: 5012128618222, Identifier: YKICACA4A016)
- KTL / Kandy Toys:
- Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit (Barcode: 5033849865252, Identifier: TY7626)
- Stretchy Dog (Barcode: 5033849929411)
- Stretchy Capabyra (Barcode: 5063389048907)
- Stretchy Monster (Barcode: 5033849995485)
- Squeezy Splatter Pig (Barcode: 5063389048747)
- Squishy Hot Colour Gorilla Toy
- Sensory Science Kit (Barcode: 5033849928803)
- 3Pcs Test Tube Science Kit (Barcode: 5033849986032)
- Kreative Kids! Jumbo Craft Box (Barcode: 5033849045425)
- Balloon Dog Toy (Barcode: 5063389102319)
- Stretchy Poop Toy (Barcode: 5033849027407)
- My Living: World Worm Kit (Identifier: 5830641000)
- ORB Funkee: Funkee (All variations)
- Scrunchems: Sleepy Dino (Barcode: 5038728153109)
- Smyths:
- Dino Dig Sensory Bin (Identifier: 248772)
- Dig In Kit GOLD (Identifier: 231105)
- Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs (10pc) (Identifier: 166403)
- Gem Dig Kit (12 Gem Pack) (Identifier: 187539)
- Dig It Up Pirates 13 Treasure Set (Identifier: 223521)
- Dig In Treasure Dig and Discover Play Gold Treasure Chest (Identifier: 242645)
- Gem Dig Kit 8 Pack (Identifier: 187538)
- Stetcherz / Stretcherz: Stretcherz (All variations), Slammerz, and Stretch Squad
- Texet: * Bright Start Coloured Crafting Sand Pack (Barcode: 5060955510875)
- Bright Start Fluorescent Coloured Craft Sand Pack (Barcode: 5060955510899)
- Woorden Qiyi: Sand Activity Toy
2. Home Furnishings (Dunelm Fabric Doorstops Filled with Sand)
- Albert Dog Doorstop (Barcode: 5054077316156, ID: 30198710)
- Churchgate Swithland Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851419299, ID: 31000949)
- Cockapoo Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003483060, ID: 30891356)
- Cow Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003880548, ID: 30966707)
- Darcy Duck Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851464251, ID: 31011438)
- Elements Cord Ball Doorstop – Navy (Barcode: 5063003483077, ID: 30891357)
- Elements Cord Ball Doorstop – Ochre (Barcode: 5063003483305, ID: 30891370)
- Floral Jacquard Doorstop – Black (Barcode: 5063003483053, ID: 30891355)
- Floral Jacquard Doorstop – Natural (Barcode: 5063003483022, ID: 30891352)
- Fox Doorstop (Barcode: 5054077316187, ID: 30198713)
- Frog Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003880296, ID: 30966669)
- Geo Doorstop – Black (Barcode: 5063003483268, ID: 30891366)
- Geo Doorstop – Natural (Barcode: 5063003483084, ID: 30891358)
- Gilly the Giraffe Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851419404, ID: 31000940)
- Giraffe Doorstop (Barcode: 5057722706111, ID: 30725675)
- Hamish the Highland Cow Doorstop (Barcode: 5057722706128, ID: 30725676)
- Hare Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003483213, ID: 30891361)
- Hedgehog Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003483091, ID: 30891359)
- Honeycomb Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003483046, ID: 30891354)
- House Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003880180, ID: 30966712)
- Lenny the Labrador Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851417301, ID: 31000649)
- Llama Doorstop (Barcode: 5057722038144, ID: 30607179)
- Mushroom Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003880197, ID: 30966713)
- Owl Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003880555, ID: 30966708)
- Pear Shaped Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003894712, ID: 30968990)
- Pearl the Pig Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851419367, ID: 31000955)
- Pom Pom Doorstop – Grey (Barcode: 5057722932497, ID: 30767112)
- Pom Pom Doorstop – Natural (Barcode: 5057722933104, ID: 30767113)
- Pug Doorstop (Barcode: 5063003483237, ID: 30891363)
- Ralph the Schnauzer Doorstop (Barcode: 5054077870788, ID: 30453133)
- Sam the Sausage Dog Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851419411, ID: 31000961)
- Sandy the Boucle Sausage Dog Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851419183, ID: 31000928)
- Stevie the Schnauzer Doorstop (Barcode: 5056851419374, ID: 31000956)
- Velvet Cylinder Doorstop – Emerald (Barcode: 5057722932480, ID: 30767111)
- Velvet Cylinder Doorstop – Grey (Barcode: 5057722932473, ID: 30767050)
Company/Manufacturer Recall Notices
You can find individual company and manufacturer safety notifications at the following websites:
User Guidance: What You Need to Do
You own one of these products and were planning to sell it
Do not list this item on Gumtree. If you have an active listing for it, please delete it immediately. To guarantee your own safety and the safety of others, you must follow the official OPSS guidelines:
- Stop using the product immediately. Keep children and pets away from it.
- Secure the product safely: * If the sand is still sealed in its packaging: Place it inside a heavy-duty plastic bag, seal it securely with double tape, label it clearly as containing contaminated material, and store it in a secure location.
- If the sand has been opened, split, or exposed: Clean up the area carefully using wet cloths to prevent creating airborne dust. Wear protective gloves and a face mask during clean-up. Place the sand, used cloths, gloves, and mask into a plastic bag, and double-bag it securely.
- Get a refund or dispose of it safely: Take the product back to the brick-and-mortar retailer you originally purchased it from (e.g., Dunelm, Smyths, Hobbycraft, Home Bargains) to claim a full refund. If you cannot return it to the store, contact your local authority council or visit their website for instruction on safe asbestos disposal in your residential area.
Scenario B: You find one of these products actively listed on Gumtree
If you spot an active advertisement for any of the banned items listed above while browsing Gumtree, please take the following steps:
- Do not purchase, message, or attempt to swap for the item.
- Report the ad immediately: Click on the “Report Ad” button located directly on the listing page.
- Select the appropriate safety or prohibited item flag. This alerts our dedicated Safety Moderation Team instantly, allowing us to investigate, pull down the listing, and take appropriate action on the seller’s account to keep the marketplace safe.
For more information on product safety recalls or the health guidance framework surrounding asbestos, please consult the official Gov.uk Guidance on Asbestos in Consumer Products.
