Consumer NZ is warning that gaps in Aotearoa's product safety system are leaving shoppers exposed, after finding a toy banned in the UK can still be bought here through online marketplaces.A number of Squeezy Dumplings - a popular toy shaped like a soft dumpling - were recalled in the UK in June after testing found benzene in the outer layer.Benzene can irritate the skin and, where exposure is significant, cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract.While Consumer NZ said this recalled toy cannot be bought in stores like The Warehouse or Kmart, it can be ordered from Aliexpress.Stores such as The Warehouse and Kmart do, however, sell similar products.Head of research and advocacy Gemma Rasmussen said the availability of potentially dangerous toys through online marketplaces exposed a weakness in how product safety is managed in New Zealand."Shoppers shouldn't have to wonder whether a toy is safe. Yet for many products sold online, there has been no independent testing before they reach New Zealand homes."She said New Zealand product safety laws had not been significantly updated in decades, while in-store and online marketplaces had changed dramatically.New Zealand has a product safety standard for children's toys enforced by the Commerce Commission.However, Rasmussen said the system was far from watertight and there remained a risk that unsafe products cross into the country every day."That system only works if manufacturers are doing the right thing and problems are identified quickly," Rasmussen said."Unfortunately, that's not always the case."Earlier this month, research by Auckland University of Technology confirmed asbestos was present in some children's play sand sold in New Zealand and that airborne fibres could be released during normal play.Rasmussen said the safety regime currently used by New Zealand and Australian regulators was heavily reliant on risk assessments commissioned by product suppliers themselves, rather than independently verified testing."Whether it's asbestos in play sand or benzene in a toy, these cases demonstrate why we cannot rely solely on manufacturers' own safety claims."She asked the government to introduce a product safety system in Aotearoa that reflects the risks we currently face in our marketplaces.