The National Poisons Centre wants the Government to follow Australia's lead and ban the sale of mothballs containing naphthalene flakes.
The Australian Government banned the sale of the flakes following the death of a baby who had been exposed to them.
National Poisons Centre director Wayne Temple says New Zealand needs to act now to avoid tragedy.
He says mothballs are particularly dangerous, as children can mistake them for lollies. Napthalene can cause brain damage or death in vulnerable babies or children.
"The death of one child would be disastrous," Dr Temple says. "If we can avoid that happening, then it's a simple thing to ban, and going along with other countries as well."
