Customs offers safety tips on Christmas toys to parents (with photos)

The Customs and Excise Department today (December 18) warned parents about potential hazards of a festive toy - a battery-operated flash light stick.

After conducting 96 spot checks on the safety of Christmas toys, Customs officers purchased a variety of 12 product samples of Christmas toys for safety tests by the Government Laboratory. Test results showed that 10 samples were safe.

In the remaining samples, a battery-operated flash light stick, purchased at a shop in Tsuen Wan, was found to have low risk. In a drop test, the metal wires of LED (Light Emitting Diode) of the flash light stick were exposed and became accessible, making the product fail in the safety requirements of not containing "sharp points".

The same sample also did not comply with the requirements relating to "small parts" as its button cell batteries fell off from the product in the drop test, posing choking hazard to children.

Besides, the retailer failed to provide its name and address on the toy when the product was supplied to local customers.

Another sample, a toy headband, purchased at a shop in Mong Kok, lacked identification markings as required by the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO). The retailer had not provided its name and address on the toy when the product was supplied in the market.

Customs investigation is continuing. Offenders will be prosecuted if sufficient evidence showing contraventions against TCPSO is obtained.

Under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to manufacture, import or supply a toy unless the toy complies with one of the following sets of safety standards:

1. International Voluntary Toy Safety Standard (IVTSS);
2. European Standard (EN71); and
3. ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) F963 - 96a.

The Ordinance carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and an imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and an imprisonment for two years on subsequent convictions.

In case members of the public come across suspected unsafe toys, they can call the 24-hour Customs hotline 2545 6182 to report.

Below are some toy safety tips for parents:

• Look for labels that give age recommendations when choosing toys. Never choose toys which are only suitable for children over three years old for children below three;
• Read and follow all instructions on toys. Beware of toys with sharp points or cutting edges;
• Keep small balls and marbles out of a child's reach since they are particularly dangerous to children aged below three. Tiny toys and toys with small, removable parts might be swallowed, inhaled and might choke a child to death;
• Keep magnetic toys away from a child's reach. If a child swallows more than one magnet, the magnets can attract each other in the body and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. Parents should seek immediate medical attention if a child swallows magnets.
• Beware of the paint on toys that might contain excessive level of lead, which is harmful to children's kidneys.
• Keep deflated balloons away from children and discard broken balloons at once as children below eight can choke or suffocate on swallowing deflated or broken balloons;
• Make sure batteries in toys are properly installed and not accessible to children. Besides, it is dangerous to mix old batteries with new ones; or to mix alkaline with carbon-zinc batteries, or rechargeable with non-rechargeable batteries; and
• Do not let children put musical toys close to their ears when playing. Cover the sound producing device with self-adhesive tape to reduce the volume.

During the period from December 2006 to November 2007, Customs conducted over 1,000 spot checks to detect unsafe toys, and prosecution actions had been taken against one importer, one wholesaler and two retailers of toys. A total of 101 toy suppliers were served with written warnings for supplying toys failing to comply with the requirements under TCPSO.

Ends/Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A battery-operated flash light stick, purchased at a shop in Tsuen Wan, was found to have low risk. In a drop test, the metal wires of LED (Light Emitting Diode) of the flash light stick were exposed and became accessible, making the product fail in the safety requirements of not containing "sharp points".
The same sample also did not comply with the requirements relating to "small parts" as its button cell batteries fell off from the product in the drop test, posing choking hazard to children.
Besides, the retailer failed to provide its name and address on the toy when the product was supplied to local customers.
Photo shows the product and its package (front).

A battery-operated flash light stick, purchased at a shop in Tsuen Wan, was found to have low risk. In a drop test, the metal wires of LED (Light Emitting Diode) of the flash light stick were exposed and became accessible, making the product fail in the safety requirements of not containing "sharp points".
The same sample also did not comply with the requirements relating to "small parts" as its button cell batteries fell off from the product in the drop test, posing choking hazard to children.
Besides, the retailer failed to provide its name and address on the toy when the product was supplied to local customers.
Photo shows the product and its package (back).