Hong Kong Customs today (March 14) alerted members of the public to the potential suffocation and pinching hazards to infants posed by four models of cot mattress.
Customs officers conducted territory-wide spot check operations against unsafe cot mattress in the past two weeks and seized a total of 59 suspected unsafe cot mattresses of the four models from three chain stores and a wholesaler.
Initial investigation revealed that the four models of cot mattresses were suspected to have failed to comply with the relevant safety standards in respect of deficiencies in firmness, durability and dimensions as well as the easiness of tearing off labels, posing risks of suffocation and pinching to infants.
Investigation is ongoing.
Customs advises parents to select and purchase cot mattresses with appropriate firmness and dimensions so as to ensure the safety of their infants.
Under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.
Members of the public may report information relating to suspected unsafe toys or children's products via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, March 14, 2019
