The Customs and Excise Department today (November 20) reminded parents to watch out for potential hazards posed by the plastic packing on puzzle toys.
Upon receiving a complaint about a retailer supplying suspected unsafe puzzle toys, Customs officers immediately conducted spot checks on the alleged toys. The puzzle toys, including the packing plastic bags, were sent to the Government Laboratory for safety tests and all the plastic bags failed the tests.
The puzzle toys each contained in an elastic plastic bag of thickness less than 0.038mm, would posing suffocation hazard to children if the bag was put on the head. In a recent operation, Customs officers seized 94 sets of puzzle toys from two retailers and their branches. Customs has also issued Prohibition Notices to the importers and the related retailers, prohibiting the supply of the toys concerned. Customs investigation is continuing.
Parents are advised to properly dispose of the plastic bags of the toy packaging and make sure that children will not put the bags on their heads.
Under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to import, manufacture or supply unsafe toys in Hong Kong.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment of one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of two years on subsequent conviction.
Customs always conducts spot checks on the safety of toys and children's products to ensure their compliance with the safety requirements of the prescribed standards set under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance in order to protect consumers' interest.
To report unsafe toys and children's products, the public can call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or write to the Consumer Protection Bureau, Customs and Excise Department at 11/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point.
Ends/Friday, November 20, 2009
