A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (April 8) reminded parents to watch out for potential hazards posed by the plastic packing of toys.
Customs officers have recently conducted spot checks on retailers supplying stuffed toys in different districts. A number of stuffed toys, including the plastic bags which packed the toys, were sent to the Government Laboratory for safety tests and two plastic bags were found to have failed the tests.
The two stuffed toys imported by the same supplier were each contained in an elastic plastic bag of thickness less than 0.03810mm, posing suffocation hazard to children if the bags are put on the head. Customs has issued Prohibition Notices to the supplier and the two related retailers, prohibiting the supply of the toys concerned.
Parents are advised to properly dispose of the plastic bags of the toy packaging and make sure that children would 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 an imprisonment of one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and an imprisonment of two years on subsequent conviction.
Customs 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 consumer’s interest.
To report about 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/Wednesday, April 8, 2009
