The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) today (July 31) alerted members of the public to potential strangulation and entrapment hazards posed by the drawstrings of children's clothing. Parents are advised to immediately remove the drawstrings from the clothing to eliminate the hazards.
The C&ED recently seized from five children's clothing retailers and their outlets 145 pieces/sets of children's jackets and swimsuits with free-end drawstrings at the hood, neck or hipline.
According to the National Standard of the People's Republic of China for safety specifications for cords and drawstrings on children's clothing, clothing for children under the age of seven shall not carry hood and neck drawstrings, or have hipline drawstrings hanging below the lower edge of the clothing. Halter vests shall be constructed with no free ends in the hood and neck.
A Customs spokesman advised parents to watch out for potential hazards when selecting clothing for their children.
Under the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.
To report unsafe consumer goods, please call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or write to the Consumer Protection Bureau, Customs and Excise Department, 14/F, Customs Headquarters Building, 222 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, July 31, 2015
