Hong Kong Customs alerts public on unsafe children's board book toy (with photo)

Hong Kong Customs today (March 28) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe children's board book toy. Test results indicated that the plastic binding rings of the toy may detach and pose suffocation risks to children. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop their children from playing with the children's board book toy. Traders should also remove the children's board book toy from their shelves.

Customs officers earlier test-purchased a model of the children's board book toy from a retailer for safety testing. Test results revealed that the plastic binding rings detached from the book and could pass through the base of a testing template, posing a danger of suffocation for children if accidentally swallowed. Moreover, Customs also found that the children's board book toy did not bear the identification markings prescribed by the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO).

Customs later conducted an operation and searched the retailer's premises in connection with the case. No suspected unsafe children's board book toy of the same model was found and a prohibition notice was served at the same time to prohibit the continued sale of the children's board book toy by the retailer and the related wholesaler.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and playing with toys:

• Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
• Pay attention to and follow the instructions associated with the toys;
• Beware of whether the small parts of toys (e.g. plastic rings) are easily detachable. Detached small parts may block a child's throat and lead to suffocation if swallowed;
• Check the structure of the toys to see, for example, whether they have a fragile structure, hidden sharp points, rough surfaces, sharp edges or gaps that may pinch children's fingers;
• Throw away plastic packages of toys and children's products to avoid children being suffocated; and
• Stop children from playing with the toys immediately if any damage is observed.

Customs is committed to the protection of consumer safety and regularly conducts spot checks and safety tests on toys and children's products to ensure that they are reasonably safe for use by consumers.

Under the TCPSO, 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 a 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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hong Kong Customs today (March 28) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe children's board book toy. Test results indicated that the plastic binding rings of the toy may detach and pose suffocation risks to children. Photo shows the children's board book toy concerned.