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A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (September 9) urged members of the public, especially parents, to stop their children from playing with an unsafe toy that has expandable plastic beads.
The unsafe toy comes in two forms ¡V one marked ¡§Crystal Baby¡¨ and the other marked ¡§water babies¡¨. In the former, beads, each measuring about 2mm in diameter, are placed in a plastic container in the shape of a tiny baby milk bottle marked with the words ¡§Crystal Baby¡¨ and put on sale in vending machines. For the latter, beads are sold in a pack marked with the words ¡§water babies¡¨.
The spokesman made the appeal after the department, having consulted the Department of Health and the Government Laboratory, found that some toy samples obtained from the market had failed to comply with the statutory safety requirements for toys.
In the test conducted by the Government Laboratory, the plastic beads of the toy expanded over six times in diameter after being soaked in water. Such expansion is about 12 times more than the allowable expansion limit of 50% in the safety standard.
According to the Department of Health, the marked expansion in the size of the toy poses a potential hazard, including asphyxia and gastro-intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal, if beads of the toy are swallowed by children.
The toy's non-compliance with the prescribed safety standard will pose a high risk to children playing with it.
In a recent operation, Customs officers seized 1,271 bottles and 1,049 packs of the problematic toy from 19 retailers.
The Customs spokesman said, ¡§Customs investigation is continuing with a view to taking appropriate action against companies or persons, including bringing prosecution or issuing written warnings.¡¨ So far, Customs has issued Prohibition Notices to two retailers to stop them from selling the unsafe toy.
Under the Toys and Children¡¦s Products Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys into Hong Kong.
The maximum penalty for the offence 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.
To report unsafe toys and children's products, consumers 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/Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:01
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