Hong Kong Customs today (February 17) alerted parents to immediately stop letting their babies use one model of teether. It could pose suffocation risks to a baby since the tail is too small and could become stuck in a baby's throat easily, contrary to the general safety requirements stipulated in the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO).
Customs also found a further two models of teethers failed to comply with the requirements under the TCPSO to bear identification markings and applicable bilingual warnings or cautions.
Customs officers earlier conducted a territory-wide spot check operation in various districts and seized 1 095 teethers of three models in contravention of the TCPSO from four chain stores and a wholesaler. Of these, 937 teethers could pose suffocation risks and 158 teethers failed to bear identification markings and applicable bilingual warnings or cautions.
Investigation is ongoing.
Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing teethers:
- Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
- Study and follow the instructions associated with the teethers;
- Check the structures of the teethers, such as checking whether they have a fragile structure. Detached fragments may block a baby's throat and lead to suffocation if swallowed;
- Throw away the plastic packaging of a teether to avoid children being suffocated; and
- Stop babies chewing the teethers immediately if any damage is observed.
Customs is committed to the protection of consumer interests 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 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).
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