Hong Kong Customs today (December 18) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe Christmas squeeze toy. Test results indicated that the eye component 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 Christmas squeeze toy. Traders should also remove the Christmas squeeze toy from their shelves.
Customs officers earlier test-purchased various models of Christmas toys from retailers in different districts for safety testing. Test results revealed that the eye component of the Christmas toy concerned detached easily and could pass through the base of a testing template, posing a danger of suffocation for children if accidentally swallowed.
Customs later conducted an operation and searched the retailer's premises in connection with the case. Three suspected unsafe Christmas squeeze toys of the same model were seized and a prohibition notice was served at the same time to prohibit the continued sale of the Christmas squeeze 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 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 Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, 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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
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