Hong Kong Customs today (September 22) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe model of a toy gun set. Test results indicated that the toy gun and its whistle accessory might pose a safety hazard. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop their children from playing with the toy set. Traders should also remove the toy set from their shelves.
Customs officers earlier test-purchased various models of projectile toys from retailers in different districts for safety testing. Test results revealed that one model of a toy gun could allow children to put objects other than the original accessories into the barrel for shooting. It could cause injury if the objects were shot at children's or other people's eyes or faces. Moreover, the whistle accessory of the toy set could emit a sound over the permissible limit. It could cause damage to hearing if children were under prolonged exposures.
Customs later conducted an operation and searched the retailer's premises in connection with the case. Six suspected unsafe toy guns of the same model were seized and a prohibition notice was served at the same time to prohibit the continued sale of the toy set 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 toy guns:
- Do not let children play with toys alone;
- Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
- Pay attention to and follow all instructions associated with the toys;
- Do not put objects other than the original accessories into toy guns for shooting;
- Do not aim the toy guns at eyes or faces; and
- Do not let children put sound-emitting toy parts close to their ears.
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 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).
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