Hong Kong Customs alerts public to unsafe racket projectile toy (with photos)
​Hong Kong Customs today (June 21) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe racket projectile toy. Test results indicated that the toy could pose an injury risk to children. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop their children from playing with the racket projectile toy. Traders should also remove the racket projectile toys 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 racket projectile toy could launch objects other than its original accessories. It could cause injury if the objects were shot at one's eyes or faces. Customs also found that the toy did not carry a safety warning about the risk of choking caused by the small balls it contains. Moreover, the identification markings of the toy did not comply with the related requirements prescribed by the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO).
Customs later conducted an operation to search the retailer's premises in connection with the case. No other suspected unsafe racket projectile toys were found, and a prohibition notice was served at the same time to prohibit the continued sale of the unsafe racket projectile toy by the retailer.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and playing with projectile toys:
• Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
• Pay attention to and follow the instructions associated with the toys;
• Do not put items other than original accessories into toys for shooting;
• Do not shoot items into eyes or faces;
• 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 an easily broken 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 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 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).
