Hong Kong Customs alerts public to unsafe Christmas squeeze toy
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).
Hong Kong Customs alerts public to unsafe Christmas squeeze toy Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs alerts public to unsafe Christmas squeeze toy Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods
Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide special enforcement operation yesterday (December 17) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 1,300 suspected counterfeit goods,with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million. Four persons were arrested.
Customs earlier received information alleging that suspected counterfeit speakers and wireless headphones were on sale in a chain retail group.After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the group's eight branches across the territory as well as an industrial unit in Kowloon. A batch of suspected counterfeit speakers and wireless headphones was seized.
During the operation, four men aged between 44 and 54 were arrested. They comprised two company directors and two shop managers.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods.
Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the product's authenticity is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent with merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report the sale of suspected counterfeit goods to 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).
Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
