Hong Kong customs warns of choking, injury risks from two toys
700 catapult and tangram sets seized, parents urged to stop use immediately.
Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department has issued a safety warning after seizing 700 units of a catapult toy and a tangram set during a recent operation. The toys were found to pose serious injury and suffocation risks to children, prompting a prohibition notice banning their sale. The department urged retailers to immediately remove the products from shelves and advised parents to stop children from playing with them. The safety tests, conducted on toys bought at a Chinese New Year fair, revealed that the catapult toy's projectile carries sufficient kinetic energy to cause injury if aimed at the eyes or face, and it lacks a protective leading part made of resilient material. The tangram set contains small components that present a choking hazard if accidentally swallowed. Additionally, neither product carried the required warning labels, hazard cautions, or mandatory identification markings as required by law. The department's spokesman emphasized the need for immediate action to avoid accidents, and customs will continue monitoring the market for non-compliant toys.
- Customs seized 700 units of catapult and tangram toys during an operation.
- Catapult toy's projectile can cause eye/face injury due to lack of protective tip.
- Tangram set has small components posing suffocation risk; no warning labels present.
Why It Matters
This warning highlights regulatory gaps and the need for parents to check toy safety certifications.