Unsafe teether warning issued

February 17, 2020

Customs today urged parents to stop letting babies use an unsafe teether which could lead to suffocation.

 

It warned the teether's tail is too small and could easily become stuck in a baby's throat, and that it is contrary to the general safety requirements stipulated in the Toys & Children's Products Safety Ordinance.

 

The department also found another two teether models failed to comply with the ordinance's requirements to bear identification markings and applicable bilingual warnings or cautions.

 

Customs officers had earlier conducted a citywide spot check in various districts and seized 1,095 teethers of three models in contravention of the ordinance from four chain stores and a wholesaler.

 

Among them, 937 teethers could pose a suffocation risk and 158 failed to bear identification markings and applicable bilingual warnings or cautions. An investigation is ongoing.

 

Customs reminds members of the public, when purchasing teethers, to pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels, study and follow the instructions and check if the teethers have a fragile structure.

 

It is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and one-year imprisonment on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and two-years' imprisonment on subsequent conviction.

 

Call 2545 6182 or email to report suspected unsafe toys or children's products.

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