Cute but dangerous: This battery-operated toy lantern had no instructions on safe battery usage, nor did its battery compartment show the correct battery polarity and voltage.

In safety tests, 10 battery-operated toy lantern models and seven light stick models failed to meet the prescribed standards, the Customs & Excise Department says.

The toys had been sent to the Government Laboratory earlier for testing under the Toys & Children's Products Safety Ordinance.

The items also failed to meet the regulation's identification marking requirements for toys.

Toys lack battery instructions, supplier details

The samples did not carry the required instructions on safe battery usage, and the battery compartment was not marked to show the correct battery polarity and voltage.

The light sticks and nine toy lantern samples were found without the name and address of the local manufacturer, importer or supplier on the packaging.

The department will investigate the 17 suppliers concerned and prosecute or serve written warnings to any suppliers of unsafe battery-operated toy lanterns and light sticks to protect consumer interests.

Toys do adhere to sound-level standards

The Government Laboratory also confirmed that nine of the battery-operated toy lantern samples, which had sound-producing features, did comply with requirements on the peak emission sound pressure level prescribed in the current European Standard.

Nevertheless, parents are advised to be cautious when their children are playing with these musical toys.

To reduce the potential risk, children should not put the musical toy lanterns close to their ears while playing, and parents may stick adhesive tape onto the sound-producing devices to reduce the volume.

To report any unsafe toys, please call the department at 2545 6182.