Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department has warned retailers and consumers of the hazards of drawstrings on children’s’ clothing.
The warning comes after 145 pieces or sets of unsafe clothing were seized from five retail stores today.
C&ED says the clothing posed a strangulation and entrapment hazard for the chidlren wearing them.
“Parents are advised to immediately remove the drawstrings from the clothing to eliminate the hazards,” the department said in a release.
The items seized had free-end drawstrings at the hood, neck or hipline.
According to the National Standard of the People’s Republic of China for safety specifications for cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing, clothing for children under the age of seven shall not carry hood and neck drawstrings, or have hipline drawstrings hanging below the lower edge of the clothing. Halter vests shall be constructed with no free ends in the hood and neck.
A Customs spokesman advised parents to watch out for potential hazards when selecting clothing for their children.
Under the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.
To report unsafe consumer goods, please call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or write to the Consumer Protection Bureau, Customs and Excise Department, 14/F, Customs Headquarters Building, 222 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong.