XN000022-1992-09-15 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1992

THE TOY RETAILERS AND SUPPLIERS ALSO POINT OUT THAT ADOPTION OF THE ICTI STANDARD AS THE ONLY SAFETY STANDARD WOULD INCREASE THE PRICE OF TOYS, AS THOSE TOYS WHICH HAVE ALREADY COMPLIED WITH EN71 AND ASTM STANDARDS WOULD HAVE TO BE RE-TESTED AGAINST THE ICTI STANDARD AND THIS WOULD INCREASE THE SUPPLY COST.

"THE EN71 AND ASTM STANDARDS ARE USED RESPECTIVELY IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED STATES. OUR MAJOR ΤΟΥ SUPPLIERS, BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS, ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE STANDARDS.

"WE BELIEVE THAT A MULTIPLE-STANDARD-REGIME WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG AS A SMALL TOY MARKET. IT WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY FOR THE TOY SUPPLIERS WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, HE SAID.

"

"IN ADOPTING A MULTIPLE-STANDARD-REGIME, IT IS NECESSARY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SAFETY STANDARDS TO BE INCLUDED IN ORDER MINIMISE ENFORCEMENT COMPLEXITY AND AVOID POSSIBLE CONFUSION CONSUMERS.

"ONLY THOSE WHICH ARE OF AN INTERNATIONAL SELECTED, HE ADDED.

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THE HONG KONG TOYS COUNCIL HAS ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTION OF ICTI, EN71 AND ASTM STANDARDS IN THE BILL.

UNDER THE BILL, IT WILL BE A DEFENCE FOR A PERSON IN PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM TO SHOW THAT HE TOOK ALL REASONABLE STEPS AND EXERCISED ALL DUE DILIGENCE TO AVOID SUPPLYING UNSAFE TOYS OR CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS,

THESE COULD INCLUDE RELIANCE ON INFORMATION LIKE TESTING RESULTS SHOWING COMPLIANCE WITH THE SAFETY STANDARDS.

"WE APPRECIATE THE AD HOC GROUP'S CONCERN FOR PRE-SALE TESTING, AND AGREE TO CONSIDER PROVIDING EXPRESSLY IN THE BILL THAT SUCH TESTING CERTIFICATES MAY FORM A SPECIFIC DEFENCE FOR A TOY SUPPLIER IN PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM," MR CHAU SAID.

"WE

HOPE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THE NECESSARY THE BILL IN EARLY NOVEMBER," HE SAID.

AMENDMENTS TO

THERE WILL BE A GRACE PERIOD AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL TO ALLOW THE TOY SUPPLIERS TO ADJUST.

"IT IS OUR INTENTION TO BRING THE ORDINANCE INTO EFFECT NEXT JULY," HE SAID.

THE BILL WILL IMPOSE A STATUTORY DUTY ON SUPPLIERS OF TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS TO ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCTS THEY SUPPLY ARE SAFE, A BREACH OF WHICH MAY BRING A MAXIMUM FINE OF $500,000 AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

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