XN000022-1992-11-04 — Page 3

1

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1992

BILL TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM UNSAFE TOYS AND PRODUCTS PASSED

A BILL AIMS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM UNSAFE TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS WAS PASSED INTO LAW TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ΤΟ PROMOTE

FACILITATE CONSUMER AWARENESS AND

COMPLIANCE SUPPLIERS OF TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS, A PUBLICITY PROGRAMME THE LEGISLATION WILL BE LAUNCHED.

BY FQR

THE PROVISIONS

YEAR.

OF THE BILL WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM

JULY NEXT

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS SAFETY BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MS DENISE YUE, SAID A MULTIPLE-STANDARD-REGIME

TOYS, INSTEAD OF A SINGLE-STANDARD-REGIME, WOULD BE ADOPTED.

ADOPTED

UNDER THE ADOPTED REGIME, THE ICTI STANDARD, THE ASTM

IN ADOPTED

THE UNITED STATES AND THE EN71 STANDARD EUROPEAN COMMUNITY WILL BE PRESCRIBED AS EQUALLY ACCEPTABLE SAFETY STANDARDS.

OF

FOR

STANDARD

IN THE STATUTORY

"WE BELIEVE THAT A MULTIPLE-STANDARD-REGIME WILL MEET THE NEEDS HONG KONG AS A SMALL TOY MARKET, THE SECRETARY SAID.

"

MS YUE ALSO SAID IT WOULD MAXIMISE THE CHOICE OF TOYS SUPPLIED SUPPLIERS HONG KONG AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY FOR TOY WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN.

IN

ΤΟ ENSURE

LEGISLATION,

THE AN EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY UPON RECEIPT COMPLAINTS.

THE

OF

AND

IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT SPOT CHECKS CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS.

ON TOYS

A DEDICATED TEAM OF TRADE CONTROL OFFICERS WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO PERFORM THESE FUNCTIONS, SHE SAID.

THE

SHOULD

BE LEGISLATION ALSO STATED THAT PRE-SALE TESTING VOLUNTARY. IT IS IN VIEW OF LEGAL ADVICE THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SANCTIONS PROVIDED MAY BE REDUCED BY THE ADOPTION OF COMPULSORY SALE TESTING.

PRE-

PRE-SALE

AS A POSITIVE STEP TO ENCOURAGE SUPPLIERS TO CONDUCT TESTING, AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS MOVED, STIPULATING THAT THE COURT MAY

OF A TESTING TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE EXISTENCE

STANDARDS, SAFETY SHOWING COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTORY CERTIFICATE WHEN CONSIDERING A SPECIAL DEFENCE OF DUE DILIGENCE BY A SUPPLIER TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS IN PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM.

OF

THAT THE TOY MS YUE ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHARED THE VIEW INDUSTRY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND OUT EASILY WHICH LABORATORIES HAD BEEN APPROVED BY

THE

FOR THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF INDUSTRY TESTING TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS.

PURPOSE OF

/SHE SAID