XN000022-1993-06-25 — Page 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1993

13.

TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS SAFETY ORDINANCE TO START ON JULY 1

* * * * *

FOR

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED JULY 1 1993 AS THE COMMENCEMENT DATE THE TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS SAFETY ORDINANCE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN NOVEMBER 1992, IMPOSES A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAT ANY TOY OR CHILDREN'S PRODUCT MANUFACTURED, IMPORTED OR SUPPLIED FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION MUST BE SAFE.

"UNDER THE ORDINANCE, TOYS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH ANY ONE SET OF THE PRESCRIBED SAFETY STANDARDS FOR TOYS, NAMELY, ICTI, ASTM AND EN71; THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"

"CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION SPECIFICATIONS AS SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE. HE WILL ACT ON COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCT CHECKS.

FOR

SPOT

AS A REMEDIAL MEASURE, THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUIRE SUPPLIERS THROUGH A NOTICE SYSTEM TO MODIFY, AND IN EXTREME CASES, то RECALL UNSAFE TOYS OR CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS.

"A PERSON AGGRIEVED BY CERTAIN ENFORCEMENT ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE MAY APPEAL TO AN APPEAL BOARD WHICH COMPRISES CONSUMERS, MEMBERS FROM THE TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, LEGAL PRACTITIONERS AND EXPERTS IN PRODUCT SAFETY, * HE SAID.

PRE-SALE TESTING WILL BE VOLUNTARY. A PERSON MAY HAVE A TOY OR CHILDREN'S PRODUCT TESTED BY A LABORATORY APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR- GENERAL OF INDUSTRY ΤΟ DETERMINE WHETHER IT COMPLIES WITH THE PRESCRIBED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR TOYS OR CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS.

ON

THE ORDINANCE STIPULATES THAT A COURT, IN MAKING A DECISION THE DEFENCE OF DUE DILIGENCE FOR A PERSON, MAY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY AN APPROVED LABORATORY WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE TOYS OR CHILDREN'S PRODUCT IN QUESTION COMPLIES WITH ANY STATUTORY SAFETY REQUIREMENT PRESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE.

"WE HOPE THIS WILL ENCOURAGE SUPPLIERS TO CONDUCT PRE-SALE IESTING, HE SAID.

...

A PERSON WHO COMMITS AN OFFENCE UNDER THIS ORDINANCE MAY HAVE ΤΟ FACE A FINE OF $100,000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT ON FIRST CONVICTION AND A FINE OF $500,000 AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT ON SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION.

CONSUMERS ARE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST ANY TOY AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCT FOUND TO BE UNSAFE,' HE SAID.

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/COMPLAINTS SHOULD