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Ministry launches toy inspections

Following the US’ recent recall of fake children’s teeth and push toys imported from China, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) launched a six-month campaign to determine whether any of the products are sold in Taiwan.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced two separate voluntary recalls on April 10 and last Wednesday of 26,000 packs of fake teeth and 9,000 push toys imported by two US retailers, Funtastic and Santa Toy Corp, respectively.

The commission found that the surface paint on the products contained excessive levels of lead.

The “Hillbilly teeth” feature yellow-painted teeth spread unevenly across brown-colored gums.

PUSH TOY

The push toy features a plastic horse, a rider and a 50cm pole or handle. The rider is wearing red pants and a green shirt, while the horse comes in various colors.

While there have been no reports to date of illness from children who have played with the toys, the commission urged US consumers to return them to retailers for a refund.

The ministry’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection said it had no knowledge of the products being imported into Taiwan.

The bureau launched a series of measures, including a six-month import inspection and monitoring program beginning last Thursday, to ensure that local children were protected from these potentially threatening products.

“If these products are found in the local market, the bureau will inspect them to determine if they violate local lead-level standards,” a bureau official said.

To help track down the toys, the bureau issued a description of the suspected goods.

INSPECTIONS

The bureau encouraged local consumers to report to the bureau if they have purchased the toys, a ministry press release said.

Locally sold toys have long been subject to inspections for safety reasons and are banned from the domestic market if found to be substandard, the statement said.
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