Warning as ‘dangerous’ children’s toys found with nails sticking out and choking hazards

A WARNING has been issued to toy imports after a number of poorly-made items were found with nails sticking out and choking hazards.

The handmade soft toys were found on a truck intercepted at the Port of Dover from Tukey by the imports compliance team at Kent Country Council (KCC).

KCCThe toys posed risk to kids with choking hazards and appeared poorly made[/caption]

Products including octopus and crocodile heads were targeted at kids as young as 36 months but were found broken or unsafe.

Some of the items had lose eyes which could become a choking hazard, if pulled off entirely, while others had fabric which wasn’t attached.

The toys didn’t have any warning labels to specify they had passed safety checks and lacked packaging information with a suffocation warning.

Among a load of blankets, pillowcases and curtains on the truck, there was also more than 200 wooden craft boxes found in the shipment.

Aimed at kids between eight and 14, the boxes posed issues as they were made with rough wood with sharp edges and some had nails sticking out, Kent Online reported.

The items have been pulled from reaching the general public, KCC said.

Kent Trading Standards operations manager Jim Whiddett said there are strict rules in place in the UK to ensure children’s toys are safe.

He said: “It is easy to forget that what may seem harmless to an adult, like buttons for eyes on a fluffy toy, poses a serious hazard to a young child.

“Failing to meet those standards puts young lives in danger and businesses importing the goods have to cover the costs for safely destroying those items.

“It’s a lose-lose situation.”

A warning has been issued to toy importers who need to ensure goods meet the safety requirements.

KCC cabinet member for community and regulatory services Mike Hill said the toys being intercepted may have prevented a terrible tragedy.

He said: “As we know from the Child Accident Prevention Trust, every day around 40 under-fives are rushed to hospital after choking on something, or swallowing something dangerous.

“Food is the most likely cause, but small objects and toys can also be risky for young children.”

KCCWooden boxes appeared to be poorly made with sharp edges[/caption]