Fidget spinners are the official craze of 2017 and we’re not sure what the kids did before they were invented.
The toy which was initially designed as an aid for ADHD and stress sufferers has become the must-have gadget for kids everywhere.
A fidget spinner consists of three sections which rotate around a central disc which the user holds in their hand. They can be used to perform tricks and some schools have even had to ban them due to the distraction they cause.
But Irish customs officials aren’t quite so enamoured with the toy, they’ve seized over 200,000 fidget spinners which were imported for sale here. It’s feared that these fidget spinners may pose a safety risk to children.
If the gadgets are found to be unsafe, they may be destroyed.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has said that some of the fidget spinners being imported to meet demand may not meet safety standards, according to The Journal. They are particularly concerned about the toy posing a choking risk to children.
The consumer watchdog released a statement saying: “Since 8 May, the CCPC, in collaboration with Revenue and Customs, has stopped and seized approximately 200,000 fidget spinners.
“We are currently examining samples of these products and if we find that they do not comply with product safety legislation, they may be sent back to where they originally came from or destroyed.”
The CCPC has said that some have already found to be non-compliant with Irish and European safety laws.
There are stringent laws surrounding the sale of products and toys for children in the EU. All items must comply with certain standards and must bear the CE mark which is a declaration that the product conforms to EU safety laws.
Among the problems found by officials included: no visible CE mark, fake or non-compliant CE mark, no small parts warning and small detachable parts which pose a serious choking hazard.
Parents are being reminded to check for a CE mark when buying a fidget spinner and to check if they have parts that may be dangerous to children.
“Check if the fidget spinner has any detachable small parts that could lodge in the ears, nose, or throat, and cause an injury to a child. Recent media outlets reported that a 10-year old child required surgery after a fidget spinner part they swallowed became lodged in their oesophagus,” the CCPC said.
When buying a fidget spinner, always buy from an authorised retailer. If you want to find out more about these regulations, visit citizensinformation.ie.
