Spot check: A pull-along telephone-car is one of several toys found to pose a hazard to children.

Inspections have found 13 festive toys do not comply with safety regulations, the Customs & Excise Department says.

The department conducted 52 spot checks at toys suppliers. Nineteen toy samples were sent to the Government Laboratory for safety tests.

Six were found to be safe while 10 failed to comply with the requirements of choking-hazard warnings, markings to show correct battery polarity and voltage, and identification markings.

For the remaining three items, the colour of a toy whistle contained excessive lead. A pull-along toy telephone-car had a string which could form a slip knot, posing a strangulation hazard to children. The crevices next to the wheels of a toy car were also found to easily entrap children's fingers.

From last December to November, Customs conducted 1,063 spot checks in which 25 items did not comply with requirements. A company and a person were prosecuted, and 174 toy suppliers were served with written warnings for supplying toys that failed to comply with standards.