The Consumer Council tested 14 models of children’s raincoats and ponchos and found that some designs failed to meet safety requirements, while others contained phthalate DEHP at levels exceeding the upper limit.
The models, priced between HK$12 and HK$238, were labeled as suitable for children 110 centimeters in height, or between ages three to seven.
The consumer watchdog discovered that the cords and drawstrings on three models failed to meet the European Standard’s safety requirements, posing potential strangulation, dragging, or entrapment risks.
One model had sleeve-adjusting tabs measuring 13.4 cm in length, exceeding the 10 cm limit, and hanging below the sleeve edge.
Meanwhile, another model had a fixed loop on the hood with a circumference of 21 cm, nearly double the standard limit.
Two models contained phthalate DEHP at levels exceeding the European Union’s (EU) REACH Regulation limit, with one model surpassing the threshold by nearly 11 times.
The Council noted that this substance may disrupt the endocrine system and adversely affect reproductive health or fetal development.
The tests also revealed that one model’s pocket component contained 145 ppm of total lead, exceeding the US regulatory limit.
“The Council urges manufacturers to improve product design and materials and reminds parents to select safe and reliable rainwear for their children,” the watchdog said.
