Firm fined over choke hazzard darts

A toy company in Walsall has been fined £2,000 for importing dart sets which had parts that could have choked young children.

B&J Distribution Ltd, which trades under the name B&J Toys at Empire Industrial Park in Aldridge, imported 28,800 sets from China but they failed to meet the minimum standards laid out by British safety regulations.

The company, which was brought to court by Bridgend Council in South Wales, is now being monitored by Walsall Council.

Sue Bell, principal trading standards officer at Walsall Council, said: "We are aware of the proceedings at Bridgend and have been informed that trading standards in that area are dealing with the matter. We are being kept informed of the situation but there are no pending prosecutions for the company in this borough."

The £1.99 toys, 11 of which were found on sale by trading standards in Porthcawl, contained a mask and toy gun, with darts. These were proven by experts to pose a "choking hazard".

The company was found guilty of offering for sale a toy which did not meet safety regulations as well as making a false or misleading statement on its website saying it was a member of the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Experts say 85 per cent of toys sold in British shops are imported from China.

Last Christmas all but one of the top 12 toys came from China.

Anyone with concerns should contact trading standards.