STATIONERY shops have been ordered to remove from shelves a Japanese brand of crayons which contain toxic substances.
About 37,000 sets of Tombow Colour Sticks have been seized from the importer, agent, and 50 retailers by Customs and excise officers since Tuesday.
Tests in the government laboratory show crayons of the colour orange-red, or vermilion, contain soluble barium compounds three times higher than the safety level.
Barium is a toxin and can cause damage to the heart and kidneys or cause stomach spasms if a large amount is taken over a long period of time.
Children are the most vulnerable.
The Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance, enacted last July, states a safety level of barium of no more than 500 units per one million. It is the British standard and generally adopted in Europe.
But chemists found a level of 2,000 units in the orange-red colour crayons, which are in the brand's 18-colour and 24-colour sets. The rest of the crayons are safe.
