Any parent looking at these devices will likely get a sinking feeling in his or her chest, instantly seeing both the appeal and the danger the toys pose. Which is a legitimate concern considering some kids already have.Ī toothpick crossbow is exactly what it sounds like: a pint-size, plastic crossbow fitted with a metal, grooved track that directs a small projectile, such as a toothpick, needle or nail. As the saying goes, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. The toothpick crossbow has taken China by storm with hordes of kids flinging toothpicks around classrooms, restaurants, and stores. The situation warrants tightened supervision over toys, he said.Move over fidget spinners, there’s a new fad toy on the block. There have been many assault cases, especially on campus, linked to such "toys," Chen said. dollars) fines.Ĭhen Lei, a lawyer in the central province of Hubei, said the toothpick crossbow is not the only item that blurs the boundaries of a toy and a weapon. Violation can lead to five days in detention and up to 500 yuan (74 U.S. The public security administrative punishments law says that crossbows cannot be carried around without a permit. Legal experts, however, say toothpick crossbows should be classified as crossbows, rather than a toy. It is not worth it."Ĭhina's toy safety regulation provides that toys shall not pose harm to children. "Now with the ban, no one will mess with the authorities. Then copycats emerge, profits shrink, and the business is over," he was quoted by Legal Evening News as saying. "The manufacturers can only make money in first few orders. But we will work with the police to trace the manufacturer," said a provincial commerce official.Īn anonymous toy trader told a Beijing newspaper that technically plastic mini crossbows are very easy to make but it is not a sustainable business. "The toy was never been popular in Zhejiang. Zhejiang market regulators said they found 528 crossbow toys in 7,744 retail shops. The owners denied producing the toys and said that they had never even heard of them.Īfter the investigation, local market regulators concluded that all information on the packaging - address, certificate, telephone, website - was fabricated. The address on the packaging led inspectors to stationary and luggage factories. Previous photos shared online of parcels containing the crossbow revealed that some had been manufactured in Yiwu, the city in Zhejiang Province known for its giant wholesale market. JD.com, another online retailer, did the same more than a week ago. In addition, searches containing "toothpick crossbows" will return no results, it said. The toy has also been removed from major online retail sites.Īlibaba's said it had banned all miniature or toy-like crossbows and had urged vendors to ensure none slipped through the net. In neighboring Yunnan Province, police were mobilized to assist the crackdown. "Retailers bought the toys for 3.50 yuan each and sold them in school kiosks for 5 to 10 yuan," said Jiang Yuandong, an inspector with the district commerce bureau of Bozhou, under Zunyi. In Guizhou Province, inspectors found 75 mini crossbows in a raid at a toy market in the city of Zunyi. It is too dangerous," he said.Īcross the country, only one injury has been reported in connection with the toothpick crossbow. Playing with such a toy will not be tolerated. "Kids are being watched by teachers and parents. We think the toy was never that popular in Beijing, which we learned from schools," said an inspector who did not give his name. In Beijing, the municipal bureau of commerce said its teams has raided nearly 600 kiosks, shops, toy wholesale markets, mall stalls but found only three toothpick crossbows. In less than two weeks, hundreds were confiscated, while others have crept out of sight both in retail stores and on the Internet. The government has since banned the device and organized shop raids across the country. "It should be banned and removed from all stores." "This is more a time-bomb than a toy," said a Beijing parent surnamed Geng. Parents and school administrators quickly raised their concerns on social media, many of the messages were shared widely and the topic quickly started trending. The miniature crossbows first surfaced in mid June in kiosks near schools in several provinces. When replaced with needles, it can even leave a dent on glass or pierce a tin can. The toy can easily penetrate paper, pop balloons, and stick in cardboard boxes. The "toy" in question is the toothpick bow - a palm-size crossbow made of plastic or metal that fires toothpicks as arrows. A new toy that panicked parents and teachers has vanished from shelves almost as fast as it emerged.
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