Hoverboards catch gov’t attention

Hoverboards. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RICHARD REYES

TO ADDRESS the safety risks of hoverboards, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will jointly enforce strict labeling requirements on distributors, traders and manufacturers of the two-wheeled foot scooter.

In an advisory, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the role of both departments in addressing the safety and health concerns raised over the battery-powered hands-free wheeled board had been agreed upon in a meeting on Jan. 6.

At the meeting, the DOH was tasked to monitor and report hoverboard-related injuries and accidents through its Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.

The FDA, on the other hand, would ensure that the application of its advisory on the gadget for future registration of toys will comply with the DOH’s regulations under ISO 8124 standards.

The DTI will be in charge of monitoring cautionary statements on the principal display panel of the toy’s packaging by distributors, traders and manufacturers.

The DTI will also check the integrity of the charger and batteries of the board, issue the list of companies selling defective hoverboards and file legal action against them if warranted.

“All complaints related to hoverboards will be mediated and/or adjudicated by the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau,” according to the latest joint advisory against hoverboards.

The warning was issued following reports from other countries ordering the recall and seizure of some models for fire and explosion risks.

The recent joint advisory also dispensed tips that may be used as a guide when buying or using hoverboards to help reduce the risk of injuries or accidents.

It advised distributors to comply with the requirement to label hoverboards available for retail under Republic Act No. 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013, and to include a warning statement “Not intended for children ages 14 and below” on the product’s principal display panel.