A government survey this month found that 25 percent of light emitting diode (LED) toys sold on the local market were unsafe, while 65 percent failed to specify product information, a senior official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.

The ministry's Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection randomly inspected 20 China-made LED toys to protect children's safety and safeguard consumer's rights.

"Five of these toys failed to meet national safety standards as they have sharp edges that can easily harm children," Wang Cheng-huei, the bureau's deputy director, said at the press conference, unveiling the results of the survey conducted this month.

Except for having sharp edges, the surveyed products met other safety standards, including those concerning flammability and heavy metal concentration, Wang said.

As for product information, 13 of the 20 inspected toys had no written labels, Wang said, adding that the toy importers evaded inspections before placing the toys on the market.

"Such furtive moves violate the Commodity Inspection Act, which requires that all LED toys must undergo government inspection and labeling before being sold on the market," Wang said.

Penalties for toy importers who evade inspections range between NT$200,000 (US$6,579) and NT$2 million, he said.