China says toys in latest recall safe
Posted: 13 September 2007 1544 hrs

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BEIJING : The latest batch of toys made in China recalled by US manufacturer Mattel is actually safe for children, meeting both European and Chinese standards, state media reported on Thursday.

China's watchdog for product quality has said the toys recalled earlier this month passed its own tests and only failed US examinations because of additional American requirements on lead content, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mattel recalled around 848,000 toys earlier this month -- its third recall of Chinese products this summer -- due to high lead levels in the paint used.

The move came after the company last month recalled 18 million Chinese-made products worldwide over high lead levels and small magnets that have seriously injured at least three children.

Xinhua said the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced on Wednesday that its key lead standards were in line with European levels, but that the United States has additional requirements that other countries do not.

At any rate, a Chinese investigation into the latest recall has found that the toys were produced according to Mattel's specifications, a commerce ministry spokesman told reporters on Thursday.

"China has only been involved in the manufacturing," said spokesman Wang Xinpei.

China had earlier blamed the Mattel recalls largely on design faults by the company, and said only 15 percent of the toys targeted in earlier recalls contained excessive amounts of lead.

However, the product-quality agency has said three manufacturers that have produced recalled toys under contract to Mattel will be suspended from exporting and will only be able to resume after addressing "problems."

US lawmakers vowed Wednesday to enact stricter legislation to prevent potentially dangerous Chinese-made toys from being sold in America, as leading toy firms said safety checks were being boosted.

China is the world's top toy exporter, selling 22 billion toys overseas last year, or 60 percent of the world's total.

- AFP /ls