Toys News
- Toy group aware of magnet problem
Date: 16-Aug-2007 Sources: (Shenzhen Daily)
THE government knew about problems with magnets on toys as long ago as March, an industry official said yesterday, following a second massive recall of Chinese-made Mattel toys due to hazards from small, powerful magnets.
Mattel Inc., the largest U.S. toy company, recalled millions more Chinese-made toys Tuesday due to hazards from the magnets and lead paint and warned it may recall additional products as it steps up testing.
'We knew about the situation, because since March some toys had been recalled due to magnetic parts problems,'an official with the China Toy Association, who declined to be identified, told reporters.
The new recall involves 18.2 million magnetic toys globally, including 9.5 million in the United States, with magnets or magnetic parts that can be dislodged.
About 253,000 Pixar Sarge die-cast toy cars with lead paint were also recalled. Lead has been linked to health problems in children, including brain damage. The China Toy Association would meet the Commerce Ministry and quality watchdog later in the day to discuss the recall, the official added.
Meanwhile, in an e-mail interview with the China Business News, Mattel spokeswoman Jules Andres said Tuesday that her company won't stop manufacturing toys in China due to the recalls. She added that Mattel has revised its process procedures and started to contact suppliers to ensure stricter production rules are implemented.
A statement on the association's Web site repeated the standard line that Chinese-made toys were overwhelmingly safe and that the government takes the issue very seriously.
Of about 300,000 batches for export, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission had only made about 29 recalls, it added.
'The general safety level of Chinese toys is worthy of trust,'the statement said. China has been convincing the world its products are safe after a series of scandals over tainted pet food, drugs, tyres, toys and toothpaste.
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