China shutting down toy exports from over 700 factories - Toy Recalls

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Filed under: Toy Recalls

China shutting down toy exports from over 700 factories

November 1, 2007 at 10:31 am

Is China finally getting on the ball regarding all the lead-laden crapola they’ve been shipping over here to our kids? According to the Associated Press, a four month long crackdown has been taking place, with the end result being China revoking export licenses from 764 toy factories:

Problems in China’s toy industry came into focus earlier this year when America’s Mattel Inc. recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made toys worldwide. Products including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars were pulled off shelves because of concerns about lead paint or tiny detachable magnets that could be swallowed.

Design flaws caused the vast majority of the recalls, but the problem has rebounded on producers in Guangdong, where 5,000 toy-making enterprises accounted for about 80 percent of China’s toy exports last year.

About 1.5 million people are employed by the factories, which produced $16.1 billion worth of toys last year.

The government says it also has sponsored quality control training for more than 1,000 people in the country’s toy industry in an effort to ensure export safety.

OK, China may be making efforts to get off my “on notice” list, but I’m not going to feel all warm and fuzzy until more action is taken on the U.S. side to ensure that toys crossing our borders are safe for our kids.