More than 600 Chinese toy makers have had their export licenses
revoked to ensure product quality, the State Administration for
Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) announced
on Monday.
"We have thoroughly inspected all 3,000-plus toy makers for
export during the rectification work that began last August," said
AQSIQ Deputy Director Pu Changcheng at a press conference in
Beijing.
In response to food and toy scares, China launched a four-month
crackdown on product safety, particularly toys and foodstuffs.
"We have also set a complete quality test system. All toys, even
those that are made based on designs and standards by importers,
are subjected to safety checks," he told reporters.
The government also brought together toy makers to brush up on
their knowledge of international product standards and safety
awareness.
"The overall quality of Chinese-made toys will be further
improved and safety will be fully guaranteed," said the
official.
While acknowledging problems in some domestic manufacturers, Pu
noted several toy recalls last year were either due to design flaws
or change of standards by foreign importers.
China is the world's biggest toy exporter. In 2006, it sold
around 22 billion toy items overseas, about 60 percent of the
global total.
In addition to made-in-China toys, the country's domestic food
safety also drew international concern.
Pu said through the product safety campaign, all food
manufacturers and processors in China, which totals 98,000, had so
far put a "QS" (quality safety) label on their products.
According to Bi Yu'an, another AQSIQ official, food products
made in small workshops would be required to have another symbol
instead of "QS" since they were sold in limited regions.
Pu said most of the "unqualified" or "shoddy" food products were
from small workshops, which would be the focus of the quality
watchdog this year.
The official also assured that food is safe during the coming
Olympics.
"All foods provided to the athletes and referees are made by
quality companies," he said.
"We will step up construction of inspection and quarantine
institutions and make sure all foods for the Olympics are
safe."
(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2008)