'Brand China' at risk after toy recall

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

BBC NEWS | Business | 'Brand China' at risk after toy recall

Officials in Beijing said on Wednesday they are working with their US counterparts to ensure customer safety. But they have been slow off the mark - factory standards here remain far lower than in the West. 5,000 workers at the Lee Der factory have been laid off The scale of the challenge is considerable. There are over 10,000 toy factories in China, almost all working for export, producing some 80% of the world's toys. And many of those factories sub-contract. Mattel is believed to source its products from about 3,000 factories across China. And toys are only one industry. China is also facing criticism for safety scares in everything from food and drug production to the manufacturing of tyres and toothpaste. In Beijing, the government is well aware that if it does not move quickly to shore up the reputation of goods made in China, then other workers, like those in Foshan, could be at risk of losing their jobs.

Is this going to spiral a change in worl economy?

Can we affor large companies to cut costs at the expense of safety?

[jose]

Israeli parents who are worried that they may have possibly bought dangerous toys containing lead paint can relax: Tests conducted by the Israel Standards Institute on Mattel toys taken from store shelves show that all of the products meet the safety standards.

snip

The ministry emphasized yesterday that while in the U.S. and Europe, toy imports are allowed entry into the country on the basis of the manufacturer's claims, but here in Israel the Standards Institute tests samples of all imported toys.

Mattel toys in Israel have no lead paint - Haaretz - Israel News
WHY would a company like Mattel distribute hazardous toys in America and Europe and reserve the safe ones for israel?

Is that by coincidence or by design?

[Matt W]

Well, if the Standards Insititute tests samples of all toys, then you send your best ones, don'tchathink? :rolleyes:

Stop trying to turn every thread into a debate about Israel.

[jose]

Quote by: Matt W Well, if the Standards Insititute tests samples of all toys, then you send your best ones, don'tchathink? :rolleyes: Stop trying to turn every thread into a debate about Israel.

so do you think mattel knew which ones contained lead paint and didn´t send them to israel but sent them to other markets'?

[Matt W]

*shrugs* Don't know, don't care, but your continued anti-semetic stance gets dull mighty quick. Debate the topic at hand.

[The Decider]

Quote by: jose so do you think mattel knew which ones contained lead paint and didn´t send them to israel but sent them to other markets'?

Try reading your own source:

The ministry emphasized yesterday that while in the U.S. and Europe, toy imports are allowed entry into the country on the basis of the manufacturer's claims, but here in Israel the Standards Institute tests samples of all imported toys.

Israel tests all imported toys. The US and Europe accepts the manufacturer's claims. Mattel toys in Israel are safe. The same toys in the US and Europe are not. Perhaps the US and Europe should start testing all toys made in China?

[jose]

Quote by: The Decider Try reading your own source: The ministry emphasized yesterday that while in the U.S. and Europe, toy imports are allowed entry into the country on the basis of the manufacturer's claims, but here in Israel the Standards Institute tests samples of all imported toys. Israel tests all imported toys. The US and Europe accepts the manufacturer's claims. Mattel toys in Israel are safe. The same toys in the US and Europe are not. Perhaps the US and Europe should start testing all toys made in China?

well obviously there not the same toys

[rmnunez]

Chinese goods in trouble around the world:

New Zealand on Wednesday asked retailers and consumers to dispose of 11 brands of Chinese-made toothpaste after tests confirmed they contained toxic chemicals. The Ministry of Health said in a statement that a third of the Chinese-made toothpaste tested contained "unacceptable levels" of diethylene glycol. Diethylene glycol is an industrial solvent used in paint and antifreeze and can cause kidney and liver damage. Last week, New Zealand launched an investigation into the safety of imported clothing after a local television programme found woollen and cotton fabrics from China contained levels of formaldehyde up to 900 times the safety limit set by the World Health Organisation. Formaldehyde, used by some clothing manufacturers to prevent mildew, can cause skin irritations, respiratory problems and even cancer at high levels. Chinese officials have said the world should have faith in the "made-in-China" label and have described the spate of product recalls as unfair, biased and politically motivated. In July, China banned the use of diethylene glycol in toothpaste following a recall of Chinese-made products across the globe, including the US, Spain, Singapore, Panama and several other Latin American and Caribbean countries. Panama says at least 100 people died after taking cough syrup containing diethylene glycol rather than the glycerine, which was supposed to have been used. The chemical is similar to but much cheaper than glycerine, which is widely used as a syrup in medicines and toothpaste. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WEL265951.htm

[lsbskins1]

Quote by: rmnunez Chinese goods in trouble all ove the world:

Gee, and some people say the government shouldn't have the power to regulate. If they couldn't, how would they stop this crap? How many people would get sick or die waiting for the "Free Market" to self regulate? A few million, a hundred million? Gotta love the power of the profit motive. "Um, if I put lots of chemicals on my product to keep it from molding, and no regulatory agency exists to test and/or confiscate my taited product, how much money can I make before I shut down for a few months and rename my company and start all over again?"

[rmnunez]

In due course the market will learn "made in China" likely means contaminated, toxic or hazardous goods, then these won't sell as well.

[Ibn_Sina]

Well to be honest, these marketers and salesmen are not that naive. The most important aim is to gain profits... Chinese goods offer that opportunity. Period.