BELGIUM: China avoids EU toy ban as Christmas looms

Record ID: 821275

  • Title: BELGIUM: China avoids EU toy ban as Christmas looms
  • Date: 23rd November 2007
  • Summary: (EU) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (NOVEMBER 21, 2007) (REUTERS) LABEL READING 'MADE IN CHINA' IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES, MICKEY MOUSE SOFT TOY SHOP ALLEY WITH BANNER ADVERTISING DOLLS IN BOX, PLASTIC FIGURE WAVING HAND HANDS TAKING BOX WITH PLASTIC FIGURE TO CHECK LABEL FINGER SHOWING LABEL READING 'MADE IN CHINA' (IN SPANISH)
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVADB6Y3HO118KNN6POAYEG0DI8U
  • Story Text: Chinese toys will continue to be sold in Europe throughout the busy Christmas period as the EU Commission said China has made ''significant effort'' in tackling in tackling exports of dangerous toys and other products after a string of recalls.
    European consumers will be able to continue to enjoy Chinese toys this Christmas as the European Commission announced on Thursday (November 22) China will not face a ban on any of its products for now.
    The European Commission threatened the ban if a report submitted by the Chinese authorities and published on Thursday ( November 22) failed fully to address concerns over the safety of toys made in China.
    The Commission launched a review of EU toy safety standards in September after the recall of millions of toys this year due to excessive levels of lead paint and other unsafe components.
    The world's biggest toymaker, Mattel Inc, has recalled over 21 million Chinese-made products in the last four months.
    U.S. safety officials also recalled about 4.2 million Aqua Dots toys this month for possibly containing a "date rape" drug. Australia also banned the popular toy, sold there as "Bindeez", and Spain too announced a recall.
    Throughout the world, toys carrying the label 'made in China' are being sold.
    In a shop on the outskirts of Brussels, a large majority of the toys were manufactured in China or other Asian countries like Indonesia. Toys carrying the label 'Made in Europe' were in the minority.
    For Chantal van Hoey, the manager of nurseries caring for children aged between zero and three years old, safety is essential when choosing a toy and she doesn't check where the product is manufactured.
    ''Safety before anything else. I don't look, at first, I don't check whether there are from China or elsewhere, I looked at... Those are toys I know, and I keep buying them. I really place safety before anything else, small pieces that cannot be detached, that children won't be able to swallow.
    Safety is the first thing I checked,'' van Hoey said.
    But toy recalls have had little impact on the industry and for most consumers, quantity is more important than quality.
    ''Children prefer quantity to quality so the Christmas trees looks best with as many 'Made in China' toys underneath it as possible,'' Magalie Morissens said, highlighting the fact that Chinese products often offer a good quality/price ratio.
    The third EU-China report published by the European Commission on Thursday said China has made a ''significant effort'' in dealing with safety issues.
    EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said there has been ''encouraging'' signs coming from China. Chinese authorities said they conducted a total of 268 investigations since January 2006 and opened 184 new cases since July. As a result, 93 export bans were issued and about 700 licensing withdrawn.
    Kuneva said there are no such thing as a risk-free product.
    ''There is no one hundred per cent guarantee. I think that as consumers we need to have reasonable doubts when we buy a product. There is no such time, think as zero risk nowadays. But you can make sure that the system is fit on purpose,'' Kuneva told reporters at a news briefing.
    China is due to introduce soon a new domestic alert system modelled on EU procedures and was already more active in investigating problems, Kuneva added.
    Priority action should include a full audit of safety measures in the toy supply chain to be concluded in the first three months of 2008, the EU's executive Commission said.
    Toy safety is due to be discussed at an EU-China summit on Nov. 28.
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