BIZCHINA / Top Biz News

Manufacturers facing tougher standards
(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-19 14:21

EU issued 701 alerts on non-food products last year, 346 were from China, most of which were electronic products and toys. Madelin said that Sino-EU Cooperative Action could not only raise the sense of safety for European consumers, but protect Chinese consumers as well.

Meanwhile, toy associations of the United States and Britain demanded that from 2006 members of the two associations should only place orders to toy makers certificated by the Code of business practices formulated by international Council of Toy Industries (ICTI). The code is aimed at ensuring safe work environment and normal work hours, and so far only about 300 Chinese toy exporters have been approved by the ICTI code. Among the more than 1,200 toy makers in Shenzhen, only over 50 obtained the certificates.

For the first time, China is also to implement the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) scheme on toy makers. China announced at the beginning of 2006 that six varieties of toy products, including children's vehicles, battery-operated toys, plastic toys, metal toys, toys with shot projectiles, and dolls, are subject to the CCC scheme. Starting June1, 2007, those who fail will be prohibited from leaving the factory, being sold on the market, imported into or used in China. The new rule, not only applies to toy makers for domestic sales, but also to those whose products are exported and then imported back into the Chinese mainland. Currently four toy businesses in Shenzhen have applied for the 3C certificate.

In addition, China is also setting up its toy recall system. The system is currently under draft. According to the new system, toy makers are responsible for recalling toys with quality problems or hidden dangers.

"This year is the year of market regulating in China's toy industry. We are facing not only the nation's 3C compulsory system, but also changing technical regulations in other countries," said Hu Lantian, president of PP Bear Company.

Toys made in China account for about 70 percent of toy markets in Europe and the United States. Shenzhen enjoys a market leader position in toy exports. Its toy exports topped US$6.12 billion last year, accounting for 51.3 percent and 40 percent of the provincial and national total respectively, according to Shenzhen Toy Association.


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