Jan 9, 2008 7:40 pm US/Eastern
Toy Industry Vigilant Of Safety For 2008
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Photo illustration from AP images
AP
Looking for the next big thing for playtime? International toy executives and importers are right there with you; except with all of the recalls 2007 brought, they're primary concern is safety.
Dennis Karjala, a Seattle based importer buys new toys and other items for retailers like Wal-Mart from international toy fairs hosted in places like Hong Kong.
"In the U.S. market, there is obviously a pretty strict standard that we have to comply with. Do you have all the proper certifications for this?" Karjala said.
The government says toy exports actually rose last year despite global recalls. More than 20 million toys made in China were pulled from store shelves because of lead paint hazards and faulty designs.
Chairman of U.S. toy giant Hasbro Alan Hassenfeld says he's trying to standardize safety procedures.
"One of the issues that's come up is that the Americans have one set of standards. The Europeans have one set of standards. The Chinese are beginning to create their own set of standards. When you have conflicting standards, people get confused," said Hassenfeld.
China's toy makers are now struggling to polish a tainted image and build consumer confidence.
"We have tightened our policies. We are talking to local manufacturers, requiring more certifications, and testing their toys," said government official Li Qing-Xiang.
Yet some are skeptical changing procedures in China's factories can happen quickly or stop hazardous toys and there are questions about whether changes can really be verified. Still this Chinese toy maker gets the picture.
He says he added a screw to a toy motorbike to keep its battery away from kids on the advice of an international lab.
"The testing is raising my costs by up to 20-percent. But this is what we have to do if we want to sell to the US," said Zhihe Du of Huada Toy.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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