Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Exporters see gains from recall
THE Philippine manufacturing and export industries, particularly the gifts toys and housewares (GTH), furniture and fashion accessories, are seen to benefit from the recall of Chinese products in the United States.
“This is the opportunity for the Philippine export industry to boom because of the quality of our products,” said Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Eric Mendoza in the sidelines of the MCCI-led forum on Corporate Social Responsibility last Friday in celebration of the Mandaue Business Month.
Mendoza said the recall of Chinese products in the US over issues concerning food and product safety will instead open a strong demand for Philippine products in the international market “because of its proven quality and durability.”
Philexport-Cebu executive director Fred Escalona believes that for as long as the country continues to produce quality products, there is a chance that the Philippines’ manufacturing and export industries will gain from the bad publicity China is having.
“It really is an issue of quality. We need to raise our quality standards. People don’t mind paying more for quality products,” Escalona told Sun.Star Cebu.
He said that since the Philippines is competing with Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar in terms of quality, stakeholders need to “put more premium on quality” if it wants to penetrate the US market.
Mattel Inc., the largest US toy company, recalled millions more of Chinese-made toys last Tuesday due to safety risks from the magnets and lead paint found in the products.
Testing
It also warned that it may recall additional products as it steps up testing.
The new recall involves 18.2 million magnetic toys globally, including 9.5 million in the United States, with magnets or magnetic parts that can be dislodged.
About 253,000 Pixar Sarge die-cast toy cars with lead paint were also recalled.
Lead has been linked to health problems in children, including brain damage.
The recall prompted some US lawmakers to demand a temporary halt and inspections of shipments of Chinese products for children that contain paint and demanded that China open its toy factories for inspections.
Mendoza said the US government is more stringent when it comes to child consumer safety as children have the tendency to eat the toys.
He added that the Philippines has much to learn from the US government when it comes to compliance to safety standards.
Mendoza, likewise, said while there has been no reported ban on Chinese goods in the country, he urged Filipinos to now start patronizing Philippine-made products. (MMM)
