Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Agencies urged to check China-made toys in fastfood stores
AMID the massive recall of toy products manufactured in China, a senator has urged the Bureau of Food and Drugs (Bfad) and the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) to declare that all China-made playthings given away by popular fast-food chains as part of their special meals for kids are safe.
Senator Gregorio Honasan said "we certainly hope they are absolutely harmless to, and suitable for children," said Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on public order, safety and illegal drugs.
The senator was referring to China-made toys distributed by fast food outlets exclusively contracted by the restaurant chains themselves.
"The Bfad and the BPS are duty-bound to examine these made in China toys and then come out and categorically assure everyone that these products are totally safe," the senator stressed.
Due to "safety issues", El Segundo, California-based Mattel Incorporated, the world's largest toy market in terms of sales, recently recalled 18.2 million products, including Barbie play sets, Polly Pockets, Dora the Explorer, Fisher Price, Sesame Street and Spongebob Squarepants toys.
The "safety issues" were traced to the inadequate product quality standards of Mattel's contract manufacturer in China.
Embarrassed by the Mattel recall and a similar incident involving tainted toothpaste in the past, China has vowed to improve its product quality controls and safety standards. (CPB/Sunnex)
